PATRICIA PETIBON

With a degree in musicology, Patricia Petibon studies at the Conservatoire National Supérieur de Musique de Paris, where she follows the teaching of Rachel Yakar. She came out with a first prize for singing in 1995.
Noticed by William Christie, she regularly collaborates with “Les Arts Florissants” and performs on tour at the Aix en Provence Festival, at the Paris-Bastille Opera, at the Scala in Milan, at the Téatro Colon in Buenos Aires, at the Wigmore Hall in London…Pa-tricia Petibon made a very notable debut in the production of “Hippolyte and Aricie” which opened the 1996/97 season of the Paris Opera. At the same time, the Opéra du Rhin invited her for her premiere Blondchen in “L’Abduction au Sérail”, a role which she successfully reprized in November 1997 and recorded (Erato).
In 1998, Patricia Petibon successfully took on the role of Olympia in “Contes d’Hoffmann” in the new production of the Opéra de Nancy as well as Norina in “Don Pasquale” in Tours. The Paris Bastille Opera welcomed her in Manon. At the concert, she sang “Car-mina Burana” with Charles Dutoit and the National Orchestra at the Théâtre des Champs-Elysées, Caldara’s “La Pasione de di Gesu” with Fabio Biondi at the Academia di Santa Cecilia in Rome, which she recorded for EMI. She has also just recorded the role of Sophie in “Werther” for EMI London alongside Roberto Alagna. During the 1998/99 season, Patricia Petibon performed at the Montpellier Opera in “La Finta”. Giardiniera”, at the Opéra du Rhin for her first Zer-binette of “Ariadne aufNaxos” and for Constance from “Dialogues des Carmalités”, a role which she will reprise in June 1999 at the Savonlinna Festival and at the “PROMS” in London. Patricia Petibon will open the 1999/2000 season with the production of “Orphée” by Glûck which will mark the reopening of the Châtelet in a production by Bob Wilson and conducted by John Elliot Gardiner She will then make her premiere “Lakme” at the Grand Théâtre de Tours as well as Ophé-lie in “Hamlet” by Ambroise Thomas at the Capitole in Toulouse. She will make her debut at the Vienna State Opera in Olympia from “Contes d’Hoffmann”, then join-dra Nikolhaus Harnoncourt for concerts at the Musikverein in Vienna and for. the recording of Haydn’s ”Armida”, opposite Cécilia Bartoli. She will also be Sophie in “Werther” at the Theater an der Wien in June and July 2000.
In 2000/2001, Patricia Petibon will return to the Paris Opera for two productions: “Les Indes Galantes” with William Christie and “Ariodante” with Marc Min-kowski, a work which will also mark her debut at the Salzburg Festival.
In 2001/2002, Patricia Petibon will sing her first Nanetta from “Falstaff” in Montpellier, Constance from “Dialogues des Carmelites” at the Teatro Bellini in Ca-tania and Olympia from “Contes d’Hoffmann” at the Grand Théâtre de Genève.
Among his recording projects, a Berns-tein and Barber disc as well as Mozart’s “Mass in UT” for Erato, Mozart’s “Concert Airs” with the Drottningholms Orchestra for Harmonie Re-cords and Haydn’s “Armida” for Teldec.

LES FOLIES FRANÇOISES

Drawing on their experience with great baroque conductors (William Christie, Philippe Herreweghe, Christophe Rousset, Hervé Niquet, Christophe Coin and Jean Claude Malgoire…), talented young musicians decided to found the ensemble “Les Folies Françaises” in 1998. Halfway between chamber music and orchestra, this ensemble of soloists revisits the vast instrumental and vocal repertoire of the 17th and 18th centuries, in the spirit of freedom, plurality and creativity that animated the musicians of the Grand Siècle. Like the Thirteenth Order of François Couperin from which they take their name, Les Folies Françaises want to express the whole palette of colors and feelings which characterizes the musical sensitivity of the time. The ensemble performed with soprano Patrica Petibon in recital (Auvers sur Oise Festival, La Vézère Festival) and in Pergolèse’s Stabat Mater with countertenor Robert Expert, in Montargis. We were able to hear them on France Musique during the week of “Matin des Musiciens” devoted to the sonateen trio and during the program “Scène ouver-te” in a program of French cantales in the company of soprano Gaëlle Mechaly. During the year 2000, the ensemble will lend its assistance to commemorate the two hundred and fifty years of the death of Johann Sebastian Bach, as part of the Orléans Festival around the Musical Offering, and in the musical season of Sarcelles and at the Château d’Annecy with concertos for harpsichord. The Folies Françaises will also record secular cantatas with soprano Sandrine Piau.