Jean-Luc Follonier (Bass-Baritone)

Born: Switzerland

The Swiss bass-baritone, Jean-Luc Follonier, had studied at the Collège of Sion, before entering the Conservatoire in Freiburg (Fribourg), where he obtained a first prize of virtuosity in the class of Tiny Westendorp. He is twice winner of the Swiss Fondation Migros.

Jean-Luc Follonier has worked as leading soloist in many European countries and Israel, Russia and Japan, with repertoire from the Renaissance to the 20^th century. But it is on stage that he has his main field of expression. He has sung Guglielmo in Cosi fan tutte and Sprecher in The Magic Flute by Mozart, Belcore inL'Elisir d'amore by Donizetti, Gaudenzio in Il Signor Bruschino and Dandini in La Cenerentola by Rossini, Count Robinson in Secret Marriage by Cimarosa, Marquis of Posa in Don Carlosby Verdi, the Toreador in Carmen, Marcello in La Bohème by Puccini. He also achieved great success in the title role of Don Giovanni by Mozart. Finally, the critics praised the singer as the actor in his Golaud in Pelléas et Mélisande by Debussy.

Jean-Luc Follonier also teaches singing at conservatories in Freiburg and Sion. The Association Ouverture-Opéra, of which he is the originator and the music director, has had in the Valais a huge success with the production of Marriage of Figaro.

Source: 'Ensemble Vocal Euterpe Website (October 2006), English translation by Aryeh Oron (March 2009)
Contributed by Aryeh Oron (March 2009)

Recordings of Bach Cantatas & Other Vocal Works

Conductor

As

Works

Christophe Gesseney

Bass

DVD: BWV 245

Links to other Sites

Artistes des concerts de l'Ensemble Vocal Euterpe, Lausanne, Suisse [French]