Barbara Hendricks

The 1974 professional operatic debut at the Glyndebourne Festival launched a career spanning major global houses, including the Metropolitan Opera, La Scala, and the Opéra National de Paris. Born in 1948 in Stephens, Arkansas, the lyric soprano transitioned from early studies in chemistry and mathematics at the University of Nebraska to becoming a prominent figure in opera, jazz, and chamber music.

Early Education and Musical Roots

Before gaining international prominence, Hendricks attended Horace Mann High School in Little Rock, where she engaged with jazz through Art Porter Sr.’s collection. She graduated from the University of Nebraska at age 20 with degrees in mathematics and chemistry. She completed her music degree in 1973.

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Operatic and Jazz Performances

Hendricks established a versatile repertoire covering over twenty operatic roles, twelve of which she recorded. In 1998, she performed Liù during the production of Turandot at Beijing’s Forbidden City. Beyond classical stages, she began performing jazz in 1994 at the Montreux Jazz Festival. She also ventured into film, appearing in 1995 as Anne Truelove in the adaptation of The Rake’s Progress and in the 2007 film Disengagement. In 2004, she originated the role of Angel in the premiere of Péter Eötvös’s opera, Angels in America.

Humanitarian Advocacy

In 1987, the United Nations appointed Hendricks as a UNHCR Goodwill Ambassador, a role she maintains to the present. Her humanitarian work included concert performances in Dubrovnik and Sarajevo in 1991 and 1993. She established the Barbara Hendricks Foundation for Peace and Reconciliation in 1998 and joined the Council of the Foundation for the Refugee Education Trust in 2000. Her activism also led her to perform at the East Timor Independence Day Ceremony in 2002 and for the Nobel Peace Prize ceremony in Oslo in 2001.

Recording and Recognition

Hendricks moved her recording activities in 2006 by launching her independent label, Arte Verum. Throughout her career, she received numerous distinctions, including the French Legion of Honour, the Commandeur des Arts et des Lettres, and the 2000 Princess of Asturias Award for the Arts. Her academic honors include honorary doctorates from the University of Grenoble-III, Paris 8 University, the Sorbonne Nouvelle University, and the University of Nebraska–Lincoln.