Mezzo-soprano Janice Pantazelos is an accomplished singer who has captivated Opera, Oratorio, and art song audiences both here and in Europe. Ms. Pantazelos debuted with the Rome Opera as "Dorabella" in "Cosi Fan tutti" at the age of 26. Her recital for the Archeoclub D'Italia in Sorrento was received with a 20 minute ovation in which the mayor presented her the key to the city. Her performances in Yugoslavia, Austria and Italy as soloist with the New York Oratorio Society under the direction of Lyndon Woodside earned her raves from critics of the Ponedjelak-Zagreb citing her as " a singer with a beautiful voice that carried her interpretation of the music very well."
She has been an active recitalist having performed solo/recitals in festivals in Spain Germany, Austria, Italy, and Switzerland. Some of the repertoire performed at these festivals included Verdi's Il Trovatore, Pergolesi's Stabat Mater, Vivaldi's Gloria, Handel's Messiah, Rossini's Stabat Mater, Copeland's Old American Songs, Granados' Tonadillas, DeFalla's Siete Canciones, the world premier of Constantinides' Four poems by Sappho, as well as an array of Operatic concerts. "Janice Pantazelos sang very difficult works beautifully and with wonderful interpretation" Tagblatt Der Stadt-Zurich.
Ms. Pantazelos has also earned accolades locally which bill her as "one of Chicago's finest Mezzo-sopranos" Lerner Newspaper/Ann Gerber's column. She has also performed with the Putnam Chamber Orchestra, American Symphony, North Side Symphony, Rockford Symphony, Chicago City Symphony, Light Opera works, Chicago Fine Arts Society, Lyric Opera Chapters, to name a few. Roles to her credit include: Dorabella, Dido, Carmen, Dalila, Santuzza, Azucena, Charlotte. Ms. Pantazelos has given recitals for the Chicago Cultural Center (World in a Weekend Series: Greece which aired on public access here in Chicago), Dame Myra Hess, C.U.B.E, Roosevelt University and Sherwood Conservatory faculty recitals, Lyric Opera Chapters, Chicago Academy of the Arts, Light Opera Works, Chicago Opera Theater, Chicago Fine Arts society, to name a few.
In addition to her live performances, Ms. Pantazelos has sung the voice tracks for movies and commercials. She was the voice of "Diva" in the movie "Bravissimo Baby" which was presented at the Cannes Film festival in 1998. She recorded the voice-overs for TV's Power 50 UPN "Fresh Prince and Rosanne," a Sears "Winnie the Pooh" promotion in Spanish, a TV commercial for "Georgio Jeans" and an Olympic Airlines spot that aired on Channel 26 in Greek.
Janice Pantazelos received her Bachelors degree in vocal performance with honor from DePaul University and her Master of Music in vocal performance with highest honors from Northwestern University. Some awards to her credit include the American Opera Award, Concour International de Geneva, Switzerland, Chicago Musical Arts club, Bel Canto finalist, Honors Concerto Award, Young artists award. She debuted at Orchestra Hall at the age of 20.
Ms. Pantazelos is also well recognized in the Musical Theatre world, she has been musical director and Conductor for Godspell, Annie Get Your Gun, South Pacific, Guys and Dolls, Stop the World I want to Get Off, Carousel, etc. for such companies as the North Shore Theatre Co, Theatre on the Lake, St. Scholastica High school, Wilmette theatre.
She is also the master voice teacher and founder of the Chicago Studio of Professional Singing.
Read more...