Album Notes

Ray Hornblower
Lyric Tenor

American tenor Ray Hornblower has recently returned to the United States after six years in Europe where he established himself as a singer of rare musical talent, “A splendid voice…most memorable and astonishing.” (London Daily Express)
After five years of stage experience with the Washington, Baltimore, and New York City operas, Mr. Hornblower moved to Paris, France and sang principal roles in Belgium, Germany, Switzerland, England (Buxton Festival – 1990), Spain (eight cities), and throughout France (eighty cities and towns notably the Chaise Dieu Festival in 1989 and at Grenoble, Biarritz, Versailles, and Aix-en-Provence in 1990 and 1991).Winning critical acclaim for his Mozart performances with his “ravishing tone, musicality, vocal precision, and impeccable technique,” (Arioso International – Paris) Ray Hornblower has also interpreted the following major roles: Almaviva (Il Barbiere di Siviglia), Bastien, Fernando, Don Ottavio, Ernesto (Don Pasquale – Donizetti), Edgardo (Lucia di Lammermoor – Donizetti), Elisero (Moisé – Rossini), Ruggero (La Rondiné – Puccini), Argirio (Tancredi – Rossini), Tamino, and Ottocar (Zigeunerbaron – Johann Strauss). In recent years, Mr. Hornblower has learned the roles of Pinkerton, the Duke of Mantua, Alfredo, and Rodolfo.

Mr. Hornblower is also a noted performer of oratorio literature which he has interpreted in some of France’s greatest cathedrals. He has performed sacred works of numerous composers and with many orchestras in Europe including Orchestre Symphonia Sacree, Orchestre Municipal de Tours, Ensemble Harmonia Nova, Orchestre de Chambre Jean-Louis Petit, and Ensemble Instrumental Alexandre Stajic.
Starting at age seven, Ray Hornblower sang in a chorale and studied the piano. His vocal studies continued at the Peabody Conservatory and at a private studio whose founders trained American tenors Mario Lanza and Jan Peerce, a favorite of Toscanini. In France, he perfected his vocal style with Mady Mesplé and Alain Vanzo.