GAINESVILLE, GA - The International Opera Center at Brenau University kicks off its second season with the appearance of American baritone Kurt Ollmann in a recital of French and American art songs, opera arias, folksongs and Broadway hits on Sept. 11 in Pearce Auditorium beginning at 8 p.m.

Often hailed as "Bernstein´s favorite baritone" because of his frequent appearances with celebrated maestro Leonard Bernstein, Ollmann is accompanied by pianist Mary Dibbern, a Texas-born pianist, vocal coach and expert on French opera repertoire. The two have performed together at such prestigious locales as La Scala (Milan), the Théâtre des Champs-Elysées (Paris), and the Arts Club of Chicago. The Brenau University recital will be their only North American appearance together this season. Tickets are $5; free admission for Brenau faculty and students.

The Racine, Wis. native´s career has been divided equally between the concert platform and the operatic stage. He first came to prominence singing the role of Riff on the Deutsche Grammophon recording of "West Side Story" under Bernstein´s baton. (A companion video, "The Making of West Side Story," has just been released on DVD.)

Described by the New York Times as "a lyric baritone of unusual beauty and cultivation," Ollmann´s opera career has taken him to the Vienna State Opera, The Rome Opera, Brussels´ La Monnaie and the Wexford Festival in Ireland. He has appeared in American opera companies from coast to coast and his recorded legacy includes Gounod´s "Roméo et Juliette" (with Placido Domingo), Debussy´s "Pelléas" as well as Bernstein´s "Candide." He has also sung frequently with the London Symphony Orchestra, L´Orchestre de Paris, Rome´s Accademia di Santa Cecilia and The New York Philharmonic.

A much sought-after recitalist who The Chicago Tribune said "sang elegantly and commanded the stage with a fascinating kind of volatile grace," Ollmann studied song literature with Gérard Souzay and Pierre Bernac and has made a specialty of the French and American classical song literature. He was one of the original performers of the AIDS Quilt Songbook and has premiered works by well-known American composers such as Bernstein, Ned Rorem, Michael Torke, Peter Lieberson and Richard Danielpour. He has recorded songs of Leguerney with Mary Dibbern for Harmonia Mundi France, Roussel with Dalton Baldwin for EMI, Schumann with Michael Barrett for Koch, and songs of Rorem with the composer at the piano for Newport Classics.

Pianist Dibbern is well-known in operatic circles for her definitive, book-length studies of the operas "Carmen" and "The Tales of Hoffmann." Residing in Paris since 1978, Dibbern works internationally as a vocal coach and accompanist throughout Europe and America. She has also enjoyed the rare privilege of being in charge of musical and language preparation for the first French-language productions in China of Gounod´s "Roméo et Juliette" and Bizet´s "Carmen."

Ollmann´s recital will be followed the next day by a master class with students of Brenau´s music program, directed by Michelle Roueché. In that setting, the students are not only encouraged to ask questions of the visiting artists but to sing repertoire and receive valuable interpretative help as well. As a special treat for Brenau students, Dibbern will remain on campus for an additional week to work intensively on French repertoire, diction and style.

Call 770.531.3119 for more information.