Claudia Hommel in concert and cabaret

Description

SOLOS & DUOS

Vocal Canvas: made-to-order concerts of songs and projected images. "Hear the painting. See the song."
Picasso and Matisse Go to the Music Hall: Vocal Canvas concert.
Women of Paris: the chanteuses from Yvette Guilbert and Josephine Baker to Edith Piaf.
Paris in the Jazz Age: kick up our heels for jazz in Paris, cakewalk to swing, Cole Porter and Maurice Chevalier joining in.
Romance Language: French songs for lovers. April in Paris, Paris in the Spring, Autumn in Paris.
French Impressions: a salon concert for soprano and pianist draws on Fauré, Chabrier, Satie, Ibert.
Souvenirs of Paris, 1950: "Marcelle" tells all with songs made famous by Edith Piaf, Yves Montand, and Duke Ellington (available with Study Guide for 8th grade thru college)
That's What Makes Paris Paree: an interactive romp for children.
A Workingperson's Cabaret: we tip our hat to Studs Terkel's homage to workers.

ENSEMBLES

The Jazz Fauré Project: French Impressionism meets American Jazz. Hear what happens when the 19th century mélodies of Gabriel Fauré start to "swing".
The Travel Abroad Trio with singers Sean Harris and Elizabeth Doyle; the trio's flair for languages and musical genres comes with combo.
Moulin Rouge Live! with can-can dancers

Work Sample

This community television report was prepared for Mount Prospect Public Library's 100th anniversary, celebrated with chanteuse Claudia Hommel, accordionist Pat Spaeth, pianist Bob Moreen and bassist Jim Cox in a program of "Your Passport to Paris". After the show, the audience responded to the library's poll, unanimously giving a score of 10 out of 10, and all respondents saying they would recommend this program to a friend. "Sensational, out of this world, what a show! Superbly talented performers! Exquisite. Enjoyed every song. Claudia just draws you in. Piece de resistance."

We love libraries, community centers, schools, performing arts centers. Visit www.cabaret-paree.com/booking for program options and video links.

The interview and excerpts prepared by Mount Prospect Library demonstrate how I "work the room" and bring people along on a trip to "Paris." Every venue provides me with a new context in which to introduce the stories, songs and sometimes artwork that comprise our shows. In this case we had the pleasure of working with singer-pianist, accordionist and bassist. I can be accompanied by one to five other musicians and singers, for an audience of 30 to 300.

History

I was born in Paris to American parents, and danced and sang in choirs as a child. In college, I gave song recitals while majoring in Social History. I set up the archives department for the Detroit Institute of Arts by day, and pursued art songs and theatre by night at the Grand Circus Exchange, where we "did it all."

I trained in New York City for 8 years, mentored by Martha Schlamme, pianist Steven Blier and actor/director Alvin Epstein, to become a cabaret artist. I moved to Chicago to pursue the work and by 1995 began touring Cabaret-Paree programs to schools and performing arts venues. By 1998, I co-founded the Chicago Cabaret Professionals, joined Illinois ArtsTour and Arts-in-Education rosters, taught my first master classes, and began offering the award-winning "SongShop" song interpretation workshops.

In addition to five recordings and an art film, I produce and perform "Vocal Canvas" concerts with projected artwork to "hear the painting, see the song". In 2019, I co-founded Working in Concert as a nonprofit performing arts alliance that supports the Chicago Paris Cabaret Connexion, Black Voices in Cabaret, Bellissima Opera and our classroom outreach.

Artistic Vision

Whether as theatrical singer, teacher, or artistic director of Working In Concert initiatives, my work is grounded in the intimacy of cabaret and infused with language, poetry, social history, and sense of place. In concert hall, supper club, museum, and classroom, I use the art of to share truths about our lives and to reach across borders of time, place, and culture. I love to take people to "Paris, 1950," to a Jazz Age music hall, or into an impressionist painting even if we're in Peoria, 2021. In workshops, I encourage youth to see themselves as makers of world history. In master classes, I seek to enrich the self-confidence and self-discovery of the singer through exploration of his/her song.

I love matching masterpieces of visual art to my 19th & 20th century song repertoire, conjoining American jazz with French impressionist composer Gabriel Fauré, and helping other singers to strengthen their interpretative skills & always coming back to the integration of history, theatre, music and art.

My goal is to deepen the public's awareness and appreciation for where we come from as a society and the potential to write our own history in bold, compassionate ink"”together, "working in concert".

Programs for Specific Audience(s) Expertise

I have programs for elementary and secondary schools to introduce children and youth to French culture, language and history. I love to work with singers (youth, adults, whether advanced amateurs or professionals.

Traditional Folk/Ethnic Artform Statement

As an American born in France, all things French are deeply embedded in my soul. I am especially eager to share what I know and appreciate with teachers and students of French, with sister-city organizations, and anyone who has ever wanted to go to Paris.