Before Julie and Julia, there was Bon Appétit. Lee Hoiby's 1989 opera, Bon Appétit, takes as its libretto the words of the U.S.-government-worker-turned-gourmet-chef-turned-public-television-host who brought French haute cuisine into America's kitchens. Julia Child is arguably the world's first celebrity chef, and her delightfully dotty on-camera presence won her at least as many fans as did her fanciful cooking tips for classical French recipes. In Bon Appétit she bakes a chocolate cake to the accompaniment of a chamber ensemble. And that's not all. Now that your appetite is whetted, here's a video of a 2009 performance of Bon Appétit with mezzo-soprano Debra McVicker as Julia Child: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Q5UOqIp2v3w Dare I say it? Bon appétit!
Jennifer Hambrick unites her extensive backgrounds in the arts and media and her deep roots in Columbus to bring inspiring music to central Ohio as Classical 101’s midday host. Jennifer performed with the Chicago Symphony Orchestra and the Civic Orchestra of Chicago before earning a Ph.D. in musicology from the University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill.