Laurentiu Rotaru – bass

Laurentiu Rotaru, bass-baritone, is a native of Romania, currently living in Hartford, CT. He started his intensive music training at The Conservatory of Bucharest – Romania, and he performed for one year at The National Opera of Bucharest. In the same time, he performed as a soloist in numerous ensembles in Bucharest, touring Romania, Greece, Austria, Hungary, Italy, and The United States. He has a Bachelor Degree in Music Performance from Central Connecticut State University, and a Master of Music degree from University of Connecticut.

In October 2004 Mr. Rotaru made his Carnegie Hall debut, performing in a concert with Connecticut Lyric Opera.

Mr. Rotaru was a winner of numerous competitions such as The National Association of Teachers of Singing Competition (2004) and of The Connecticut Guild Opera Competition (2004); he was a finalist of Amici Competition (2005) and The Connecticut Guild Opera Competition (2005). In 2007, he received the Francesco & Hilda Riggio Award at the Metropolitan Opera National Competition, New England region, Gerda Lissner encuragement award in 2008 and winner of The Verismo Competition in 2010.

His operatic repertoire includes roles such as Leporello in Don Giovanni, Don Basilio in Il Barbiere di Siviglia, Mephistopheles in Faust, Sparafucile in Rigoletto, Sarastro in The Magic Flute, Achillas in Julius Caesar, Frere Laurent in Romeo et Juliettte, Geronte in Manon Lescaut and Dulcamara in L’elisir d’amore.

His former Seminary education positively influenced his interpretation of oratorio music, which he takes great pleasure and ease in performing. His oratorio repertoire includes Dvorak�s Requiem, Mozart’s Requiem, Faure’s Requiem, Brahms Requiem, Pergolesi’s Magnificat, Dvorak’s Mass in D Major, and Handel’s Messiah.