Oratorio
Darrell Lauer, tenor, is best known for his sensitive and striking interpretation of J.S. Bach, particularly the demanding role of the Evangelist in the Bach Passions. He has sung these roles and other solo Bach repertoire with Musica Sacra, Bethlehem Bach Festival, Bach Society of Kalamazoo, Michigan, International Bach Society, Rhode Island Civic Chorale and Orchestra, Laurel, Maryland Oratorio Society, The Long Island Singers’ Society, Brooklyn Bach Festival, St. Peter’s Chorus and Orchestra, and Concordia College Choir and Orchestra.
Other solo oratorio performances of mostly G,F. Handel, Joseph Haydn, and W.A. Mozart have been performed with many well known groups, including performances of Handel’s Messiah with Oratorium von Kirche Steiglitz in Berlin, Germany. Lauer also appeared in this repertory with Michigan State Orchestra, Annual Messiah Festival at Lake Charles, La., Orchestra da Camera, Hunter College Choir and Orchestra, Bronx Chorale Society, Brooklyn Festival Players, Westchester Chorale, Bloomingdale Chamber Orchestra, Rockland Camerata, Bronx Arts Ensemble, St. Bartholomew’s Concert Series, Central Presbyterian Concert Series, All Saints Concert Series, Church of the Ascension Concert Series, Franklin and Marshall College Choir and Orchestra (Britten, St. Nicholas), and The New Haven Chorale.
In Recital
Tenor Darrell Lauer sang his New York Merkin Concert Hall recital to a sold out audience and received critical acclaim from Andrew Porter in The New Yorker. (See reviews).
When Mr. Lauer made his sold out New York recital debut at Carnegie Recital Hall, he received a fine review from Edward Rothstein in The New York Times (see review under reviews).
Darrell Lauer has been presented in recital throughout America, including programs at Lincoln Center, The University of Dayton, Ohio Wesleyan University, Concordia College, Michigan State University, The Terros Art Center, Fordham University, The Forest Hills Friends of Music, Bard College Concert Series, North Carolina University at Charlotte, and Beckett Hall in California.
Opera
Mr. Lauer’s solo opera career has taken him to Hong Kong and the Far East with Opera Theatre of New York in the roles of Ernesto (Don Pasquale) and Alfredo (La Traviata). He also appeared as Ernesto, and Count Almaviva (Il Barbiere Di Siviglia) with The New Haven Opera Co., and Michigan State Opera Theater.
He sang under the baton of Edwin McArthur with the St. Paul Opera Company, and also under the baton of Laszlo Halasz with the Long Island Opera Company. Other solo opera dates included Grand Rapids Symphony (Frank Die Fledermauss), Lansing Symphony (Nemerino L’Elisir d’Amore), Capital Artists of Albany, Federal Music Society (The Duenna- Alice Tully Hall), Eastern Opera Theatre of Baltimore (Rita by Donizetti), St; Lukes’ Orchestra (Philemon in Philemon and Baucis (Haydn) at Caramoor Festival and Cornell University, and Ocean City Festival Orchestra.
Early Music
Darrell Lauer has specialized in early music, singing with the Waverly Concert in Alice Tully Hall, Nieuw Nederlande Consort, and the West Side Madrigalists.
New Music
Mr. Lauer has sung solo world premieres by Richard Hundley, John David Earnest, Thomas Turner, and Lawrence Kramer. Lauer was also a featured participant at the Third Annual Festival of American New Music held in Symphony Space in New York City.
Chamber Music
Chamber music has also held an interest for Mr. Lauer and found him performing with the St. Lukes’ Chamber Ensemble, the Omni Ensemble and the Bronx Arts Ensemble.
Recordings
He has recorded on Orion and Spectrum Records and self-produced a live recital recording.
International Performances
Darrell Lauer’s other international performances as a soloist has taken him to Kitchener-Waterloo Philharmonic Choir and Orchestra (Canada- St. John Passion Evangelist), London Ontario Pro Musica (St. John Evangelist), The St. Olav Festival (Norway, joint recital), and a recital tour throughout Norway and Sweden.