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Maureen McGovern, whose career spans over 30 years, includes recordings, concerts, Broadway, films, television and radio, with a voice that defies categorization. From a jazzy, warm pop register, Maureen glides easily into a crystalline coloratura. It is no wonder she has been called, "The Stradivarius Voice." Her appearances with America 's most prestigious symphony orchestras are highlighted by duets with orchestra members in which her voice matches the tonal quality and dexterity of various instruments. She has earned a reputation for being one of America 's most popular artists. Maureen has performed in virtually every major venue throughout the world…from Carnegie Hall to Royal Albert Hall in London. In addition to her solo concerts, Ms. McGovern is a much sought after guest for symphony concerts. She has appeared with every major symphony, including the Boston Pops, New York Pops, the Cincinnati Pops, the Baltimore Symphony, the St. Louis Symphony, the Dallas Symphony and the National Symphony, to name a few. Maureen received rave reviews for her performances at The Hollywood Bowl's Jazz Tribute to Mel Tormè, and was part of the 2004 Salute to Peggy Lee concerts. Maureen performed for years to rave reviews at Rockefeller Center 's Rainbow & Stars in New York City. Her recent performances at New York's Le Jazz Bar received glowing reviews. and her 2003 performances at The Algonquin Hotel's famed "Oak Room" in New York City garnered raves from Stephen Holden of The New York Times: "...Ms. McGovern's gorgeous voice and the melodies of Richard Rodgers were meant for each other... Not only is the singer the closest American equivalent to Julie Andrews in her vocal prime, but she also adds a jazzy, coloratura panache." Ms. McGovern has performed in extensive cross-country tours with jazz great Mel Tormè, Mercer Ellington and the Duke Ellington Orchestra and recently, a 36 city tour with John Pizzarelli. Ms. McGovern's recording career began with the #1 chart-topping, Academy Award winning Gold Record "The Morning After" from The Poseidon Adventure and a Grammy nomination for "Best New Artist." This was followed by another Oscar winning Gold Record, "We May Never Love Like This Again," from The Towering Inferno . Other hit records include the John Williams and Leslie Bricusse love theme "Can You Read My Mind?" from the motion picture Superman and "Different Worlds," the theme from the ABC television series Angie. Maureen has recorded over 25 recordings including The Music Never Ends: The Lyrics of Alan and Marilyn Bergman and Out of This World: McGovern Sings Arlen, which pays tribute to the music of the great Harold Arlen for his forthcoming centennial celebration. In addition to many roles in films, including The Towering Inferno, Airplane! (playing 'Sr. Angelina,' the guitar-strumming Nun), Airplane II: The Sequel and most recently, the independent film The Cure For Boredom. Maureen also is currently heard as the voice of 'Rachel' in the DreamWorks animated video/DVD Joseph: King of Dreams with Ben Affleck. Her impressive theater career includes the West Coast Premiere of William Finn's Elegies at the Canon Theatre in Los Angeles and she recently starred as 'Countess Aurelia' in an historic revival of the 1969 Jerry Herman musical Dear World (an adaptation of The Madwoman of Chaillot) at The Sundance Institute Theatre. Other starring roles include "The Pirates of Penzance" and"Nine". In December 2004, Maureen returns to Broadway in the highly anticipated new musical "Little Women", starring as "Marmee". On television, she performed Gershwin on the PBS/BBC Emmy award-winning special Celebrating Gershwin, marking the 50th Anniversary of the composer's death. Maureen can be seen in the forthcoming Boston Pops Christmas Special, Holiday at Pops on PBS December 2004. She has starred in her own PBS special, Maureen McGovern: Live at Wolftrap and guest starred on PBS with Buddy Rich in his last public performance on Sentimental Swing: A Tribute to the Music of Tommy Dorsey hosted by Mel Tormè. Her many symphonic television guest appearances include the Boston Pops: Pops Goes the Fourth for A&E and the PBS telecast of John Williams' 10th Boston Pops Anniversary Concert. Other television highlights include many appearances with the National Symphony, including two A Capitol Fourth Specials with ErichKunzel and Henry Mancini and the PBS D-Day 50th Commemorative Concert with Erich Kunzel and the National Symphony on The Mall in Washington ,D.C. She also starred in the PBS Special Happy Birthday George Gershwin with the Dallas Symphony conducted by Andrew Litton (now available on video and CD) and the George and Ira Gershwin Centennial Specials at The Palladium and Royal Albert Hall in London for the BBC. Ms. McGovern devotes her energies to a number of charitable organizations. She is a National Board member of the Muscular Dystrophy Association and serves as the National Chairperson for the olymyositis/Dermatomyositis Division of MDA and is the National Chairperson of the Shamrocks Against Dystrophy yearly campaign. For the last twenty five years, Maureen has performed on the Jerry Lewis MDA Labor Day Telethon, acting as co-host for six years. Maureen recently released Works of Heart featuring a newly recorded 30 th Anniversary version of "The Morning After." Maureen founded The McGovern "Works of Heart" Foundation for Music and Healing to address emotional and inspirational needs of patients and caregivers. This first-in-a-series CD is her gift of hope to those individuals who face insurmountable odds with grace and courage. Ms. McGovern is an Artist Spokesperson for The American Music Therapy Association.
And The Critics Said...
“Ms. McGovern’s
gorgeous voice and the melodies of Richard Rodgers were meant for each other...
Not only is the singer the closest American equivalent to Julie Andrews in her
vocal prime, but she also adds a jazzy, coloratura panache.”
"McGovern
has the most remarkable range and crisply tailored diction in town, and she offers
a lesson in dynamics... McGovern's wide-ranging scat singing and her sense of
jazz phrasing is just another facet of her skillful vocal talents."
“To
describe Maureen McGovern as versatile would be an understatement. Armed with
a multi-octave range, the American singer fits effortlessly from pop to scat,
easy listening to musical theatre.”
“Easy
on the eyes, with perfect pitch, superb intonation and a range that knows no boundaries,
this classic diva of the old school easily negotiates the bridge between jazz
and pop styles.”
“McGovern
is out once again to wow audiences with her “instrument,” a thrilling
powerhouse voice.”
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