Birth

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1977 in Paris, France

 

Delphine Galou is a French contralto who has made a name for herself in the world of classical music. Born on November 19, 1977, in the town of Grenoble, France, Galou grew up in a family of musicians. Her father was a jazz pianist, and her mother was a singer. From a young age, Galou showed a keen interest in music and began taking piano lessons at the age of six. As a child, Galou was also interested in sports, particularly swimming. She was a talented swimmer and even competed at the national level. However, her love for music eventually won out, and she decided to pursue a career in singing. Galou began her formal music education at the Conservatoire de Grenoble, where she studied piano and singing. She later continued her studies at the Conservatoire de Paris, where she focused on early music and baroque singing. During her time in Paris, Galou had the opportunity to work with some of the most renowned early music specialists, including William Christie and Christophe Rousset. Galou's career as a professional singer began in the early 2000s, when she started performing with various early music ensembles in France and throughout Europe. She quickly gained a reputation as a talented and versatile singer, with a rich and powerful voice that was perfectly suited to the baroque repertoire. One of Galou's early breakthrough performances came in 2004, when she was invited to perform at the Festival d'Aix-en-Provence. She sang the role of Dido in a production of Purcell's opera "Dido and Aeneas," which was directed by the renowned British director Deborah Warner. The production was a critical and commercial success, and Galou's performance was widely praised for its emotional depth and musicality. Over the next few years, Galou continued to perform with various early music ensembles, including Les Arts Florissants, Le Concert d'Astrée, and La Grande Écurie et la Chambre du Roy. She also began to make a name for herself as a solo artist, performing recitals and concerts throughout Europe. In 2010, Galou released her first solo album, "Agitata," which featured a selection of baroque arias by composers such as Vivaldi, Handel, and Porpora. The album was a critical success and helped to establish Galou as one of the leading contraltos of her generation. In the years that followed, Galou continued to perform and record extensively, collaborating with some of the most renowned early music ensembles and conductors in the world. She also began to expand her repertoire, exploring works from the classical and romantic periods as well as contemporary music. One of Galou's most notable performances came in 2017, when she sang the role of Ottone in a production of Monteverdi's opera "L'incoronazione di Poppea" at the Salzburg Festival. The production, which was directed by Jan Lauwers, was widely praised for its innovative staging and Galou's performance was singled out for its emotional intensity and vocal virtuosity. Galou has also been the recipient of numerous awards and accolades throughout her career. In 2011, she was awarded the prestigious Prix Liliane Bettencourt pour le chant choral, which recognizes outstanding young singers in France. She has also been nominated for several International Classical Music Awards and was named "Artist of the Year" by the French magazine Diapason in 2018. Today, Galou is widely regarded as one of the leading contraltos of her generation, with a voice that is both powerful and expressive.

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