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A favorite from the Club at Chicago Symphony Center to the Frick Center in Pittsburgh, actor/singer Claudia Hommel makes solo appearances, performs in quartet, and teaches master classes—from California to New York City to New Orleans.
Adept at creating character and drama, her solo programs include Romance Language: French songs for lovers; French Impressions (featuring Fauré, Chabrier, Satie, Canteloube); Paris in the Jazz Age (1900–1940); and Souvenirs of Paris, 1950, with pianist, accordionist, jazz and chamber ensembles. Described as a “bit of Audrey Hepburn, with something of Ginger Rogers, Leslie Caron, Maurice Chevalier and ...Air Jordan,” Claudia “will make you want to dance along the Seine.”
Combining classical song and jazz, she has developed and toured with leading jazz musicians from Chicago and Paris, the Jazz Fauré Project—“French Impressionism meets American jazz”.
Born in Paris, raised in Detroit, and seasoned in New York City, Claudia Hommel now resides in Chicago. Since 1995, she has worked closely with members of the American Association of Teachers of French and of the Music Educators National Conference to bring Parisian cabaret programs to college, middle and high school students of French, social studies, theatre and music.
At home on concert and theater stages, she has worked with directors Jiri Zizka, Alvin Epstein, Rhoda Levine and Christopher Alden. Actor/director Alvin Epstein says of his protégé: “Claudia is a gifted and uniquely versatile artist, with a wide range of roles demanding deep emotional commitment or zany satirical high-jinks and everything in between, with or without music.”
A major influence and inspiration in Hommel’s theater career was her study and friendship with the late performer Martha Schlamme and Ms. Schlamme’s pianist and arranger Steven Blier (now co-director of New York Festival of Song).
Her theatrical roles include Young Nadya in Joshua Sobol’s ADAM, Guenevere in CAMELOT, Elvira in BLITHE SPIRIT, Artie in Lee Blessing’s ELEEMOSYNARY, and Hermia in A MIDSUMMER NIGHT’S
DREAM, along with several Mozart and Menotti opera roles.
Claudia Hommel is a member of the Actors Equity Association, Screen Actors Guild and American Federation of Television and Radio Artists. She is a founding member of Chicago Cabaret Professionals (CCP), advocating the development of new audiences and venues for the art of cabaret. She tours with three other members of CCP as the Espresso—4 Voices.
For intimate theatre, nightclub, private soirées and large-ensemble musical evenings, Claudia partners with some of Chicago's finest singers, pianists, accordionists, jazz combos and chamber ensembles to bring you a magical evening of theatre and song.
Ensembles
◦ Espresso: A Tasty Blend of 4 Chicago Voices
◦ The Jazz Fauré Project — French Impressionism Meets American Jazz
◦ The Travel Abroad Trio with singers Sean Harris and Elizabeth Doyle
Solos and duos
◦ Women of Paris: The Great Ladies of Song
◦ Paris in the Jazz Age: A Musical Revue
◦ Romance Language: French songs for Lovers
◦ Picasso and Matisse Go to the Music Hall: Pictures at an Exhibition
◦ French Impressions: a salon concert
◦ Souvenirs of Paris, 1950: Cabaret Theatre
◦ That's What Makes Paris, Paree: A Romp
◦ A Workingperson's Cabaret
Dorothy Andries for Pioneer Press: “For a few hours, we were in Paris, transported by a marvelous cabaret show at the Ravinia Festival starring the remarkable singer Claudia Hommel. An excellent actress, she can set a mood with a turn of her head or the look in her eyes.” More…
North Shore Magazine recommends Claudia for private parties. “She is at once sexy and sophisticated, stunning in an Audrey Hepburn sort of way.” More…
Neil Tesser for the Chicago Reader is enchanted. “Claudia Hommel plays the role of chanteuse-boulevardiere to the hilt. Her glassy tone and blithe celebrations of life make her a latter-day female counterpart to Maurice Chevalier, the quintessential French entertainer… And she offers an unspoken guarantee that you'll think you paid for the evening in euros.” More…
Ed Vincent for Oak Park Journal
“The sweet voice of Claudia Hommel will make you want to buy chocolates and dance along the Seine, to travel to Paris sooner than you had planned, or to relax in comfort and feel as though you have just returned from France.”
Art Hilgart for “Broadway Revisited” on National Public Radio
“Those who remember Germaine Montero and Juliette Greco will be rewarded by this recital, as will those who have no memories of those mid-century chanteuses. Paris born Claudia was raised in America and is now a Chicagoan, fortunate because these performances also feature violin virtuoso John Frigo. Along with accordion and rhythm section they perform a bilingual bi-national program ranging from the serious to the jazzy, with Parisian touches. The lighter numbers are especially felicitous.”
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