Mezzo-soprano Frances Pallozzi Wittmann has come to be known as an accomplished vocalist in the concert hall, on the operatic stage, and in recital. Critics across the country have found her to have a "glorious, warm, full voice" that is "captivating" and "tonally resplendent."
Making her New York City concert debut at Lincoln Center's Alice Tully Hall, Ms. Pallozzi Wittmann performed with the Little Orchestra Society in the American premiere of Vivaldi's Dixit Dominus. She made return appearances with the group both as a soloist in their Vivaldi's Venice series and as the mother in their annual production of Amahl and the Night Visitors at Avery Fisher Hall. She went on to win national acclaim as a concert soloist performing such works as the Durufle Requiem with the Utica, Catskill, and Schenectady Symphonies, Handel's Messiah with the Shreveport, Syracuse, and Jacksonville Symphonies, C.P.E. Bach's Magnificat with the Monterey Symphony, and Beethoven's Ninth Symphony with the Sun Cities Symphony, among others. She has been featured with most of the choral groups in the Albany area including Albany Pro Musica, Burnt Hills Oratorio Society, the Mendelssohn Club, and Capitol Hill Choral Society in such works as Bach's B Minor Mass, Christmas Oratorio, Magnificat, and St. Matthew Passion; Handel's Messiah, Mendelssohn's Elijah, Mozart's Requiem, and the Brahms Alto Rhapsody.
In 1993, Ms. Pallozzi Wittmann made her New York City Opera debut in featured roles in The Mikado, Madama Butterfly, and the world premiere of Lucas Foss' Griffelkin. She returned the following season for several productions including the new La Traviata which was telecast on the PBS Live from Lincoln Center series. Some of Ms. Pallozzi Wittmann's other operatic credits include the title role of Carmen (Lake George Opera Festival), Prince Orlofsky in Die Fledermaus (Oswego Opera), Giulietta in Les Contes d'Hoffmann (Liederkranz Foundation), and Emilia in Othello (Cincinnati Opera, Syracuse Opera). She began her operatic training as a young artist with both Glimmerglass Opera and the Lake George Opera Festival.
Ms. Pallozzi Wittmann has toured throughout northern Italy with Sessioni Senesi per la Musica e l'Arte and has won such competitions as the Liederkranz Foundation, the Long Island Opera, and the Schenectady Light Opera. She holds graduate degrees in vocal performance and vocal pedagogy from Indiana University School of Music. She has maintained a private studio in the Albany area since 1989 and has also taught in many of the area college music programs. She has been teaching at the University at Albany since 1999.
What Alumni are Saying About Professor Wittmann
"As an alumnus of the voice program at the University at Albany, I have to say that my work with Professor Frances Wittmann not only made me a better musician and a singer, but it also taught me discipline, focus and self-confidence… I highly recommend the program for anyone who is looking to get a better understanding of singing and stage work as a musician."
Tina Haq ’19
"I believe Fran’s voice class was a game changer for me."
Ugochi Nriaka ’18
"I had the pleasure of taking private vocal lessons with Professor Wittmann for nearly two years. At the time I was a theatre student and very, very nervous singing onstage. Fran’s teaching is effective and structured, she will have you making leaps and bounds in your training in just a few short months as long as you keep up with your work! I’m now a pre-med student and can very confidently say that her training helped me to become a better communicator and a more confident person in everyday life. My time in the vocal studio had challenged me unlike anything I’d ever done before, and I will be genuinely forever grateful for the opportunity to learn from Fran and for the musical and life skills singing has given me. The program allows you to learn from not only yourself but from the other students in the program learning alongside you. It was the most valuable part of my experience in the University outside of my current major, and despite the change in life path, I would not take back a second of time I spent in the vocal program. To me, it has proven to be more than worth the hard work no matter what path you decide to take."
Laney Theis ‘21
"Fran is a phenomenal voice teacher because she truly cares about each of her students and wants them to succeed. She is so knowledgeable about the voice, and she takes the time to explain everything in a way that the student will understand… I recommend Fran to anyone who is interested in learning more about how their voice works and how to best use it, and who wants to be a more confident performer not only on stage, but in their entire life."
Tony Leva ‘20
"Professor Fran Wittmann gave me a lifetime of tools and tricks I will use for the rest of my performance career. Whether it is for eight semesters or only one, the UAlbany voice department is a must for anyone who wants to find their inner voice."
Mike Davies ‘21
"In addition to the weekly voice lesson, Fran also provides us a variety of opportunities to perform on stage, such as vocal competitions, master classes and concerts. You will have a lot of fun and make amazing progress by participating in those terrific events."
Zhuohang Li ‘21
"Now four years out of the program, I highly regard and recommend the vocal program at UAlbany. It has given me the liberty to act, perform and be silly on stage as a result of learning the technique to sing correctly and maintain a healthy voice. Come and join the vocal program—you'll be in for a fun ride!"
Noni Murphy ‘17