Paulo Szot

Infobox actor


imagesize = 180px
birthdate = 1969
birthplace = São Paulo, Brazil
birthname =
spouse =
yearsactive = 1990-present
occupation = Actor, singer
tonyawards = Best Leading Actor in a Musical
2008 "South Pacific"
awards =

Paulo Szot (IPA|) (born 1969) is a Tony Award-winning Brazilian opera baritone singer and actor. In 2008, he made his Broadway debut as Emile De Becque in a revival of "South Pacific".

Biography

Szot was born in São Paulo and raised in suburban Ribeirão Pires.cite news | author=Jesse Green| title=You May See a Stranger | url=http://www.nytimes.com/2008/04/06/theater/06gree.html | work=New York Times | date=6 April 2008| accessdate=2008-06-16] He began his musical training in piano at the age of five and later added violin and classical ballet. However, at age 21, any aspirations for a career in dance were dashed by a knee injury, causing him, with encouragement from his instructor, to focus on singing instead.cite news | author=Kathy Henderson | title=Paulo Szot, Fresh Face Interview | url=http://www.broadway.com/GEN/Buzz_Story.aspx?ci=563043 | work=Broadway.com | date=3 March 2008| accessdate=2008-06-16]

Szot studied at University Jagiellonski, Poland, from where his parents had emigrated following World War II. He began singing professionally in 1990 with the National Song & Dance Ensemble Slask. Later, he made his professional opera debut in a production of "Il Barbiere di Siviglia" at the Municipal Theatre of São Paulo in 1997.

Since then, he has performed with the New York City Opera, the Palm Beach Opera, the Metropolitan Opera, the Canadian Opera Company, Opera de Marseille, and Vlaamse Opera, among others, in such operas as "L'Elisir d'Amore", "La Bohème", "Don Giovanni", "Cavalleria Rusticana", "I Pagliacci", "Carmen", "Cosi fan Tutte", "Le Nozze di Figaro" and "Maria Golovin".

Of his performance in "South Pacific", Ben Brantley of the "New York Times" said the following: "When he delivers 'Some Enchanted Evening' or 'This Nearly Was Mine,' it's not as a swoon-making blockbuster (though of course it is), but as a measured and honest consideration of love." [cite news | author=Ben Brantley| title=Optimist Awash in the Tropics| url=http://theater2.nytimes.com/2008/04/04/theater/reviews/04paci.html?scp=1&sq=%22Paulo+Szot%22&st=nyt | work=The New York Times | date=4 April 2008| accessdate=2008-06-16] For his performance in "South Pacific", Szot has won awards such as the Drama Desk, the Outer Critics Circle, the Theatre World Award, and the Tony Award, becoming the first Brazilian actor to receive such honor. He has also been nominated for the Drama League Award for Distinguished Performance.

Awards and nominations

;Awards
*2000: Prêmio Carlos Gomes for Best Vocal Performance
*2008: Outer Critics Circle Award for Outstanding Actor in a Musical - "South Pacific"
*2008: Theatre World Award - "South Pacific"
*2008: Drama Desk Award for Outstanding Actor in a Musical - "South Pacific"
*2008: Tony Award for Best Actor in a Musical - "South Pacific"

;Nominations
*2008: Drama League Award for Distinguished Performance - "South Pacific"
*2008: Audience Award for Favorite Male Breakthrough Performance - "South Pacific"

References

External links

*
* [http://www.theatermania.com/content/news.cfm/story/12884 TheaterMania.com interview with Szot]
* [http://www.playbill.com/celebritybuzz/article/118107.html Brief EncounterWith Paulo Szot]