Contact
Helene Erenberg, 404-413-5914
GSU School of Music
ATLANTA – The Georgia State University School of Music is hosting the Harrower Summer Opera Workshop from June 6 to 26. Founded by Peter and Irene Harrower, the workshop is a three-week program including daily acting and movement classes, private coaching, instruction in stage makeup and stage combat, seminars and masterclasses with international artists, and public presentations of staged and costumed one-act operas and operatic scenes.
Carroll Freeman, Valerie Adams Distinguished Professor in Opera at Georgia State and Classical Singer magazine’s 2010 Opera Director of the Year, will serve as the Workshop’s artistic director; GSU School of Music Director W. Dwight Coleman serves as general director. They will lead a group of esteemed resident faculty, including internationally renowned guest artist Denyce Graves, mezzo-soprano. Ms. Graves will present a masterclass for Harrower Workshop participants, in addition to performing at the Gala Opera Dinner on June 12, 2011.
Recognized worldwide as one of today’s most exciting vocal stars, Denyce Graves continues to gather unparalleled popular and critical acclaim in performances on four continents. Her career has taken her to the world’s great opera houses and concert halls, where she has become particularly well-known to operatic audiences for her portrayals of the title roles in "Carmen" and "Samson et Dalila." These signature roles have brought Ms. Graves to the Metropolitan Opera, Vienna Staatsoper, Royal Opera, Covent Garden, San Francisco Opera, Opéra National de Paris, Lyric Opera of Chicago, The Washington Opera, Bayerische Staatsoper, Arena di Verona, Deutsche Oper Berlin, Opernhaus Zürich, Teatro Real in Madrid, Houston Grand Opera, Dallas Opera, Teatro Colón in Buenos Aires, Los Angeles Opera and the Festival Maggio Musicale in Florence. Ms. Graves appears regularly on radio and television as a musical performer, celebrity guest and as the subject of documentaries and other special programming. She has been featured in over 20 recordings, including "Denyce Graves: A Cathedral Christmas," a program of Christmas music from Washington’s National Cathedral; "Voce di Donna," a solo recording of opera arias; and "The Lost Days," a recording with jazz musicians of Latin songs in the Spanish and Portuguese languages, among many others.
About the Workshop
The 2011 Summer Workshop boasts an impressive faculty, including Carroll Freeman, artistic director/acting teacher/stage director (Georgia State University, New York City Opera, Edinburgh Festival, Houston Grand Opera, Opera Bobigny-Paris); W. Dwight Coleman, general director/stage director (Georgia State University School of Music, New Orleans Opera, Atlanta Opera, La Musica Lirica, Italy); Copeland Woodruff, acting teacher/stage director (Juilliard School of Music, University of Memphis, Oberlin, New York City Opera, Chautauqua Opera); Reed Woodhouse, musical director/coach (Juilliard School of Music, Manhattan School of Music, New England Conservatory, Chautauqua Opera); Joseph Mechavich, musical director/coach (Kentucky Opera, Opera Birmingham, Washington National Opera); Christy Lee, musical director/coach (Opera Memphis, Chattanooga Opera, Pensacola Opera, Cleveland Opera); ChristinaNoel Reaves, movement (Dancewave, DanceNOW, Jody Oberfelder Dance Project); Chase Julie Ann Wagner, costuming (Theatrical Outfit); John Williams, lighting (Rubicon Studios); Marcus Durham, stage combat instructor (Atlanta Opera, Theatrical Outfit, Atlanta Ballet); and Don and Linda Guillot, makeup instruction (New Orleans Opera).
Fifty participants from across the United States were selected through a series of competitive live and taped auditions for the workshop and masterclasses.
Gala Opera Dinner at 103 West – June 12
In conjunction with the Harrower Opera Workshop, the School of Music will present a Gala Opera Dinner at 103 West on Sunday, June 12 from 6 - 9:30 p.m. This fundraiser for Opera Studies at Georgia State will include a gourmet three-course dinner including one glass of wine, accompanied by operatic performances featuring singers from the 2011 Harrower Summer Opera Workshop and special guest artist Denyce Graves. Graves will also be available for a pre-gala reception and CD signing, beginning at 6 p.m., with the purchase of a platinum level ticket. Dinner will be preceded by silent auction featuring unique items, ranging from a week at a beach condo, to voice coachings, to event tickets and much more. The auction/cocktail hour will begin at 6:30 p.m., with bids closing at 7:15 p.m.
Ticket Levels for the Gala are as follows:
• Silver Ticket - $120: Includes one ticket to the Gala Opera Dinner and Silent Auction
• Gold Ticket - $150: Includes benefits above, PLUS one ticket to each of the Harrower Performances: Friday, June 24, 7:30 pm - Puccini’s IL TRITTICO; Sunday, June 26, 3:00 pm - Opera Scenes at the Florence Kopleff Recital Hall
• Platinum Ticket - $250: Includes benefits above, PLUS admission to an exclusive Meet & Greet hosted cocktail reception and in-person CD signing (CD included) with Denyce Graves.
103 West is located at 103 West Paces Ferry Road, Atlanta, GA, 30305. Complimentary valet parking is included. Reservations are requested by Friday, June 10, 2011, and can be made by calling the School of Music at 404-413-5914.
Performances of Opera Scenes – June 24 and 26
The workshop will culminate in performances on Friday, June 24, 2011 at 7:30 p.m. and Sunday, June 26 at 3 p.m. Friday’s performance will feature Puccini’s "IL TRITTICO" (The Triptych), a collection of three one-act operas: "Il tabarro," "Suor Angelica" and "Gianni Schicchi." Sunday’s performance will include scenes from Adamo’s "Little Women;" Bizet’s "Carmen;" Delibes’ "Lakmé;" Floyd’s "Of Mice And Men;" Leoncavallo’s "Pagliacci;" Loesser’s "The Most Happy Fella;" Menotti’s "The Medium" and "The Old Maid And The Thief;" Mozart’s "Le nozze di Figaro;" Paulus’ "The Postman Always Rings Twice;" Rossini’s "L’Italiana in Algeri;" Ward’s "Roman Fever;" and Weill’s "Street Scene."
Tickets, available at the door, are $20 general admission and $10 students with ID. All performances will be held at the Florence Kopleff Recital Hall, located at the corner of Gilmer Street and Peachtree Center Avenue, inside the Arts & Humanities Building, on Georgia State’s campus in downtown Atlanta. Parking is available for a fee at the Recital Hall “I” Lot (parking entrance on Peachtree Center Avenue). For additional information, contact the Georgia State School of Music at 404-413-5914 or 404-413-5901 or visit www.music.gsu.edu.