Lawrence Brownlee, Tenor
Kevin Miller, Piano
Sunday, March 9, 2025 | 5 pm
Memorial Hall, OTR
Lawrence Brownlee is a leading figure in opera, both as a singer on the world’s top stages and as a voice for activism and diversity in the industry. He has been hailed as “one of the world’s leading bel canto stars” (The Guardian), captivating audiences and critics around the world. He is a fixture at leading international opera houses and major orchestra halls. Named “Male Singer of the Year” by both the International Opera Awards (2017) and Bachtrack, he has been featured on PBS, NPR, Sirius Radio, American Public Media and other national outlets. Included among his other numerous awards and distinctions are the Kennedy Center’s Marian Anderson Award, the Opera News Award (2021) and Grand Prize winner at the 2001 Metropolitan Opera National Council auditions.
Highlights of Brownlee’s past seasons include his role debut, to great acclaim, in the title role of Rameau’s Platèe with Opéra National de Paris; role debut as Edgardo in Lucia di Lammermoor at New National Theatre Tokyo; and he added Fernand to his repertoire in a new production of Donizetti’s La Favorite with Houston Grand Opera. His signature Rossini roles include Rodrigo in Otello, the title role of Le comte Ory, and Tamino in Die Zauberflöte.
Brownlee’s acclaimed recording career includes Donizetti’s rarely- performed song repertoire and the album Rising, which was nominated for a Grammy in 2023. In 2021, Brownlee joined The Juilliard School as a
Distinguished Visiting Faculty Member. He serves as artistic advisor for Opera Philadelphia, Ambassador for Lyric Opera of Chicago’s Lyric Unlimited, and Ambassador for Opera for Peace.
Lawrence Brownlee's GRAMMY nominated album "Rising" is named one of The New York Times' "Best Classical Music Albums of 2024".
VIDEOS
Kevin Miller, Piano
American pianist and collaborator Kevin J. Miller is acclaimed for his dynamically artful performances. Recent collaborations include recitals with international tenor Lawrence Brownlee at Carnegie Hall and Houston Grand Opera, countertenor John Holiday at the Kennedy Center and The Barbican in London, Joseph Calleja and Nadine Sierra at the Supreme Court of the United States, as well as an appearance with Mr. Calleja on NPR’s Tiny Desk Concert series. Mr. Miller prepared soprano Jessye Norman for performances of Laura Karpman’s production of Ask Your Mama, which was performed at Carnegie Hall. He also collaborated with the acclaimed countertenor, David Daniels, in a recital at the Glimmerglass Festival. He can be heard on piano on the recording Been in da Storm So Long, which features baritone Kenneth Overton.
Mr. Miller studied at the Mannes College of Music, where he received a Bachelor of Music degree in Piano. He continued his studies at the University of Michigan School of Music where he received both a Master of Music degree and the Artist Diploma in Collaborative Piano under the tutelage of Martin Katz.
In addition to his formal studies, Mr Miller has been a participant in some of the country’s most prestigious festivals and young artist apprenticeships that include The Tanglewood Institute of Music, Aspen Summer Music Festival, The Cleveland Art Song Festival, San Francisco Opera’s Merola Opera Program, Washington National Opera’s Domingo-Cafritz Young Artist Program and the Glimmerglass Festival. Upon completion of his apprenticeship at the Glimmerglass Festival, he was invited to serve as a vocal coach at the Glimmerglass Festival.
PROGRAM
For the project, Brownlee has commissioned six of today's leading African-American composers - Damien Sneed, Brandon Spencer, Jasmine Barnes, Joel Thompson, and Shawn E. Okpebholo - ot set poetry from the Harlem Renaissance ot song, including poems by Alice Dunbar Nelson, Claude McKay, Langston Hughes, James Weldon Johnson, and more. The songs revolve around themes of joy, empowerment, faith, love, and strength ni the face of challenge. Brownlee has also collaborated closely with Dr. Louise Toppin, soprano and vocal professor at the University of Michigan, to revive select works from famed composers Margaret Bonds and Robert Owen; in addition to including works from composer Jeremiah Evans. The project features accompaniment from pianist and collaborator Kevin J. Miller.
-Nocturne .................. Joseph Marx (1882-1964)
-Selige Nacht
-Die Elfe
-Christbaum
-Hat dich die Liebe berührt
-Peace .................................... Jasmine Barnes
-I know my soul ................... Brandon Spencer
-Vocalise III .......................... Carlos Simon
-Beauty that is never old ..... Damien L. Sneed
-The Gift to Sing
-Romance ............................ Shawn E. Okpebholo
-My People .......................... Joel Thompson
INTERMISSION
-Ad una stella .................... Giuseppe Verdi (1813-1901)
-Aria from Rigoletto: La donna mobile
-Me voglio fan a casa ......... Gaetano Donizetti (1797-1848)
-Aria from Rita: Allegro io son
-La lontanaza .................... Gioachino Rossini (1792-1868)
-Aria from L'occasione fa il ladro: D'ogni piu sacro
-La ricordanza ................... Vincenzo Bellini (1801-1835)
-Aria from Il pirata: Nel furor delle tempeste
