Porgy and Bess

P R O F I L E S | L Y R I C O P E R A O F C H I C A G O

LEAH DEXTER ( Annie ) Lyric Opera debut The mezzo-soprano’s portrayal of Annie has previously been heard at Michigan Opera Theatre (where she has also appeared in La traviata , La

Cincinnati College-Conservatory of Music, and the North Carolina School of the Arts. JERMAINE BROWN, JR. ( Crab Man ) Lyric Opera debut

which she has sung at Opera Birmingham and Opera Delaware. With the latter company she has been heard as the First Lady/ DieZauberflöte, and with the former she has sung Liù/ Turandot and the Priestess/ Aida. She has also appeared at Opera Colorado (Berta/ Il barbiere di Siviglia ), Sycamore Opera (Nedda/ Pagliacci ), Concert Opera of Philadelphia (title role/ Lakmé ), Opera Philadelphia, Ash Lawn Opera Festival, New York Opera Project, and Opera Theater of the Rockies. Next year Chapman-Smith will sing the “ Porgy and Bess Suite” at the Shenandoah Bach Festival, where she appeared in a Verdi opera concert in 2013. ANTHONY P. McGLAUN ( Nelson ) Lyric Opera debut Harriet Tubman: When I Crossed That Line to Freedom (New York’s American Opera Projects), Tamino/ Die Zauberflöte (Detroit’s Arbor Opera Theater), Remendado/ Carmen (Michigan Opera Theater), Robert/Hindemith’s Hin und Zurück (Tanglewood Music Center, and both Don Basilio and Don Curzio/ Le nozze di Figaro (Rome Festival). He has given many solo recitals, and among his concert appearances are “Too Hot to Handel” (Detroit Opera House) and Messiah (broadcast nationally from New York’s Abyssinian Church). In 2015 McGlaun will make his debut at Spoleto USA in Charleston, South Carolina, as Mingo/Porgy and Bess. EARL HAZELL ( Jim ) Previously at Lyric Opera: Nelson/ Porgy and Bess (2008-09). The basso cantante , debutedwithSanFranciscoOpera, TulsaOpera, Arizona Opera and Phoenix Opera in roles that include Jim/ Porgy and Bess , the Farmer/ Pagliacci , the Old Gypsy/ Il trovatore , Sarastro and The Speaker/ Die Zauberflöte , and Zuniga/ Carmen . His concert performances include “The 100th Anniversary of Carnegie Hall” with the New York Philharmonic, conducted by Zubin Mehta and James Levine of the Metropolitan Opera. He has also performed a variety of roles in numerous productions of Porgy and Bess The tenor’s varied operatic repertoire includes such varied roles as Sportin’ Life/ Porgy and Bess (Milwaukee’s Skylight Theatre), Robert/ executive director of Jazzoperetry, Inc. and a native New Yorker, has

The tenor began his training at the Youth Performing Arts High School in Louisville, Kentucky. He then studied at University

rondine , Le nozze di Figaro , and Turandot ) and on several European tours with New York Harlem Theater. Among her most important credits are Mae Jones/ Street Scene (Opera Theatre of Saint Louis), Kate Pinkerton/ Madame Butterfly (Sarasota Opera), and the title role/ Carmen (with Opera North and Arbor Opera Theater). Later this season, Dexter returns to Michigan Opera Theatre for performances of Frida . Among her concert engagements have been recent appearances with the Cincinnati Pops Orchestra and the Detroit Symphony Orchestra. CURTIS BANNISTER ( Peter ) Lyric Opera debut Madama Butterfly (American Chamber Opera), Rodolfo/ La bohème (Repertory Opera Theater of Washington), Monsieur Vogelsang/ The Impresario (Fairbanks Summer Arts Festival), and Pirelli/Sweeney Todd (OFY Productions, off-Broadway). He has also been heard as Arturo/ Lucia di Lammermoor at Sarasota Opera and Washington Summer Concert Opera. His extensive concert experience includes performances with the Metropolitan Opera National Council and the Waukesha Choral Union, as well as his European concert debut with the Musiques de Chambre/Musée du Louvre. He is an alumnus of the Peabody Conservatory of Music and the Sarasota Opera apprentice program. VERONICA CHAPMAN-SMITH ( Lily ) Previously at Lyric Opera: Lily/ Porgy and Bess (2008-09) In addition to Lyric Opera, the soprano’s association with Porgy and Bess includes the role of Clara, Among the tenor’s many leading roles throughout America have been the title role/ Otello (Utah Festival Opera), Pinkerton/

of Kentucky, where he was a vocal performance major and portrayed Robbins and the Crab Man/ Porgy and Bess (he also appeared in Gershwin’s opera at the Royal Danish Opera) and Bardolfo/ Falstaff. He has been seen as Seaweed J. Stubbs/ Hairspray and the Lion/ The Wiz at Music Theatre of Louisville. WILL LIVERMAN ( Lawyer Frazier )

Previously at Lyric Opera: Seven roles since 2012-13, most recently Servant/ Capriccio (2014-15): Figaro/ The Family Barber , Fiorello/ Il barbiere di Siviglia (both 2013-14).

The Virginia-born baritone, a third-year Ryan Opera Center member, won critical praise as the Husband/Poulenc’s Les mamelles de Tirésias last season with the Civic Orchestra of Chicago. Liverman has also been heard at Utah Festival Opera (title role/ Il barbiere di Siviglia ), The Santa Fe Opera, The Juilliard School (of which he is an alumnus), the Glimmerglass Festival, and Brevard Music Festival. Major highlights of his 2014-15 season includes Charlie Parker’s Yardbird (Opera Philadelphia) and Il barbiere di Siviglia (Madison Opera). A 2012 Metropolitan Opera National Council Auditions grand finalist and first-place winner in the 2012 Gerda Lissner Competition, Liverman has won three first-prize awards from the Chicago National Association of Teachers of Singing Competition and recently received a Sara Tucker Study Grant from the Richard Tucker Foundation. Will Liverman is sponsored by and Debbie K. Wright and an Anonymous Donor.

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