Music Director
Lawrence Harris, Baritone
Lawrence Harris is quickly gaining a reputation as an important new Verdi baritone He has received wide critical acclaim for the rich color and unique beauty of his voice as well as being a consummate singing-actor. The New York Times critic Bernard Holland hailed Lawrence Harris as a "major voice" following his New York debut. Jon Vickers praised Mr. Harris as having one of the most beautiful voices in the world. Phyllis Curtin, having heard Mr. Harris' work, has endorsed him as a significant singer of the Verdi repertoire.
Mr. Harris has appeared in leading roles with Opera North, Center City Opera Theater, Connecticut Grand Opera, Center of Contemporary Opera, Long Island Opera, Manhattan Chamber Sinfonia, New York Grand Opera. Berkeley Opera, the Wagner Society of Washington DC. the Metropolitan Opera Guild, New Rochelle Opera, Opera East Texas, San Antonio Opera, Tulsa Opera, and the Michigan Opera Theatre.
Mr. Harris' baritone debut in the title role of Rigoletto with Center City Opera at the Kimmel Center established him almost overnight as an emerging new Verdi baritone. Recent leading roles include Tonio in I Pagliacci, Amonasro in Aida, Germont in La Traviata, and Scarpia in Tosca.
He is the recipient of awards from the Metropolitan Opera National Council. NY Wagner Society, and Manhattan School of Music.
Upcoming performances include Scarpia in Tosca in Philadelphia's Kimmel Center with the Center City Opera Theater, the High Priest in Samson and Delilah with the Hawaii Opera Theatre, as well as concert performances throughout the United States.
Beth Bergman Fisher
Rockville Centre Guild for the Arts