Daniel Belcher, a St. Joseph native and Grammy winner, will conduct a masterclass for cast members in Missouri Western State University’s upcoming production of Mozart’s “The Magic Flute.” The class from noon to 1 p.m. on Friday, Oct. 18 in Potter Hall, room 112, will be open to the public at no charge.
Cast and crew are entering the final stages of preparation for “The Magic Flute,” which will be performed at 7 p.m. Friday and Saturday, Nov. 1 and 2, and 3 p.m. Sunday, Nov. 3. Tickets are $10 for adults and $5 for seniors, students and children.
Winner of a 2010 Grammy Award, baritone Daniel Belcher has performed in many of the world’s music capitals, including Paris, London, New York, San Francisco, Berlin, Stuttgart, Amsterdam, Geneva, Toronto, Tokyo, Seoul and Houston. With a 50-role repertoire, Belcher has championed roles from the Baroque to those composed expressly for him. He will be performing in the Lyric Opera of Kansas City’s production of “The Magic Flute” November 9-17.
Belcher came to international attention in 2004 creating the role of Prior Walter in Peter Eötvös’ “Angels in America” for the Théâtre du Châtelet in Paris, for which he was hailed by London’s The Guardian as “possessing the kind of powerhouse stuff that indicates a star in the making.” He most recently created the role of Robert Kennedy in Robin de Raaff’s “Waiting for Miss Monroe” for his debut at The Netherlands Opera and Holland Festival. Other world premiere roles include John Brooke in Mark Adamo’s “Little Women” (released on the Ondine label and recorded by PBS’ Great Performances), Andy Warhol in Michael Daugherty’s “Jackie O” (released by Decca on the Argo label) and multiple roles in Tod Machover’s “Resurrection” (released on the Ondine label), all with Houston Grand Opera.
A recording of “L’Amour de Loin,” in which Belcher portrayed Jaufré Rudel, won the 2010 Grammy Award for Best Opera Recording.
Missouri Western State University is a comprehensive regional university providing a blend of traditional liberal arts and professional degree programs. The university offers student-centered, high quality instruction that focuses on experience-based learning, community service, and state-of-the-art technology. Missouri Western is located in St. Joseph, Mo., and is committed to the educational, economic, cultural and social development of the region it serves. Visit www.missouriwestern.edu.