Diehn Series Concert: Rod Gilfry with the Norfolk Chamber Consort

Pre-concert discussion by Andrey Kasparov, 7:15 p.m.

American baritone Rod Gilfry, two-time Grammy award nominee, singer and actor, has performed in all the world's music capitals. His most recent Grammy award nomination was for his performance in the title role of Messiaen's monumental opera Saint François d'Assise in Amsterdam. Best-known as an opera singer, he is also an acclaimed recitalist and concert artist, and appears frequently in musical theater classics. His discography of 28 audio and video recordings includes the DVD and CD of his one-man show My Heart is So Full of You. His radio program, Opera Notes on Air, aired on K-Mozart 105.1 FM in Los Angeles for over three years. With a 77-role repertoire, Mr. Gilfry sings music from the Baroque to that composed expressly for him. He was brought to worldwide attention when he created the role of Stanley Kowalski in the 1998 premiere of André Previn's A Streetcar Named Desire at the San Francisco Opera, opposite Renée Fleming.

Other world premieres include Nicholas in Deborah Drattel's Nicholas and Alexandra (Los Angeles, opposite Placido Domingo); Nathan in Nicholas Maw's Sophie's Choice (London, Washington D.C.); Jack London in Libby Larsen's Every Man Jack (Sonoma, CA); Edward Gaines in Richard Danielpour's Margaret Garner (Detroit, Cincinnati, Philadelphia), the title role in Marc-André Dalbavie's Gesualdo (Zurich), and Master Chen in Christian Jost's Die Rote Laterne (Zurich). Most recently, he originated the role of Walt Whitman in Matthew Aucoin's Crossing in Boston, Claudius in Brett Dean's Hamlet with Glyndebourne Festival, Mr. Potter in Jake Heggie's It's a Wonderful Life in Houston, and David Lang's the loser in New York City.

Continuing nearly a decade of highly successful collaborations, the Norfolk Chamber Consort co-presents this project with the Diehn Concert Series. For tickets and full program information, visit oduartstix.com.

Free parking is available in Garage E, 49th Street and Bluestone Avenue, and in the circular lot between the F. Ludwig Diehn Center for the Performing Arts and Webb University Center.