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Ryan MacPherson is appearing in the New York City Opera
production of Haroun and the Sea of Stories, which
is based on Salman Rushdie’s popular children’s
book, a magical tale about the love between a parent and
a child. Pulitzer Prize-winning composer Charles Wuorinen
wrote the music; poet James Fenton adapted the libretto
from Rushdie’s novel. Stephen Mosher photo
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Vocal
Treat
By Nancy Moen
Singer Ryan MacPherson, BES ’97, already
knows what he’ll be wearing as a Halloween costume this
year.
MacPherson will appear as the water genie,
Iff, in the world premiere of Haroun and the Sea of Stories
at New York City Opera. He will sing one of the lead tenor roles
in that company’s commissioned work of the year, which opens
Oct. 31 and runs through November 11.
This is MacPherson’s first major role
at New York City
Opera, but he has sung smaller roles and worked as an understudy
for the company. He’s especially pleased to be involved
in the creation of new music.
“It’s wonderful to be on the cutting
edge of the music world, where new music is being produced,”
he says. “It’s a way to demonstrate my ability as
well as my dedication to new music. What most people don’t
know about me is that I’ve done a lot of modern opera.”
Among the modern operas MacPherson has worked
with is MU’s original musical drama, Corps
of Discovery: A Musical Journey. He sang the lead role
of Meriwether Lewis in the world premiere in Columbia, Mo., and
later appeared as George Shannon in the professional premiere
at Opera Memphis.
MacPherson is considered a rising star in
the opera world. After debuting last summer with New York City
Opera, Toledo Opera and Opera Omaha, among others, he joined Santa
Fe Opera’s Apprentice program. He toured the nation twice
with San Francisco Opera’s Western Opera Theatre Tour as
Alfred in Die Fledermaus, and then again in Cosi
fan tutte as Ferrando.
At Opera Memphis, he sang the lead tenor role
of Rodolfo in a 2004 production of La Boheme. With alumna Caroline
Worra in the title role of The Merry Widow, MacPherson
will sing the lead role of Camille at Opera Memphis March 18 and
19.
Michael Ching, artistic director of Opera
Memphis, considers MacPherson an all-around talent.
“He is a superb musician,” Ching
says. “He has natural vocal ability, is a great actor and
attractive on stage. I expect him to go far. In Memphis, we intend
to re-engage him for as long as he will have us.” Ching
discovered MacPherson through MU’s commissioning of the
opera Corps of Discovery, which Ching composed.
MacPherson is planning a CD of holiday music
to be released before December 2005. His web site is at RyanMacPherson.com.
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Last Update:
November 15, 2007
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