New England Conservatory will hold its 155th Commencement on Sunday, May 17, in Jordan Hall, with acclaimed mezzo-soprano and NEC alumna Denyce Graves serving as the distinguished speaker for the occasion. Graves, who graduated from NEC in 1988 and received an honorary Doctor of Music degree from the institution in 2014, became a legendary opera star over four decades, performing {…}

Denyce Graves has announced she will retire from the stage on Jan. 24, 2026. The mezzo will take her last bow during the Metropolitan Opera’s run of “Porgy and Bess” and she will sing the role of Maria. Graves made her Met debut in 1995 and went on to sing 158 times with the company in such productions as  Kevin Puts’s {…}