San Diego Opera & La Jolla Music Society Present Damien Geter’s ‘Cotton’

https://operawire.com/san-diego-opera-la-jolla-music-society-present-damien-geters-cotton/

San Diego Opera and La Jolla Music Society announce the co-production of Damien Geter’s song cycle, “Cotton.” Mezzo-soprano J’Nai Bridges, baritone Justin Austin, and pianist Laura Ward perform. “Cotton” features the photography of John Dowell with newly commissioned poetry set to music by composer Damien Geter. “I am so thrilled to partner with La Jolla Music Society on Cotton, an {…}

Interviews

Q & A: Composer Damien Geter & Librettist Jarrod Lee of ‘Delta King Blues’ on the Evolution of Opera

https://operawire.com/q-a-composer-damien-geter-librettist-jarrod-lee-of-delta-king-blues-on-the-evolution-of-opera/

(Photo credit: Rachel Hadiashar) Two likeminded creative souls, while working in the production of the Met’s “Porgy and Bess,” met over coffee, serendipitously, decided to collaborate on a work based on the life of Robert Johnson, and the legend surrounding his life. The resulting opera is “Delta King Blues” and the men in question are composer Damien Geter and librettist Jarrod {…}

IndieOpera

IN Series to World Premiere Damien Geter & Jarrod Lee’s ‘The Delta King’s Blues’

https://operawire.com/in-series-to-world-premiere-damien-geter-jarrod-lees-the-delta-kings-blues/

IN Series is set to present the world premiere of “The Delta King’s Blues” this December in Baltimore and Washington, D.C. The new blues opera by composer Damien Geter and librettist Jarrod Lee is set in a juke-joint environment and is inspired by the legend of Delta blues musician Robert Johnson, who made a fateful deal with the devil. “My {…}

News

Damien Geter Takes Over as Music Director of Portland Opera

https://operawire.com/damien-geter-takes-over-as-music-director-of-portland-opera/

Damien Geter is the new Music Director of the Portland Opera. Geter, a singer, composer, and conductor, has held the interim music director tag for four years; he was appointed to the position back in 2021. In 2025-26, his song “Amanirenas” will be featured in Karen Slack’s recital “African Queens” in September. Additionally, he will conduct Verdi’s Requiem to close {…}

Behind the Scenes, Interviews

Q & A: Damien Geter, Jessica Murphy Moo, Adam Turner on Creation of ‘Loving v. Virginia’

https://operawire.com/q-a-damien-geter-jessica-murphy-moo-adam-turner-on-creation-of-loving-v-virginia/

In 1959, Richard Loving, a white man, and his wife Mildred Loving, a woman of color were convicted of violating the Racial Integrity Act of 1924 in Virginia. They were sentenced to prison by Judge Leon M. Bazile, but the sentence was suspended on the condition that they leave their home state and never return. The Lovings appealed their case {…}

IndieOpera

IN Series to Present First Reading of Damien Geter’s Faustian ‘Delta King’s Blues’

https://operawire.com/in-series-to-present-first-reading-of-damien-geters-faustian-delta-kings-blues/

IN Series is set to present the first musical reading of Damien Geter and Jarrod Lee’s “Delta King’s Blues.” The reading, set for Jan. 26, 2025, at 4 p.m. at the MLK Library Auditorium in Washington D.C., will feature Curtis Bannister as Robert Johnson, Carl Dupont as the Devil, Melissa Wimbish as Virginia, Marvin Wayne Allen III as Willy, and {…}

Business, News

Damien Geter Joins Visconti Arts Roster

https://operawire.com/damien-geter-joins-visconti-arts-roster/

Composer, conductor, and bass-baritone Damien Geter has joined renowned agency Visconti Arts’ roster. Geter is currently Composer-in-Residence at the Richmond Symphony through 2026 and is Interim Music Director and Artistic Advisor at Portland Opera. His new opera, “Loving v. Virginia” is set to feature in Virginia Opera’s 50th anniversary season. He also has another work, “Delta King’s Blues” in the {…}

News

Justin Austin Stars in New York Premiere of Damien Geter’s ‘COTTON’

https://operawire.com/justin-austin-stars-in-new-york-premiere-of-damien-geters-cotton/

(Photo credit: Gillian Riesen & Rachel Hadiashar) Justin Austin, the 2024 Marian Anderson Vocal Award winner, is set to star in the New York premiere of Damien Geter’s “COTTON.” The multimedia work presents African American stories through song, poetry, and photography. It is inspired by photographer John E. Dowell’s haunting images of South Carolina cotton fields, captured in his 2018 {…}

News

Virginia Opera to Present Damien Geter’s ‘Cotton’

https://operawire.com/virginia-opera-to-present-damien-geters-cotton/

Virginia Opera is set to present Damien Geter’s “Cotton.” The song cycle, which premiered as part of LyricFest’s 20th anniversary season, celebrates African-American heritage through a fusion between music and poetry inspired by the photography of Philadelphia artist John Dowell. Audiences will hear baritone Adam Richardson and mezzo-soprano Tesia Kwarteng, with the composer attending select performances. Performances kick off on {…}

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San Diego Opera & La Jolla Music Society Present Damien Geter’s ‘Cotton’

Q & A: Composer Damien Geter & Librettist Jarrod Lee of ‘Delta King Blues’ on the Evolution of Opera

IN Series to World Premiere Damien Geter & Jarrod Lee’s ‘The Delta King’s Blues’

Damien Geter Takes Over as Music Director of Portland Opera

Q & A: Damien Geter, Jessica Murphy Moo, Adam Turner on Creation of ‘Loving v. Virginia’

IN Series to Present First Reading of Damien Geter’s Faustian ‘Delta King’s Blues’

Damien Geter Joins Visconti Arts Roster

Justin Austin Stars in New York Premiere of Damien Geter’s ‘COTTON’

Virginia Opera to Present Damien Geter’s ‘Cotton’