TUSCALOOSA, Ala. – International opera star Indra Thomas will perform Friday, Feb. 15 at 7:30 p.m. in the Moody Concert Hall on The University of Alabama campus as part of the Celebrity Series in UA’s College of Arts and Science’s School of Music.
The College’s Celebrity Series brings performers from all over the world to the Tuscaloosa community.
Thomas has performed in many of the world’s major international opera houses. Of her performance as Imogene in Bellini’s “Il Pirata” at the Caramoor Festival, The New York Times wrote, “The mad scene was a triumph…the audience awarded her a tremendous ovation.” But Thomas’ rave reviews began long before, as a teen, when she sang “What a Friend We Have in Jesus” during the funeral scene of the critically acclaimed film, “Driving Miss Daisy.”
Recently, Thomas performed opposite Roberto Alagna in the world premiere of “Le Dernier Jour d’un Condamné” by David Alagna at the Théâtre des Champs Élysées, and sang the “Porgy and Bess Suite” with the Gewandhaus Orchester, under the direction of Riccardo Chailly. She made her debut at the Teatro del Maggio Musicale Fiorentino as Amelia in “Un Ballo in Maschera” and sang the “Verdi Requiem” with the Detroit Symphony.
“My favorite thing about performing is when I’m able to connect to the audience through the music,” Thomas said. “I have hand selected all the music I will be singing at the Celebrity Series concert, so I am really looking forward to this performance.”
In addition to making her debut at The University of Alabama, Thomas also will perform at the San Diego Opera, the Cincinnati Chamber Orchestra, and the Malaysian Philharmonic Orchestra this season.
The Celebrity Series is sponsored by the Gloria Narramore Moody Foundation, which has brought world-renowned artists to Tuscaloosa since 1988. The Moody Foundation was founded in 1990 by Gloria Moody and her husband, the late Tuscaloosa businessman Frank McCorkle Moody, to support the arts and music. The Moody Foundation also has endowed scholarships at UA and has supported arts organizations elsewhere in the United States.
All performances in UA’s Celebrity Series are held in the Concert Hall of the Moody Music Building on the UA campus at 7:30 p.m. Season tickets are $72 for the general public and $55 for students. Single ticket prices are $15 for the general public and $7 for students. For more information, or to purchase tickets, phone the School of Music box office at 205/348-7111 or visit www.crimsonartstickets.com.
The final 2007-2008 Celebrity Series performance will be:
Frank Moody Memorial Concert with the Alabama Symphony Orchestra featuring violinist Itzhak Perlman —Saturday, April 12, 7:30 p.m.
The Frank Moody Memorial Concert features the reigning virtuoso of the famous violinist, Itzhak Perlman, in concert with The Alabama Symphony Orchestra.
Beloved for his charm and humanity, as well as his talent, Perlman has come to be recognized by audiences all over the world who respond not only to his flawless technique, but to his irrepressible joy of making music. Born in Israel in 1945, Perlman completed his initial training at the Academy of Music in Tel Aviv. He came to New York and soon was propelled into the international arena with an appearance on “The Ed Sullivan Show” in 1958. Following his studies at the Juilliard School, Perlman won the prestigious Leventritt Competition in 1964, which led to a burgeoning world-wide career.
Perlman has been honored with four Emmy Awards, 15 Grammy Awards and his recordings regularly appear on the best-seller charts. Harvard, Yale, Brandeis, Roosevelt, Yeshiva and Hebrew universities are among the institutions that have awarded him honorary degrees. President Ronald Reagan honored Perlman with a Medal of Liberty in 1986. In 2000, President Bill Clinton awarded Perlman the National Medal of Arts.
On television, Perlman has entertained and enlightened millions of viewers of all ages on shows as diverse as “The Late Show with David Letterman,” “Sesame Street,” and the “Tonight Show.” One of his proudest achievements was his collaboration with film score composer John Williams in Steven Spielberg’s Academy Award winning film “Schindler’s List” in which he performed the violin solos. His stage presence speaks eloquently on behalf of the disabled and his devotion to their cause is an integral part of his life.
UA’s School of Music is part of the College of Arts and Sciences, the University’s largest division and the largest liberal arts college in the state. Students from the College have won numerous national awards including Rhodes Scholarships, Goldwater Scholarships and memberships on the “USA Today” Academic All American Teams.
Contact
Sarah Colwell, College of Arts and Sciences, 205/348-8539, sccolwell@as.ua.edu