Stephen F. Austin State University

NACOGDOCHES, TEXAS - The excitement in Dr. Tim King's voice is readily apparent as he discusses Stephen F. Austin State University's upcoming performance of "An American Requiem," a monumental choral and orchestra work by Grammy-nominated American composer Richard Danielpour which will feature Metropolitan Opera star Jill Grove.

The 60-minute work, which was premiered in 2001 by the Pacific Symphony, is a tribute to the American soldier and dedicated to the victims of 9/11. It combines text from a traditional Requiem mass with excerpts from American poetry.

SFA's performance is scheduled for 7:30 p.m. Friday, May 4, in W.M. Turner Auditorium on the SFA campus.

"Ours will be only the fourth performance of this composition, and the first in the Southwest," said King, SFA director of choral studies. "Only audiences in Los Angeles, New York and Cleveland have had the opportunity to hear this magnificent piece which I predict will be regarded as one of the greatest masterworks of this century."

Adding to the grandeur of the evening will be the soloists who are performing, explained King. Jill Grove, SFA alumna who is one of the leading mezzo-sopranos at the Metropolitan Opera, will be the featured female soloist.

Renowned for her distinctive dramatic mezzo soprano and passionate artistry, Grove has won critical raves throughout the United States and Europe for her distinguished portrayals of the heroines of German and Italian opera.

Grove's roles at the Metropolitan Opera have included Erda in "The Ring Cycle," Magdalene in "The Master Singers of Nuremburg" and Emilia in "Otello," all under James Levine; Madelon in "Andrea Chenier," opposite Placido Domingo; Pantalis in Mefistofele"; and Mary in "Der Fliegende Hollnder," conducted by Valery Gergiev.

Bruce Fowler, SFA assistant professor of music who earned international attention as a winner of the Plcido Domingo Operalia Competition, will sing the tenor solo.

Currently an assistant professor of voice at SFA, Fowler studied at the University of Houston, the New England Conservatory and the Juliard School in preparation for his career as a singer and educator. He has performed with the Paris Opera, La Scala, the Salzburg Festival and Lyric Opera of Chicago and in New York, Berlin, Barcelona, Rome, Montreal, Vienna and Brussels.

Scott LaGraff, SFA assistant professor of music and veteran of the operatic, concert and recital stage, will be the featured baritone.

While a member of the Tri-Cities Opera Resident Artist Training Program in Binghamton, New York, he sang the title roles in "Don Giovani" and "Le Nozze di Figaro," The Villains in "Les Contes d'Hoffmann" and Capulet in "Romeo and Juliette," among others. He has also appeared with the Syracuse, Tulsa, Pensacola, East Texas and Westchester Hudson opera companies.

"What a fabulous line-up of performers!" King said. "Such a masterpiece deserves only our finest effort and musicians."

Supporting the soloists will be 140 SFA vocal students who comprise the A Cappella Choir and Choral Union. Approximately 90 musicians from the Orchestra of the Pines, SFA Chamber Orchestra and SFA Wind Ensemble will provide the orchestral backdrop.

"It's an enormous work that deals with dichotomous extremes such as violence and peace, cruelty and love, and the reality of earthly life and the promise of heavenly rest," King said.

The concert is a joint presentation the SFA College of Fine Arts and School of Music. Tickets are $10 for adults, $8 for seniors and $5 for students. For tickets or more information, please visit www.finearts.sfasu.edu or call (936) 468-6407 or (888) 240-ARTS.