When Marvin Murphree, pictured at right, describes his involvement in opera as an accident, he means it literally. Decades ago as a student and football player, his life took a turn after a tackle. “Serious injury made my future as a professional linebacker an impossibility, and I ended up majoring in music. Incredibly my first role was the lead in The Marriage of Figaro.
Throughout the years in roles ranging from Don Alfonzo in Cosi fan Tutte to Tommy Albright in Brigadoon, Murphree has appeared in opera, oratorio, song recital, and musical theatre throughout the US and Central America. At present he is an adjunct professor of voice at Missouri Southern State University in Joplin and a district and state National Association of Teacher’s of Singing award winner.
At 2:30 p.m. on Sunday, Feb. 21, 2010 in the Corley Auditorium on the Missouri Southern campus, Heartland Opera will kick off its 2010 Concert Series with "Opera! Oratorio! Ovation!" featuring Murphree and lead soprano Jennifer Youngs, a Metropolitan Opera District Finalist. They will perform with other artists, including Loria Harrington and Lendi Stirewalt. Pianists Janice Fulbright, Ph.D. and Clint Newby will serve as accompanists.
Solos and duets from opera, oratorio, and musical theatre will be performed, as well as a complete performance of Giovanni Battista Pergolesi's opera, La Serva Pedrona (The Maid Mistress) sung in English.
General admission tickets are $20 in advance, $25 at the door and $10 for students. For more information, call (417)782-4953. Go Back |
