PREISSER GABRIEL - CD BEING ALIVE

Popis - BEING ALIVE:
Operatic baritone Gabriel Preisser has been described as having “a matinee idol’s charm and charisma.” He excels not only in the classical repertoire but is especially noted for his work in musical theatre, operetta, and contemporary works as can be seen on this very eclectic solo album. With the talented Mary Jo Gothmann on piano, this CD ranges from Strauss to Sondheim featuring Ravel's Don Quichotte a Dulcinee and the rarely heard 'Heiterkeit und Frohlichkeit' from Lorzing's Der Wildshutz. You won't soon find a CD like this going from Music Theatre to Art Songs to Cabaret Songs to Operetta. For more info about Gabriel visit www.gabrielpreisser.com and/or read his bio below. Critically acclaimed by the New York Times, Opera News, and several others, lyric baritone Gabriel Preisser originally hails from the small town of Apopka, Florida. His resume already includes over 30 operatic and musical theater roles including Figaro in Il Barbiere di Siviglia with Kentucky Opera, Danilo in The Merry Widow with Utah Festival Opera, the title role in Don Giovanni with the Moores Opera Center, Albert in Werther with Minnesota Opera, Prince Ottokar in Der Freischütz with Des Moines Metro Opera, Falke in Die Fledermaus with El Paso Opera, and both Bob Baker in Wonderful Town and El Gallo in The Fantasticks with Skylark Opera. Upcoming, he can be seen as Belcore in L’elisir d’amore with Shreveport Opera, Mercutio in Roméo et Juliette with St Petersburg Opera, Billy Bigelow in Carousel with Minnesota Orchestra, and Le Mari in Les Mamelles de Tirésias with Opera Parall?le. He has been praised for having a “matinee idol’s charm and charisma,” “a beautiful, luscious baritone,” and “a compelling, commanding stage presence.” Known for his versatility and musicianship, Mr. Preisser is making a name for himself performing new works. He recently created the role of Lt. Gordon in the world premiere of Kevin Putz’s Pulitzer Prize winning Silent Night with Minnesota Opera and Opera Philadelphia. He will reprise Lt Gordon with Cincinnati Opera in 2014 and the original cast HD recording can be seen on PBS next year. He has also taken on the title role in Aldridge’s Elmer Gantry, Tom Joad in Gordon’s The Grapes of Wrath, and Riolobo in Catan’s Florencia en el Amazonas all at the Moores Opera Center; Antonio in Hagen’s New York Stories at Kentucky Opera; John Brooke in Adamo’s Little Women and the Shoe Salesman/Puppet role in Argento’s Postcard from Morocco both at Pensacola Opera. On the concert/recital stage he has been a featured soloist with companies such as Minnesota Orchestra, Orlando Philharmonic, Houston Bach Society, Ars Lyrica, Atlanta Ballet, and Mercury Baroque. Highlights include soloist for Orff’s Carmina Burana, Handel’s Messiah, Bach’s St. John’s Passion, Carlisle Floyd’s Pilgrimage, and Vaughan Williams’ Five Mystical Songs. His recitals have featured composers such as Charles Ives, Gerald Finzi, Schumann, Brahms, Mahler, Ravel, Poulenc, and others. He was also a featured performer on the Prairie Home Companion 2013 Mediterranean cruise. He was honored as a district winner in the 2010 Metropolitan Opera National Council Competition and won the American finals of the International Lirico Concorso Competition in 2011. Mr. Preisser was a resident artist at Minnesota Opera, Kentucky Opera, Pensacola Opera, and an apprentice artist at Des Moines Metro Opera. He graduated summa cum laude from Florida State University with a double major in Vocal Performance and Commercial Music and completed a Masters in Voice at the University of Houston. Pianist MARY JO GOTHMANN has worked for some of the most prestigious opera companies in the United States including the Metropolitan Opera and Santa Fe Opera. In 1998 Ms. Gothmann was one of two pianists invited to join the Lindemann Young Artist program at the Metropolitan Opera, and was then asked to become an assistant conductor on the music staff that same year. She has performed recitals with singers from the Metropolitan Opera as well as with instrumentalists from most of the country's major symphony orchestras. She has performed in the St. Paul Chamber Orchestra's chamber music series, with EOS Orchestra in New York City, the Taos Chamber Music Group, and as piano soloist in Gershwin’s Rhapsody in Blue with the New Mexico Symphony Orchestra. Currently, Ms Gothmann works with talented young singers at The Minnesota Opera, plays chamber music with friends from the St Paul Chamber Orchestra, and coaches singers throughout the Twin Cities area. In addition to a Master of Music degree in Collaborative Piano from the University of Minnesota, Ms.Gothmann also holds a Master of Music in piano performance from the New England Conservatory of Music and a Bachelor of Music from St. Olaf College.