Carlisle Floyd on campus for public master class, lecture recital and informal talk
Composer, librettist, pianist and teacher Carlisle Floyd has written operas for many of America’s cherished stories, basing much of his subject matter on Southern themes. From Latta, South Carolina, Floyd's hits "Susannah" and "Of Mice and Men" have made him among the most performed living opera composers today. Floyd will present public events on the Columbia campus on April 24 and 25.
Floyd’s operas are performed throughout America and Europe and “Susannah” and “Of Mice and Men” have become standard repertoire. He has had several world premiers at the prestigious Houston Grand Opera and was one of eight recipients of the National Medal of Arts in 2004. He is also the winner of a Guggenheim Fellowship, the Citation of Merit from the National Association of American Conductors and Composers and the National Opera Institute’s Award for Service to American Opera. He was the only composer to be included in the inaugural National Endowment for the Arts Opera Honors in 2008 and was the recipient of an honorary Doctor of Music from the University of South Carolina this past December.
His primary teacher was pianist Ernst Bacon whom he followed from South Carolina to Syracuse University in New York where the young musician earned a Bachelor and a Master of Music. Floyd joined the piano faculty of Florida State University where he began exploring an interest in composition, writing both the libretti and the music for operas with a distinctly American voice.
Thursday, April 24, 3:30-5:30 p.m.
Carlisle Floyd Master Class
School of Music Recital Hall
Free and open to the public.
Thursday, April 24, 7:00-9:00 p.m.
Private Banquet to honor Carlisle Floyd
Villa Tronco Italian restaurant, 1213 Blanding St, Columbia
Limited seats available. You may attend for minimum donation of $40, which includes
dinner, Prosecco, entertainment from area opera singers and pianists, and the opportunity
to meet Mr. Floyd.
Please make donations payable to USC School of Music and include "Carlisle Floyd"
in the memo.
For tickets, call 803-256-4081 or 256-7677.
Friday, April 25, 2:30-4:00 p.m.
Carlisle Floyd will give an informal talk on his new opera.
School of Music, room 210
Free and open to the public.
Friday, April 25 at 7:30 p.m.
Lecture Recital
School of Music Recital Hall
Free and open to the public.
Join us as we explore the two versions of "The Passion of Jonathan Wade," set in Columbia,
S.C. (1962 and 1991). The event includes a lecture by the composer and a musical scene
from the 1991 version of the opera.
Sponsored by: USC School of Music, Opera at USC, Music History Colloquium, Department of Voice, Department of Southern Studies, Sigma Alpha Iota, Cola-Music Academy, and Columbia Music Teachers Association.