Join The Drunken Tenor and Seattle Opera June 26, 2020 at 7pm (PST)

The partner organization for this recital is Onyx Fine Arts Collective, which celebrates and promotes work by artists of African descent living in the Pacific Northwest. Run entirely by volunteers, the collective operates Gallery ONYX at Pacific Place in downtown Seattle. Back in 2018 Seattle Opera was presenting Porgy and the two organizations came together to celebrate Black artistry with a special event and reception. Check out Gallery Onyx in person when it’s safe to do so, but in the mean time, find them on Facebook or their website.

What happens when the world’s most irresponsible tenor performs the world’s
most beautiful music, but online?

PIANO, DAVID MCDADE | SOPRANO, JENNIFER BROMAGEN

Seattle Opera’s streaming performance brings something different to your computer screens. In the spirit of Victor Borge, P.D.Q. Bach, and Beverly Sills on The Muppet Show, Metropolitan Opera tenor Robert McPherson is joined by Head of Coach-Accompanists David McDade and soprano, Jennifer Bromagen for a performance that demystifies classical music with a tongue-in-cheek online performance sure to make you smile.

With far more confidence than technical skill, McPherson’s tipsy persona strives to find the humor in shared experiences of social distancing by poking fun at the pitfalls of virtual meeting spaces. Can he use technology to connect? Can he effectively create a program to uplift and inspire? Will he remember how to turn on his camera or mute his microphone when flushing?

Program includes popular favorites by Bizet and Verdi, a little bit of Schubert, and several surprises – shaken, not stirred.*

If you are enjoying Seattle Opera’s digital opera offerings, please make a donation to support the artists and staff that are collaborating to bring you opera in new ways.

*No composers were harmed in the making of this prerecorded performance broadcast.

“Seattle Opera BRAVO! Club is proud to have not only hosted the Drunken Tenor’s first appearance, but also his first full-length show. We didn’t know what to expect the first time the Drunken Tenor staggered in to perform—at a meadery of all places—but from his first aria to his final swig, the only thing we were doing besides laughing was agreeing to have him back. The Drunken Tenor has now performed for the Seattle Opera BRAVO! Club three times and can’t wait for a fourth. It’s a mix of opera, standup comedy, and a great performance that appeals to both opera newbies and long-time fans alike. After the last show one of our members said, “I’ve never seen standup opera before,” and the Drunken Tenor answered, “Neither had I, but I thought it should exist,” and we couldn’t agree more.”

Seattle Opera BRAVO! Club says…

“We went to Bumbershoot to see Weezer and saw your show in the schedule. Thought we’d give it a shot. Weezer was great. Yours was epic. Life fans here!!!”

— Matt Ackerman, Facebook