Jamez McCorkle explained

Jamez McCorkle
Birth Date:[1]
Birth Place:New Orleans, Louisiana, U.S.
Alma Mater:Curtis Institute of Music
Occupation:Opera singer
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Jamez McCorkle (born) is an American opera singer.[2] [3] [4] A tenor, he is known for originating the title role in the 2022 opera Omar.

Early life and education

McCorkle was born in New Orleans. His mother, who was very supportive of him, died just before his college auditions.[5] McCorkle originally focused on piano before switching to voice, later graduating from the Curtis Institute of Music.

Career

McCorkle's first contracted opera performance was the role of Vladimir Lensky in Eugene Onegin, at the Spoleto Festival USA in 2017.[6] [7] Prior to that, in 2012 he took part in the "I Sing Beijing" program, performing at the National Centre for the Performing Arts (China),[8] and appeared on a popular China Central Television program, performing George Gershwin's "It Ain't Necessarily So" alongside American soprano Meghan Picerno and Dutch-Canadian Tenor Lucas van Lierop.[9]

His other operatic roles include Peter the Honeyman in Porgy and Bess, the Duke of Cornwall in Lear, Leonard Woolf in The Hours, and Telemaco in Il ritorno d'Ulisse in patria.

In May 2022, McCorkle sang the title role of Omar ibn Said, an enslaved Muslim scholar, in the world premiere of Omar at the Spoleto Festival USA. He went on to perform the same role in productions throughout the country, and the opera went on to receive the 2023 Pulitzer Prize for Music.

In May 2023, McCorkle performed an original interpretation of the song cycle Dichterliebe ("A Poet's Love"), with music by Robert Schumann set to poetry by Heinrich Heine. He sang and accompanied himself on the piano, alongside video projections by visual designer Miwa Matreyek and dancing by Jah'Mar Coakley.[10]

External links

Notes and References

  1. News: Looseleaf . Victoria . Jamez McCorkle Dives Deep Into Omar . November 14, 2023 . . October 3, 2022.
  2. News: Looseleaf . Victoria . Jamez McCorkle Dives Deep Into Omar . November 14, 2023 . . October 3, 2022.
  3. News: Mack . Diane . Acclaimed tenor Jamez McCorkle on his upcoming hometown performance in NOLA . August 15, 2023 . . August 15, 2023.
  4. News: Rowe . Georgia . 'Omar,' a unique opera drawn from a slave's memoirs, comes to SF . November 14, 2023 . . October 31, 2023.
  5. News: Byrd . Craig . Jamez McCorkle Contemplates His Role in "Omar" . November 14, 2023 . Cultural Attaché . November 4, 2022.
  6. News: Hogan . Maura . In the name of love, the tremendous tenor of 'Omar' returns to Spoleto . November 14, 2023 . . May 17, 2023.
  7. News: Hogan . Maura . Spoleto Review: The man who would be Omar returns to Charleston, with love . November 14, 2023 . . May 27, 2023.
  8. Web site: McCorkle . Jamez . Jamez McCorkle - 那就是我 (Na Jiu Shi Wo) - NCPA Beijing, China - I Sing Beijing Gala Concert . YouTube . September 10, 2012 . January 5, 2024.
  9. Web site: Hunter . Briana . "It Ain't Necessarily So" . YouTube . January 4, 2013 . January 5, 2024.
  10. News: Hardy . Aiyana . Review: McCorkle's 'A Poet's Love' offers moving visual storytelling . November 14, 2023 . . May 27, 2023.