Justin Austin Stars in Damien Geter's American Apollo

FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE
Contact: Mallory McFarland | Morahan Arts and Media
mallory@morahanartsandmedia.com | 646-241-0899

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JUSTIN AUSTIN STARS IN THE WORLD PREMIERE OF
DAMIEN GETER’S AMERICAN APOLLO,
PRESENTED BY DES MOINES METRO OPERA

Saturday, July 13, 2024 at 8:00 pm
Thursday, July 18, 2024 at 7:30 pm
Friday, July 19, 2024 at 1:00 pm

“If I had but one word to sum up composer [...] Damien Geter… I’ll go with ‘major.’”
– The Washington Post

“stellar singing [...] He is a natural performer — a star awaiting a galaxy to form around him.”
– The Washington Post about Justin Austin

www.damiengetermusic.com | www.justin-austin.com 

Indianola, IA (May 29, 2024) — 2024 Marian Anderson Vocal Award winner Justin Austin stars in the full-length world premiere of acclaimed composer Damien Geter’s American Apollo at Des Moines Metro Opera (DMMO). Performances take place at the Blank Performing Arts Center in Indianola, Iowa on Saturday, July 13 at 8:00pm, Thursday, July 18 at 7:30pm, and Friday, July 19, 2024 at 1:00pm.

American Apollo is inspired by the January 2017 discovery of a file of previously unknown, signed sketches by the famous portraitist John Singer Sargent depicting a Black man, left to his best friend, the patron Isabella Stewart Gardner. Further investigation revealed the model to be Thomas Eugene McKeller, the model for many of Sargent’s masterworks in the final decade of his career. Geter’s opera, with a libretto by Lila Palmer, gives voice to that pivotal figure in American art: McKeller, who served as inspiration for the famous portraitist. The story centers at the crossroads of celebrity, class, race, and power in America, and themes of erasure, White gaze, and the nature of the relationship between the two men are explored in this powerful new work. American Apollo is a bittersweet, strikingly contemporary story of love, creativity, and friendship that reaches across what divides us; to reveal the complex characters behind a quintessentially American legacy—and its true inspiration—for the very first time. Des Moines audiences were previously introduced to American Apollo through a 20-minute chamber version commissioned by Washington National Opera in Summer 2022 at the Des Moines Art Center.

This world premiere opera stars baritone Justin Austin as Thomas Eugene McKeller and features a cast that includes tenor William Burden as John Singer Sargent and soprano Mary Dunleavy as Isabella Stewart Gardner. DMMO Marshall and Judy Flapan Music Director and Principal Conductor David Neely leads the production alongside stage director Shaun Patrick Tubbs.

“As we approach the premiere of the full version of American Apollo, I reflect on the journey that brought Lila Palmer and me to this point, and why Thomas McKeller’s story is significant,” remarked Damien Geter. “The importance of his narrative lies in the United States’ most recent reckoning with race relations, and the excavating of essential Black figures whose contributions to the world were covered up, lost, or forgotten. It is my hope that the music serves the drama in a way that makes the audience root for Thomas in his quest to simply be seen.” Read the composer's notes about the opera here.

Acclaimed American composer Damien Geter infuses classical music with styles from the Black diaspora to create music that furthers the cause for social justice. He is also a celebrated bass-baritone – “amazing to listen to. Possessed of a rolling, resonant voice even at the lowest register” (Northwest Reverb). Geter is Richmond Symphony’s Composer-in-Residence and Resonance Ensemble’s Artistic Advisor. His growing body of work includes chamber, vocal, orchestral, and full operatic works, with his compositions being praised for their “Skillful vocal writing” (Wall Street Journal). This spring, Des Moines Metro Opera presents the full-length world premiere of American Apollo while in the 2024-25 season, Virginia Opera gives the world premiere of Loving v. Virginia, a new major work co-commissioned by Virginia Opera and Richmond Symphony to premiere as part of Virginia Opera’s 50th Anniversary Season. Chicago Symphony Orchestra recently programmed Geter’s Annunciation and Richmond Symphony premiered a brand new work, Sinfonia Americana, conducted by Music Director Valentina Peleggi.

Possessing a “mighty lyric voice” (The New York Times) and praised in Opera News as “vocally impressive, verbally elegant,” Justin Austin’s 2023-24 season kicked off with The Metropolitan Opera’s premiere of Jake Heggie’s Dead Man Walking (bringing “crackling character” according to The Washington Post), and continued with Washington National Opera’s Romeo and Juliet at The Kennedy Center as Mercutio (“a delight of the evening”, Broadway World) as well as Lyric Opera of Chicago’s run of Terence Blanchard’s Champion, starring as Young Emile (“extraordinary”, Chicago Classical Review). This spring, he joins Des Moines Metro Opera for the world premiere of Damien Geter’s full-length American Apollo and Opera Theatre of Saint Louis in The Barber of Seville, playing Figaro. Austin recently appeared in Fire Shut Up In My Bones: Opera Suite in Concert at the Kimmel Center and then with Strathmore and Washington Performing Arts (“Austin knows how to balance force and frailty in his voice to bold dramatic effect, without ever sacrificing his careful control”, Washington Post). In addition to a vocal recital at Carnegie Hall (“Austin is gifted with an amber-hued baritone and immaculate musicianship”, Seen and Heard International), he gave further solo recitals at Pickman Hall with the Celebrity Series of Boston, Gore Recital Hall at the University of Delaware, and Spivey Hall in Atlanta, Georgia. He also gave the Marian Anderson Vocal Award Recital with Washington National Opera as the winner of the 2024 award (“his recital at the Kennedy Center’s Terrace Theater put Austin where he belongs, center stage”, Washington Post).

Back in February, Des Moines Metro Opera announced that due to strong early ticket sales, the company would add an additional performance on July 19, bringing the number of performances to three in total.

Tickets for the July 13, July 18, and July 19 performances of American Apollo range from $50 - $208 and are available at dmmo.org/tickets/ or by calling the Box Office at (515) 209-3257. For more information about American Apollo, visit dmmo.org/productions/americanapollo.

The world premiere of American Apollo is made possible by leadership support from the Pamela Bass-Bookey and Harry Bookey Charitable Foundation.

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Performance Details
American Apollo (World Premiere)
Saturday, July 13, 2024 at 8:00pm
Thursday, July 18, 2024 at 7:30pm
Friday, July 19, 2024 at 1:00pm
Blank Performing Arts Center, Des Moines Metro Opera | 513 North D St | Indianola, Iowa
Link: https://desmoinesmetroopera.org/productions/americanapollo/

DAMIEN GETER – American Apollo
Libretto by LILA PALMER

Justin Austin (Thomas Eugene McKeller)
William Burden (Jon Singer Sargent)
Mary Dunleavy (Isabella Stewart Gardner)
Tesia Kwarteng (Ida Mae McDonald)
Alex McKissick (Nicola d’Inverno)
Kendra Faith Beasley (Florence McKeller/Mrs. Smithson)
Daniel Rich (Willie McDonald)
Shyheim Selvan Hinnans (Clarence/Master of Ceremonies)
Isaiah Traylor (George)
Antonio Domino (Walter)
Robert Frazier (Jimmy O’Donnelly/Mr. Carhart)
Hayden Smith (Mr. Sparhawk)

Kate Pitt, dramaturg
David Neely, conductor
Shaun Patrick Tubbs, director
Steven C. Kemp, scenic designer
Danielle Preston, costume designer
Bridget S. Williams, lighting designer
David Murakami, projection designer
Brittany V.A. Rappise, wig and makeup designer

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About Damien Geter
Damien Geter is an acclaimed composer who infuses classical music with various styles from the Black diaspora to create music that furthers the cause for social justice, as well as a celebrated bass-baritone – “amazing to listen to. Possessed of a rolling, resonant voice even at the lowest register” (Northwest Reverb) – whose varied credits include performances from the operatic stage to the television screen. He is Composer-in-Residence at the Richmond Symphony through the 2024-25 season, and serves as Interim Music Director and Artistic Advisor at Portland Opera, as well as the Artistic Advisor for Resonance Ensemble.

Geter’s rapidly growing body of work includes chamber, vocal, orchestral, and full operatic works, with his compositions being praised for their “Skillful vocal writing” (Wall Street Journal). In the 2023-2024 season, Des Moines Metro Opera presents the full-length world premiere of his opera, American Apollo, while Virginia Opera holds a workshop of Loving v. Virginia, a new major work co-commissioned by Virginia Opera and the Richmond Symphony which will premiere as part of Virginia Opera’s 50th Anniversary Season in May 2025. Geter’s Annunciation is featured on Chicago Symphony Orchestra’s concert Montgomery and the Blacknificent 7, and Richmond Symphony will premiere a brand new work to be conducted by Music Director Valentina Peleggi. Additionally, The Recording Inclusivity Initiative records String Quartet No. 1 “Neo-Soul”.

Future commissions include premieres at Seattle Opera and Emmanuel Music, and world premiere operatic productions in 2024, 2025, and 2026 at the Des Moines Metro, Virginia, InSeries, and Portland Operas. Geter will also have subsequent premieres at Richmond Symphony. Meanwhile, last season, COTTON was given its world premiere in Philadelphia followed by its Washington, D.C. premiere at The Kennedy Center, presented by Washington Performing Arts, and his motet was performed by Emmanuel Music. He also conducted his own piece, An African American Requiem, at Fort Worth Opera, plus led the performance of ABSENCE: Terence Blanchard with Portland Opera.

In 2022 alone, Geter had six premieres as a composer: His large work, An African American Requiem, in partnership with Resonance Ensemble and the Oregon Symphony with subsequent performances at the Kennedy Center; I Said What I Said for Imani Winds, co-commissioned by Anima Mundi Productions, Chamber Music Northwest, and The Oregon Bach Festival; his one-act opera Holy Ground for Glimmerglass Opera; Elegy for the American Guild of Organists; The Bronze Legacy for Chicago Symphony Orchestra; and the chamber version of American Apollo for Des Moines Metro Opera.

Opera Today praises his bass-baritone sound palette, which “is very much his own distinct voice, and invigoratingly fresh”, while The News Tribune calls him “superb”. In the 2023-2024 season, Geter portrays the role of abolitionist and historian William Still in Pulitzer Prize-winning composer Paul Moravec’s oratorio Sanctuary Road, presented by Virginia Opera, and based on the writings of Still, who is credited with helping nearly 800 enslaved African Americans escape to freedom. He also joins Auburn Symphony Orchestra in Ralph Vaughan Williams’ A Sea Symphony and Rembrandt Chamber Musicians in The Wayfarer’s Melodies: A Musical Journey, singing the John Ireland Songs of a Wayfarer cycle.

Last season’s performance credits featured the vocalist as Archibald Craven in The Secret Garden with Hawaii Opera Theatre, plus concert credits entailing Handel’s Messiah with North Carolina Symphony and Beethoven’s Symphony No. 9 with the Fresno Philharmonic. Favorite recent season highlights include Geter’s Metropolitan Opera debut in the Grammy award-winning production of Porgy and Bess as the Undertaker. He performed the title role of Quamino in the world premiere of Errollyn Wallen’s Quamino’s Map with Chicago Opera Theatre; as Angelotti in Tosca with the Portland and Eugene Operas; and as Sam in Reno Symphony’s Voices of a Nation: Trouble in Tahiti. In concert, Geter performed as the bass soloist in Beethoven’s Symphony No. 9 with the Richmond Symphony and in the role of William Still in Sanctuary Road with the Oakland Symphony.

On television, Geter made his TV debut in the role of John Sacks on NBC's Grimm and was seen in Netflix's Trinkets. Musical theater credits include Kevin Rosario in Lin Manuel-Miranda's In the Heights and Pontius Pilate in Jesus Christ Superstar.

Geter is an alumnus of the Austrian American Mozart Festival and the Aspen Opera Center, and was a semifinalist for the Irma Cooper Vocal Competition. He also toured with the prestigious American Spiritual Ensemble, a group that helps to promote the preservation of the American art form – the spiritual.

He is the owner of DG Music, Sans Fear Publishing. Music in Context: An Examination of Western European Music Through a Sociopolitical Lens, the book he co-authored, is available on Amazon, or directly from the publisher, Kendall Hunt.

Learn more at www.damiengetermusic.com.

About Justin Austin
Possessing a “mighty lyric voice” (The New York Times) and praised in Opera News as “vocally impressive, verbally elegant,” Drama Desk Award-nominated baritone Justin Austin has appeared on concert and operatic stages across the globe since the young age of four. Born into a family of opera singers, his early career took him to venues such as Teatro Real, Bregenzer Festspiele, Lincoln Center, and The Kennedy Center.

As this year’s Marian Anderson Vocal Award winner, Justin is featured in recital at The Kennedy Center, presented by Washington National Opera. He also gives solo recitals at Carnegie Hall, Pickman Hall with the Celebrity Series of Boston, and Spivey Hall in Atlanta this season. On the operatic stage, he makes a return to Lyric Opera of Chicago, starring as Young Emile in Terence Blanchard’s Champion; Washington National Opera’s production of Romeo and Juliet, portraying Mercutio, at The Kennedy Center; Opera Theatre of Saint Louis in The Barber of Seville, playing Figaro; and the Metropolitan Opera in Jake Heggie’s Dead Man Walking. Justin also joins Des Moines Metro Opera for the world premiere of Damien Geter’s full-length American Apollo; stars in the New York premiere of Lyric Fest’s COTTON, composed by Damien Geter, at the 92nd Street Y; and performs in two renditions of Fire Shut Up In My Bones: Opera Suite in Concert at the Kimmel Center and then with Strathmore and Washington Performing Arts.

Last season, the “standout” (Operawire) baritone appeared as Ned Keene in Peter Grimes at the Metropolitan Opera; sang Carl Nielsen’s third symphony with the Cleveland Orchestra conducted by Alan Gilbert; premiered Damien Geter’s song cycle COTTON alongside Denyce Graves with Lyric Fest in Philadelphia and Washington Performing Arts at The Kennedy Center; and premiered a new edition by Damien Sneed of Scott Joplin’s Treemonisha at Opera Theatre of Saint Louis in the roles of Scott Joplin/Remus. Justin also sang on a concert tour of Our Song, Our Story, a tribute recital to African American operatic pioneers Jessye Norman and Marian Anderson, with music director Damien Sneed, giving performances in Tucson, St. Louis, Washington D.C., Akron, and Aspen.

Favorite highlights of recent seasons include his house debut at the Metropolitan Opera as Marcellus in the company premiere of Brett Dean’s Hamlet; his house and role debut as Charles in Fire Shut Up In My Bones at Lyric Opera of Chicago; starring as George Armstrong in Lynn Nottage and Ricky Ian Gordon’s Intimate Apparel at Lincoln Center Theater; joining Washington National Opera in his company debut and Des Moines Metro Opera as Thomas McKeller in the chamber version premiere of Damien Geter and Lila Palmer’s American Apollo; starring as Captain Macheath in a film adaptation of Kurt Weill’s The Threepenny Opera produced by City Lyric Opera; and debuting at the Bard SummerScape Festival as Mordred in Chausson’s Le roi Arthus. Justin created the role of Pyarelel Kaul in the critically acclaimed world premiere of Jack Perla and Rajiv Joseph’s Shalimar the Clown at Opera Theatre of Saint Louis, and was featured on the commercial recording of the work.

In concert, Justin recently presented a solo recital at the Park Avenue Armory with pianist Howard Watkins. He has appeared at Carnegie Hall in the title role in Mendelssohn’s Elijah with the Oratorio Society of New York and as the baritone soloist in Margaret Bonds’ Ballad of the Brown King with the Cecilia Chorus; and with New York Festival of Song for their debut concert at Little Island in addition to their mainstage series at Kaufman Music Center. He has been featured with the Metropolitan Opera, Los Angeles Opera, Bayerische Staatsoper, Glimmerglass Festival, Opera Maine, Opera Saratoga, Mistral Music, Voices of Ascension, St. Louis Symphony Orchestra, Copland House, and Strathmore Music Center, plus the Hamburg International, Penn Square, Lakes Area, and Moab Music Festivals. Justin has previously joined IDAGIO for online concerts at the Global Concert Hall.

As a multifaceted musician, Justin enjoys performing a wide range of repertoire, from jazz, R&B, and musical theater, to opera and oratorio. He has collaborated, performed, and recorded with multiple groups and artists such as Aretha Franklin, The Boys Choir of Harlem, Mary J. Blige, Elton John, Lauryn Hill, The Roots, 30 Seconds to Mars, John Cale, Ricky Ian Gordon, Kanye West, Avner Finberg, M. Roger Holland, Jack Perla, Peter Andreacchi, and Odeline de la Martinez, plus jazz legends Reggie Workman, Hugh Masekela, and Wynton Marsalis.

Justin strongly believes in utilizing his artistry to benefit music programs, new music projects, and community services worldwide. He works with organizations such as MEND (Meeting Emergency Needs with Dignity), QSAC (Quality Services for the Autism Community), Holt International, and St. Mary’s Children’s Hospital to construct and perform benefit concerts. The proceeds of these projects supply emergent living essentials to those in need.

With a “velvety-dark baritone” (Cleveland Classical) described as “heroic” by Broadway World, Justin has received accolades and awards from The Recording Academy, NAACP, George London Foundation, Washington National Opera, Opera Ebony, Gerda Lissner Foundation, Manhattan School of Music, NANM, Choir Academy of Harlem, and Fiorello H. LaGuardia High School of Music & Art and Performing Arts. He is the recipient of a 2023 Mabel Dorn Reeder Award from Opera Theatre of Saint Louis, which goes to “the single artist in each season with the greatest potential to make a significant contribution to the art form of opera.” Justin is under the tutelage and mentorship of Catherine Malfitano.

Born in Stuttgart, Germany, Justin Austin is an alumnus of the Choir Academy of Harlem, Fiorello H. LaGuardia High School of Music & Art and Performing Arts, Heidelberg Lied Akademie, and Manhattan School of Music (M.M. and B.M.). To learn more, visit www.justin-austin.com.

Photos at top of the release, L-R: Justin Austin by Gillian Riesen, Damien Geter by Rachel Hadiashar

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