American Apollo
- Saturday JULY 13 8:00 PM
- Thursday JULY 18 7:30 PM
- Friday JULY 19 1:00 PM
American Apollo
Damien Geter and Lila Palmer's American Apollo gives voice to a pivotal figure in American art: Thomas Eugene McKeller, a Black hotel worker who served as model and muse for famous portraitist John Singer Sargent. Themes of erasure, the white gaze and the nature of the relationship between the two men are explored in this powerful new work which makes its full-length world premiere at Des Moines Metro Opera in 2024. Read the synopsis >
This world premiere opera features baritone Justin Austin as Thomas Eugene McKeller, tenor William Burden making a company debut as John Singer Sargent, soprano Mary Dunleavy as Isabella Stewart Gardner, and DMMO Marshall and Judy Flapan Music Director and Principal Conductor David Neely leading the production alongside stage director Shaun Patrick Tubbs, who makes his company debut.
PERFORMANCES
July 13 at 8pm - SOLD OUT (Fill out the Ticket Request Form or call (515) 209-3257)
July 18 at 7:30pm
July 19 at 1pm
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MUSIC BY
Damien Geter
LIBRETTO BY
Lila Palmer
WORLD PREMIERE
July 13, 2024
Des Moines Metro Opera
SUNG IN
English (with English supertitles)
ESTIMATED RUN TIME
2 hours, 30 minutes with one 20-minute intermission
The Artists
Justin Austin
Thomas Eugene McKeller
William Burden
John 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 Hinnant
Clarence/Master of Ceremonies
Isaiah Traylor
George
Antonio Domino
Walter
Robert Frazier
Jimmy O'Donnelly/Mr. Carhart
Hayden Smith
Mr. Sparhawk
Damien Geter
Composer
Lila Palmer
Librettist
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 Design
Brittany V.A. Rappise
Wig and Makeup Designer
Leah Tubbs
Movement Director
The Creators
Damien Geter, composer
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. His song cycle COTTON, commissioned by Lyric Fest, will see its New York premiere at the 92nd Street Y, starring Denyce Graves and Justin Austin. Additionally, The Recording Inclusivity Initiative records String Quartet No. 1 “Neo-Soul”.
Read Damien's full bio >
Lila Palmer, librettist
Lila Palmer is a librettist whose warmth, clarity, and stylistic flexibility have made her a favoured partner of established and emerging composers alike. An advanced vocal performer herself, Lila’s skill in advocating for and writing to the classically trained voice has enabled her to bridge the gap between the world of interpreter and creative. She is proud to be the only dual graduate of both the Royal Opera House London - Guildhall Opera Makers MA program and American Lyric Theater’s Composer Librettist Development Program.
Upcoming performances of Palmer’s work include The Fox Sisters, with Marc Migo for Teatro Liceu in Barcelona; In Her Own Valley, with Grace Mason for Liverpool Philharmonic; and American Apollo, with Damien Geter for Des Moines Metro Opera. Holy Ground, also with Geter, will be excerpted as part of the Guggenheim’s Works & Process before receiving its world premiere at the Glimmerglass Festival. Lila’s song cycle for soprano Golda Schultz, This Be Her Verse, is out on Alpha Classics, and has been hailed by Opera News as “a new repertoire staple.” The cycle will receive national premieres in Canada, Scotland, Switzerland, and France, where Lila will also attend the 2022 Aix-En-Provence Women’s Opera Lab.
Read Lila's full bio >
