Blanchard's Champion Is May 27, 2023, Saturday Matinee Radio Broadcast

Summary: Blanchard's Champion is the May 27, 2023, Saturday matinee radio broadcast, airing as 22nd of the 2022-2023 season's 24 Saturday radio broadcasts.

"Breaking Glass Ceilings," portrait of choreographer Camille A. Brown dancing in Lincoln Center Plaza's Revson Fountain against backdrop of the Metropolitan Opera House's lobby chandeliers, by Durham, North Carolina-based artist Jim Keon, has moved from Durham's 5 Points Gallery to Lincoln Square for inclusion in the Metropolitan Opera's permanent art collection: Metropolitan Opera @MetOpera, via Twitter Sep. 10, 2022

Blanchard's Champion is the May 27, 2023, Saturday matinee radio broadcast, airing at 1:00 p.m., Eastern Time, as the 22nd of the 2022-2023 Met Opera season's lineup of 24 Saturday matinee opera broadcasts.

American jazz musician and composer Terence Blanchard (born March 13, 1962) set his musical score for Champion to an English-language libretto by American actor, filmmaker and playwright Michael Cristofer (born Jan. 22, 1945). The opera originally was commissioned by Opera Theatre of Saint Louis (OTSL) and co-commissioned by Jazz St. Louis.

Champion premiered Saturday, June 15, 2013, at Loretto-Hilton Center for the Performing Arts, official home for the Opera Theatre of Saint Louis. The facility is located on the campus of Webster University in Webster Groves, a southwestern suburb of St. Louis, St. Louis County, east central Missouri.

Champion, which numbers as Blanchard's first opera, premiered in the 2022-2023 season at the Metropolitan Opera as the second Blanchard premiere in the opera company's repertoire. Blanchard's second opera, Fire Shut Up in My Bones, was staged in the 2021-2022 season as the first Blanchard premiere in the Metropolitan Opera's repertoire.

In its premiere season at Met Opera, Champion received nine performances. The Metropolitan Opera premiere of Champion took place Monday, April 10, 2023, at 8:00 p.m., Eastern Time. The second through ninth, closing performances took place Friday, April 14, at 7:30 p.m.; Tuesday, April 18, at 7:30 p.m.; Saturday, April 22, at 8:00 p.m.; Tuesday, April 25, at 7:30 p.m.; Saturday matinee, April 29, at 1:00 p.m.; Thursday, May 4, at 7:30 p.m.; Monday, May 8, at 7:30 p.m.; and Saturday, May 13, at 8:00 p.m.

The 2022-2023 season's Saturday matinee radio broadcast for May 27 airs the season's sixth performance, which took place Saturday, April 29, at 1:00 p.m.

(left to right) Champion composer Terence Blanchard and Champion conductor Yannick Nézet-Séguin, Metropolitan Opera rehearsal room; photo by Jonathan Tichler / Met Opera: Metropolitan Opera @MetOpera, via Twitter April 5, 2023

Yannick Nézet-Séguin conducted the first through eighth performances. Met Opera's third music director had made his Met Opera debut Thursday, Dec. 31, 2009, in the opera company's 946th performance of Carmen by French Romantic Era composer Georges Bizet (Oct. 25, 1838-June 3, 1875).

Maestro Yannick Nézet-Séguin shared the conductorship with Kensho Watanabe, who conducted the ninth, closing performance. The Japanese-American conductor and violinist had made his Met Opera debut Thursday, Dec. 15, 2022, in the opera company's eighth performance of The Hours by American composer Kevin Matthew Puts (born Jan. 3, 1972).

Ryan Speedo Green appeared in all performances as Young Emile Griffith, whose actions in the past haunt his old, retired self in the present. The American bass-baritone had made his Met Opera debut Wednesday, Sept. 26, 2012, as a Mandarin in the opera company’s 287th performance of Turandot by Italian opera composer Giacomo Puccini (Dec. 22, 1858-Nov. 29, 1924).

Eric Owens apeared in all performances as Emile Griffith in the present, who suffers from "boxer's brain," trauma-associated dementia, and who seeks healing from such distressing memories as his ferocious pummeling of his boxing opponent, Benny "Kid" Paret, into a coma as an extremely rageous reaction to his homophobic taunts. The American operatic bass-baritone had made his Met Opera debut Monday, Oct. 13, 2008, as General Groves in the Metropolitan Opera premiere of Doctor Atomic by contemporary American composer John Coolidge Adams (born Feb. 15, 1947).

Latonia Moore appeared in all performances as Emelda Griffith, Emile's estranged mother, whose employment hopes for her son with hat manufacturer Howie Albert occasion Emile's boxing career, with Howie as trainer. The American soprano had made her Met Opera debut Saturday, March 3, 2012, in the title role in the opera company's 1,122nd performance of Aida by 19th-century Italian opera composer Giuseppe Verdi (Oct. 10, 1813-Jan. 27, 1901).

Stephanie Blythe appeared in the first through seventh and ninth, closing performances as Kathy Hagen, a gay bar owner who becomes Emile's confidant. The American mezzo-soprano had made her Met Opera debut Friday, April 14, 1995, as the Voice in the opera company’s 273rd performance of Parsifal by 19th-century German composer and librettist Richard Wagner (May 22, 1813-Feb. 13, 1883).

Stephanie Blythe shared the role with Meredith Arwady, who sang Kathy Hagen in the eighth performance. The American contralto had made her Met Opera debut Monday, Oct. 13, 2008, as Pasqualita in the Metropolitan Opera premiere of Adams's Doctor Atomic.

Paul Groves appeared in all performances as Howie Albert, hat manufacturer-turned-trainer, who promotes Emile's career but discourages Emile's concerns about Kid Paret's homophobic taunts. The American operatic tenor had made his Met Opera debut Thursday, Jan. 9, 1992, as the Steersman in the opera house's 127th performance of Wagner's Der Fliegende Holländer.

Eric Greene appeared in all performances as Benny "Kid" Paret, whose homophobic taunts register rage in Emile and from whose son, Benny Jr., Emile seeks forgiveness. The American baritone made his Met Opera debut in Champion's opening performance Monday, April 10.

James Robinson directed the new production of Champion for its Metropolitan Opera premiere. The American stage director had made his Met Opera debut Monday, Sep. 23, 2019, along with his new Porgy and Bess production, in the opera company's 55th performance of the Catfish Row-set folk opera by American composer and pianist George Gershwin (Sep. 26, 1898-July 11, 1937).

James Robinson's production team for Champion comprised Allen Moyer, set designer; Montana Levi Blanco, costume designer; Donald Holder, lighting designer; Greg Emetaz, projection designer; and Camille A. Brown, choreographer. American designer Allen Moyer's Met Opera debut had occurred Wednesday, May 2, 2007, in the opera company's 83rd performance of Orfeo ed Euridice by German classical composer Christoph von Gluck (July 2, 1714-Nov. 15, 1787). American designer Montana Levi Blanco had made his Met Opera debut in Champion's Metropolitan Opera premiere Monday, April 10, 2023. American designer Donald Holder had made his Met Opera debut Friday, Oct. 8, 2004, in the opera company's 343rd performance of The Magic Flute / Die Zauberflöte by Classical Era composer Wolfgang Amadeus Mozart (Jan. 27, 1756-Dec. 5, 1791). American designer Greg Emetaz made his Met Opera debut Saturday, Sep. 27, 2021, in the Metropolitan Opera premiere of Blanchard's Fire Shut Up In My Bones. American choreographer Camille A. Brown had made her Met Opera debut Monday, Sep. 23, 2019, along with director James Robinson and his new production, in the opera company's 55th performance of Gershwin's Porgy and Bess.

The 2022-2023 Met Opera season's lineup of Saturday matinee broadcasts continues with the June 3, 2023, airing of Mozart’s Die Zauberflöte, at 1:00 p.m. The matinee performance numbers as the 23rd of the season's 24 Saturday matinee opera broadcasts.

Banners for Terence Blanchard's Champion by Chase Hall (born 1993; St. Paul, Minnesota) and Richard Wagner's Lohengrin by Sanya Kantarovsky (born 1982; Moscow, Russia) adorn north and south arches, respectively, of the Metropolitan Opera House's east facade: Metropolitan Opera @MetOpera, via Twitter March 29, 2023

Acknowledgment

My special thanks to talented artists and photographers/concerned organizations who make their fine images available on the internet.

Image credits:

"Breaking Glass Ceilings," portrait of choreographer Camille A. Brown dancing in Lincoln Center Plaza's Revson Fountain against backdrop of the Metropolitan Opera House's lobby chandeliers, by Durham, North Carolina-based artist Jim Keon, has moved from Durham's 5 Points Gallery to Lincoln Square for inclusion in the Metropolitan Opera's permanent art collection: Metropolitan Opera @MetOpera, via Twitter Sep. 10, 2022, @ https://twitter.com/MetOpera/status/1568673951274106880

(left to right) Champion composer Terence Blanchard and Champion conductor Yannick Nézet-Séguin, Metropolitan Opera rehearsal room; photo by Jonathan Tichler / Met Opera: Metropolitan Opera @MetOpera, via Twitter April 5, 2023, @ https://twitter.com/MetOpera/status/1643727463241994241

Banners for Terence Blanchard's Champion by New York- and Los Angeles-based Chase Hall (born 1993; St. Paul, Minnesota) and Richard Wagner's Lohengrin by New York-based Sanya Kantarovsky (born 1982; Moscow, Russia) adorn north and south arches, respectively, of the Metropolitan Opera House's east facade: Metropolitan Opera @MetOpera, via Twitter March 29, 2023, @ https://twitter.com/MetOpera/status/1641190770207014914

For further information:

“Debut: Latonia Moore.” MetOpera Database > [Met Performance] CID: 354395 Aida {1122} Metropolitan Opera House: 03/03/2012.
Available @ http://archives.metoperafamily.org/archives/scripts/cgiip.exe/WService=BibSpeed/fullcit.w?xCID=354395

"Debut: Paul Groves." MetOpera Database > [Met Performance] CID: 307060 Der Fliegende Holländer {127} Metropolitan Opera House: 01/9/1992.
Available @ http://archives.metoperafamily.org/archives/scripts/cgiip.exe/WService=BibSpeed/fullcit.w?xCID=307060

“Debuts: Alan Gilbert, Thomas Glenn, Eric Owens, Roger Honeywell, Meredith Arwady, Penny Woolcock, Brian MacDevitt, Andrew Dawson, Mark Grey.” MetOpera Database > [Met Performance] CID: 352614 Metropolitan Opera Premiere Doctor Atomic {1} Broadcast ed. Metropolitan Opera House: 10/13/2008.
Available @ http://archives.metoperafamily.org/archives/scripts/cgiip.exe/WService=BibSpeed/fullcit.w?xCID=352614

"Debuts: Eric Greene, Edward Nelson, Lee Wilkof, Montana Levi Blanco." MetOpera Database > [Met Performance] CID: 357864 Metropolitan Opera Premiere Champion {1} Metropolitan Opera House: 04/10/2023, Broadcast. (Debuts: Eric Greene, Edward Nelson, Lee Wilkof, Montana Levi Blanco Broadcast). Metropolitan Opera House April 10, 2023 Gala Metropolitan Opera Premiere.
Available @ http://archives.metoperafamily.org/archives/scripts/cgiip.exe/WService=BibSpeed/fullcit.w?xCID=357864

"Debuts: James Robinson, Camille A. Brown, Frederick Ballentine, Chauncey Packer, Reginald Smith, Jr., Jamez McCorkle, Grant Neale, Bobby Mittelstadt, Damien Geter, Chanáe Curtis, David Leong, Arthur Woodley, Michael Lewis, Neo Randall, Jonathan Tuzo." MetOpera Database > [Met Performance] CID: 357253 New Production Porgy and Bess {55} Metropolitan Opera House: 09/23/2019.
Available @ http://archives.metoperafamily.org/archives/scripts/cgiip.exe/WService=BibSpeed/fullcit.w?xCID=357253

"Debuts: Kensho Watanabe." MetOpera Database > [Met Performance] CID: 357778 The Hours {8} Metropolitan Opera House: 12/15/2022. (Debuts: Kensho Watanabe). Metropolitan Opera House. December 15, 2022.
Available @ http://archives.metoperafamily.org/archives/scripts/cgiip.exe/WService=BibSpeed/fullcit.w?xCID=357778

"Debuts: L'ubica Vargicová, Volker Vogel, Kwangchul Youn, Anna Christy, Aiden Bowman, Jason Goldberg, Lev Pakman, Julia Welsh, Julie Taymor, Donald Holder, Michael Curry, Mark Dendy." MetOpera Database > [Met Performance] CID: 351036 New Production Die Zauberflöte {343} Metropolitan Opera House: 10/08/2004. (Debuts: L'ubica Vargicová, Volker Vogel, Kwangchul Youn, Anna Christy, Aiden Bowman, Jason Goldberg, Lev Pakman, Julia Welsh, Julie Taymor, Donald Holder, Michael Curry, Mark Dendy Review). Metropolitan Opera House October 8, 2004 New Production.
Available @ http://archives.metoperafamily.org/archives/scripts/cgiip.exe/WService=BibSpeed/fullcit.w?xCID=351036

“Debuts: Ryan Speedo Green, Oriada Islami Prifti.” MetOpera Database > [Met Performance] CID: 354549 Turandot {287} Metropolitan Opera House: 09/26/2012.
Available @ http://archives.metoperafamily.org/archives/scripts/cgiip.exe/WService=BibSpeed/fullcit.w?xCID=354549

“Debuts: Stephanie Blythe, Anthony Dean Griffey.” MetOpera Database > [Met Performance] CID: 320010 Parsifal {273} Metropolitan Opera House: 04/14/1995.
Available @ http://archives.metoperafamily.org/archives/scripts/cgiip.exe/WService=BibSpeed/fullcit.w?xCID=320010

"Debuts: Yannick Nézet-Séguin, Richard Eyre, Rob Howell, Irene Bohan, Elizabeth Caballero, Maria Kowroski, Martin Harvey." MetOpera Database > [Met Performance] CID: 353274 New Production Carmen {946} Metropolitan Opera House: 12/31/2009. Sirius and XM Metropolitan Opera Broadcast New Year's Eve Gala.
Available @ http://archives.metoperafamily.org/archives/scripts/cgiip.exe/WService=BibSpeed/fullcit.w?xCID=355517

Marriner, Derdriu. "Fire Shut Up In My Bones Is Jan. 8, 2022, Saturday Matinee Broadcast." Earth and Space News. Monday, January 3, 2022.
Available @ https://earth-and-space-news.blogspot.com/2022/01/fire-shut-up-in-my-bones-is-jan-8-2022.html

Marriner, Derdriu. "Met Opera's 2022-2023 Season Has 24 Saturday Matinee Opera Broadcasts." Earth and Space News. Monday, Nov. 28, 2022.
Available @ https://earth-and-space-news.blogspot.com/2022/11/met-operas-2022-2023-season-has-24.html

Marriner, Derdriu. "Three of Seven 2022-2023 Met Opera Season New Productions Are Premieres." Earth and Space News. Monday, Nov. 21, 2022.
Available @ https://earth-and-space-news.blogspot.com/2022/11/three-of-seven-2022-2023-met-opera.html

Metropolitan Opera @MetOpera. "As part of our Gallery Met initiative, led by Dodie Kazanjian, the Met commissioned artist Chase Hall to create a new work for the eagerly anticipated company premiere of @T_Blanchard and librettist Michael Cristofer’s Champion. Champion opens April 10: http://bit.ly/3Hph3pz." Twitter. March 29, 2023.
Available via Twitter @ https://twitter.com/MetOpera/status/1641190770207014914

Metropolitan Opera @MetOpera. "We recently received a portrait of director and choreographer @CamilleABrown by artist Jim McKeon. Brown choreographed Terence Blanchard’s Fire Shut Up in My Bones and will choreograph the Met premiere of Blanchard’s Champion in our upcoming season. Jonathan Tichler/Met Opera." Twitter. Sep. 10, 2022.
Available via Twitter @ https://twitter.com/MetOpera/status/1568673951274106880

Metropolitan Opera @MetOpera. “When we’re dealing with older Emile, there’s more of an ethereal sound . . . with young Emile . . . it’s more like present day . . . with the kid . . . there’s a more childlike quality.” -- @T_Blanchard on his score for Champion." Twitter. April 5, 2023.
Available via Twitter @ https://twitter.com/MetOpera/status/1643727463241994241

"Metropolitan Opera Premiere: Champion." MetOpera Database > [Met Performance] CID: 357864 Metropolitan Opera Premiere Champion {1} Metropolitan Opera House: 04/10/2023, Broadcast. (Debuts: Eric Greene, Edward Nelson, Lee Wilkof, Montana Levi Blanco Broadcast). Metropolitan Opera House April 10, 2023 Gala Metropolitan Opera Premiere.
Available @ http://archives.metoperafamily.org/archives/scripts/cgiip.exe/WService=BibSpeed/fullcit.w?xCID=357864

"Metropolitan Opera Premiere: Fire Shut Up In My Bones." MetOpera Database > [Met Performance] CID: 357471 Metropolitan Opera Premiere Fire Shut Up In My Bones {1} Metropolitan Opera House: 09/27/2021, Broadcast/Streamed/Times Squarecast/Harlem's Marcus Garvey Park. (Opening Night {136} Peter Gelb General Manager Debuts: Walter Russell III, Terrence Chin-Loy, Briana Hunter, Cierra Byrd, Chris Kenney, Calvin Griffin, Greg Emetaz, Brittany Renee Broadcast/Streamed/Times Squarecast/Harlem's Marcus Garvey Park). Metropolitan Opera House. September 27, 2021 Broadcast/Streamed/Times Squarecast/Harlem's Marcus Garvey Park. Opening Night (136) Peter Gelb General Manager. Metropolitan Opera Premiere.
Available @ http://archives.metoperafamily.org/archives/scripts/cgiip.exe/WService=BibSpeed/fullcit.w?xCID=357471