VCU alumni perform at New York's Metropolitan Opera

By J. Suzanne Horsley

RICHMOND, Va. – Virginia Commonwealth University is pleased to announce that two alumni of its Department of Music have been selected to perform lead roles this month and next at sold-out performances at The Metropolitan Opera in New York, NY.

"It is very unusual for any program outside of the major music conservatories to have two alumni singing at The Met in the same season," said Richard Toscan, Ph.D., dean of the School of the Arts.

Pamela Armstrong, who was graduated in 1992 with a bachelor of music in performance, will appear for the first time Dec. 20 in the lead role of "Mimi" in Giacomo Puccini’s "La Bohème." She also will be onstage Dec. 24, 28 and 31. Armstrong, who is also a graduate of the Manhattan School of Music, has performed around the world at venues including the Teatro Regio in Turin, Italy; Opera Theatre of St. Louis, Mo.; the New York City Opera; the Portland Opera Theatre, Ore.; the Houston Grand Opera; the Hamburg State Opera, Germany; the Bastille Opera, Paris, France; and the Vienna State Opera in Beijing, China.

Thomas Moser, who was graduated in 1967 with a bachelor of music in performance, is portraying "The Emperor" in the current production of Richard Strauss’ "Die Frau ohne Schatten." His remaining performance dates are Dec. 21 and Jan. 1, 5, 8 and 17. The Jan. 5 performance will be broadcast live starting at 12:30 p.m. on Richmond National Public Radio, WCVE.

Moser has studied at the Curtis Institute of Music in Philadelphia; the Music Academy of the West in Santa Barbara, Calif., and the University of California at Los Angeles. He performed with the U.S. Navy Band during his military service from 1968-1973. The tenor has performed extensively throughout the world and has been a regular collaborator with the world’s most prestigious symphony orchestras, including the New York Philharmonic, Chicago Symphony Orchestra, San Francisco Symphony, Cleveland Orchestra, London Symphony Orchestra, English Chamber Orchestra, Scottish Chamber Orchestra, BBC Orchestra and Orchestre National de Radio France.

Local interview opportunities:
John Guthmiller, Ph.D., acting chair of VCU’s Department of Music, will attend Armstrong’s and Moser’s sold-out performances in New York this week. He will be available for interviews on Dec. 22 and Dec. 26.

Melanie Day, assistant professor and co-director of Opera Theatre VCU, coaches and collaborates with Armstrong when she is in the Richmond area and has spoken with her about her upcoming performances. She is available early on Dec. 21.

Michelle Harman-Gulick, voice faculty member and co-director of Opera Theatre VCU, is available for interviews this week.

VCU University News Services can provide information on Armstrong’s and Moser’s managers. For assistance with interviews, contact University News Services at 828-1231.

More information on their performances at The Metropolitan Opera can be found online at www.metopera.org.