Denyce Graves

Recognized worldwide as one of today's most exciting vocal stars, Denyce Graves continues to gather unparalleled popular and critical acclaim in performances on four continents. In June Graves will throw a concert at the Reykjavík Arts Festival. Her accompanist will be the world famous American pianist David Triestram. USA Today identified her as one of the “singers most likely to be an operatic superstar of the 21st Century,” and after a recent performance in Atlanta, the Journal-Constitution exclaimed, “if the human voice has the power to move you, you will be touched by Denyce Graves.” Her career has taken her to the world's great opera houses and concert halls. The combination of her expressive, rich vocalism, elegant stage presence, and exciting theatrical abilities allows her to pursue a wide breadth of operatic portrayals as well as delight audiences in concert and recital appearances. Denyce Graves has become particularly well-known to operatic audiences for her portrayals of the title roles in Carmen and Samson et Dalila. These signature roles have brought Ms. Graves among others to Metropolitan Opera, Vienna Staatsoper, Royal Opera in Covent Garden, San Francisco Opera, Opéra National de Paris and the Lyric Opera of Chicago. Denyce Graves made her debut at the Metropolitan Opera in the 1995-96 season in the title role of Carmen. She returned the following season to lead the new Franco Zeffirelli production of this work, conducted by James Levine, and she sang the opening night performance of the Metropolitan Opera's 1997-98 season as Carmen opposite Plácido Domingo. In 2001 Ms. Graves gave a series of appearances in response to the tragic events in New York City, Washington, D.C., and Shanksville, Pennsylvania on September 11, 2001. In 2003 Denyce Graves was appointed as a Cultural Ambassador for the United States.