Mercury to Welcome Laura Claycomb & David Daniels

Appearing for the first time in concert together, Grammy Award winning coloratura soprano Laura Claycomb and renowned counter-tenor David Daniels join Mercury for a blockbuster evening of arias and duets by Handel and Monteverdi. Mercury Musical Director Antoine Plante says, "What a pleasure it is to work with such wonderful artists. I'm really pleased to present great music performed by two international stars and our exceptional orchestra." To purchase tickets or for more information visit www.mercuryhouston.org or call 713.533.0080. Photos and bios available upon request.

Laura Claycomb, one of the finest operatic coloraturas of her generation, is known for her ethereal high notes, impeccable musicianship, and dramatic stage presence. She has appeared repeatedly with the Houston Grand Opera, Paris Opera, San Francisco Opera, Los Angeles Opera, Grand Théâtre de Genève, Théâtre de la Monnaie, the London Symphony Orchestra, the San Francisco Symphony, the Los Angeles Philharmonic, Le Concert d'Astrée, and the Cleveland Orchestra. In recent years she made her Glyndebourne debut as Zerbinetta in Ariadne auf Naxos with music director Vladimir Jurowsky conducting, sang her first Queen of the Night in Die Zauberflöte and Mozart's Der Schauspieldirektor with the Bregenz Festival, and reprised her Adele in Die Fledermaus at Houston Grand Opera.

David Daniels, known for his superlative artistry, magnetic stage presence and a voice of singular warmth and surpassing beauty, has redefined the counter-tenor for the modern public. He has appeared with the Metropolitan Opera, the San Francisco Opera, the Paris Opera, the Lyric Opera of Chicago, the Bayrische Staatsoper and most recently performed the titular role in Opera Philadelphia's staging of Morrison and Cox's opera Oscar. He is soon to be seen at the prestigious Wiener Staatsoper as Trinculo, the court jester, in Thomas Adès' opera The Tempest.

Founded in 2000, Mercury has a mission to serve the community by celebrating the power of music, Baroque and beyond, teaching, sharing and performing with passion, intimacy and excellence. The orchestra offers performances of a broad repertoire of music on period instruments and has garnered critical acclaim around the world through innovative and accessible performances, domestic and international tours, and groundbreaking music education programs.