Bicentennial Celebration of Verdi, Wagner Features Loyola Symphony, Chorus & More Tonight

A free concert commemorating the 200th birthdays of Giuseppe Verdi and Richard Wagner features the Loyola Symphony Orchestra and Loyola Chorus alongside special guests and Metropolitan Opera stars AlFRed Walker '96, Greer Grimsley '76 and Luretta Bybee. The program will include selections from Verdi's "Otello," "Aida" and "La Traviata," as well as Wagner's "The Flying Dutchman" and "Die Walkure," including the famed "Ride of the Valkyries."

The event is set for tonight, Nov. 23 at 7:30 p.m. in the Louis J. Roussel Performance Hall, located in the Communications/Music Complex on Loyola's main campus. A complimentary wine and cheese reception sponsored by the Loyola Alumni Association will precede the performance.

Metropolitan Opera stars Walker and Grimsley, both New Orleans natives and bass baritones, are two of the most prominent Wagnerian singers today. Grimsley recently starred as Wotan in the Metropolitan Opera and Seattle Opera productions of the "Ring Cycle," and Walker performed the title role in "The Flying Dutchman" for the Boston Lyric Opera and the Wagner Geneva Festival in Switzerland. Mezzo-soprano Bybee, who also held a leading role in Seattle Opera's "The Ring Cycle," completes the star-studded cast.

In addition to Loyola's student ensembles and special guests; faculty, staff and alumni joining the "Bicentennial Celebration of Verdi and Wagner" include Loyola Associate Chaplain Ken Weber, baritone; voice instructors Tyler Smith, dramatic tenor, and Betsy Uschkrat, soprano; and alumna Amy Pfrimmer M.M. '06, soprano.