International Opera Star Burden Comes to Town Hall Theater 3/13

As a student at Middlebury College in the 1980's, Bill Burden was a busy guy. He sang in the choir and the Dissipated 8 while starring in concerts and musicals. He was by general agreement the best male voice on campus, but his career path pointed to international finance, and singing just wasn't part of his long-term plans.

Soon after graduation, however, he got the chance to attend the University of Indiana, a program for singers that's often dubbed "The Opera Factory". He grabbed the opportunity, and two decades later, Bill (now William) Burden is an international opera star.

His meteoric career has included leading roles in prestigious opera houses all over the world, including the Metropolitan Opera, San Francisco Opera, Lyric Opera of Chicago, Houston Grand Opera, Seattle Opera, Opera Company of Philadelphia, Santa Fe Opera, Glimmerglass Opera, New York City Opera, Teatro alla Scala, Opéra National de Paris, Glyndebourne Opera Festival, and the Berliner Staatsoper.

Burden is known for a powerful, crystal-clear tenor, and impeccable diction. He's also something of an opera heartthrob, listed on the website Hunkentenors due to his good looks and muscled physique.

His mentors at the college included Emory Fanning and voice teacher Nan Noll, and he appeared in Theater Productions directed by Douglas Sprigg and Douglas Anderson.

Fanning will accompany Burden for a recital at Town Hall Theater on March 13, in an emotional and long-awaited reunion.

William Burden will perform at Middlebury's Town Hall Theater on Saturday, March 13, at 8 pm. The concert is a benefit for the Opera Company of Middlebury. Tickets are $40/$30, and may be purchased at www.townhalltheater.org, 382-9222, at the THT Box Office (Mon-Sat, Noon-2 pm), and at the door, if available.

PHOTO CAPTION: William Burden (Middlebury Class of 1986), returns to Middlebury for the first time since becoming one of the world's leading tenors, accompanied by Emory Fanning. His Town Hall Theater recital will benefit the Opera Company of Middlebury. Saturday, March 13, at 8 pm. (Photo credit: Tim Hill)

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