Auditorium Theatre 2021-2022, Issue 2, Too Hot to Handel

AUDITORIUM THEATRE :: 2021–22 SEASON | 15 Biographies RODRICK DIXON, Tenor Rodrick Dixon possesses a tenor voice of extraordinary range and versatility that has earned him the respect and attention of leading conductors, orchestras, and opera companies throughout North America. Dixon’s 2019–20 Season included the Orchestra Sinfonica Nazionale RAI as Erik in Der Fliegender Hollander, conducted by James Conlon and broadcast on BBC Radio 3; performing the role of the Shaman in the premiere of Hannibal Lokumbe’s Healing Tones, conducted by Yannick Nézet-Séguin of the Philadephia Orchestra; a debut with the Orquestra Sinfonica do Estado de Sao Paulo, conducted by Marin Alsop; and a return to Cincinnati Symphony in Beethoven’s 9th Symphony with Louis Langrée. Dixon’s other debuts include the Charleston Symphony Orchestra, conducted by Ken Lam, and the Greensboro Symphony and South Dakota Symphony, performing Beethoven’s 9th Symphony. Dixon has received invitations to perform for the Glenn Gould Foundation Gala honoring Jessye Norman in Toronto and for a private event with the Royal Philharmonic in London. Dixon recently made his St. Louis Symphony Orchestra debut in Wagner’s Der Fliegende Hollander as Erik, under the baton of David Robertson. Other notable opera credits include Los Angeles Opera in the title role of Zemlinsky’s Der Zwerg and Walter von der Vogelweid in Wagner’s Tannhauser. Additional credits include Michigan Opera Theatre and Todi Music Festival productions of Donizetti’s La Fille Du Regiment as Tonio; Todi Music Opera production of Tchaikovsky’s Eugene Onegi n as Lenski; Portland Opera in the title role of Offenbach’s Les Contes d’Hoffmann; Cincinatti Opera as the Duke in Verdi’s Rigoletto; and Opera Southwest in the title role of Rossini’s Othello. Dixon played the role of Sportin’ Life in the Virginia Opera’s tour of Gershwin’s Porgy and Bess. On the concert stage, Dixon is a regular guest of the Cincinnati May Festival, where he has performed Orff’s Carmina Burana, Stravinsky’s Oedipus Rex, Janácek’s Glagolitic Mass, Mahler’s Das Klagende Lied, and many others. He made his Philadelphia Orchestra debut in the title role of Der Zwerg, conducted by James Conlon, and was tenor soloist for the world premiere of Hannibal Lokumbe’s One Land, One River, One People, conducted by Yannick Séguin. Dixon played the title role in Stravinsky’s Oedipus Rex at the Los Angeles Philharmonic and the Sydney Arts Festival, conducted by Esa-Pekka Salonen and directed by Peter Sellars. He made his Ravinia Festival debut singing Rossini Arias under the baton of Christoph Eschenbach and Rachmaninoff’s The Bells and Mahler’s Das Klagende Lied under the baton of Maestro Conlon. He has appeared with the Cleveland Orchestra at Blossom Music Center as Sportin’ Life in Bennett’s suites of Gershwin’s Porgy and Bess; with the Atlanta Symphony for its Martin Luther King, Jr. celebration, conducted by Robert Spano; and at the Vail Music Festival to perform in Beethoven’s 9th Symphony and a Bernstein program, conducted by Marin Alsop. Dixon has filmed, recorded, and concertized works by composer Samuel Coleridge-Taylor with the Longfellow Chorus. Other notable performances include the Choral Arts Society of Music as the Celebrant in Bernstein’s Mass at the Kennedy Center; a return to Carnegie Hall to debut with the American Symphony Orchestra in Frederick Delius’ A Mass of Life; Cincinnati May Festival as a featured soloist in a new work by Alvin Singleton; Philadelphia Orchestra at Saratoga Performing Arts Center in Beethoven’s 9th Symphony under the baton of Stéphane Denève; Trilogy Opera in the role of Loge in Das Rheingold and Odinga in Kenyatta; and Hannibal Lokume’s world premiere of Crucifixion Resurrection at Mother Bethal AME Church, commissioned by the Philadelphia Orchestra. A gifted recitalist, Dixon earned rave reviews for his Dame Myra Hess Memorial Concert broadcast, honoring Roland Hayes on WFMT-FM. He has also presented pre-concert recitals at the Cincinnati May Festival for multiple years; completed a 30-city tour for Community Concerts; and performed the duet concert Following in the Footsteps at Hampton University with wife, soprano Alfreda Burke, with whom he has also appeared in duet recitals for the Umbria Music Festival in Italy. The couple performed and participated in the Mandla Mandela and Miss World delegation Rise Against Hunger campaign, honoring the legacy of President Nelson Mandela. Dixon’s notable concerts with tenors Victor Cook and Thomas Young include performances at the Kodak Theatre with Barbra Streisand; Barry Manilow; Aretha Franklin’s dedication concert at the renaming of a Detroit Park after her father Pastor C.L. Franklin; the Atlanta Symphony; LA Philharmonic at the Hollywood Bowl with the Irish Tenors; Cincinnati Symphony; Pittsburgh Symphony; Dayton Philharmonic; Colorado Symphony; Phoenix Symphony Orchestra; West Virginia Symphony; Chicago Symphony Orchestra at Millennium Park; Elgin Symphony; Rackham Symphony Chorus; and the Concordia Orchestra at Lincoln Center. ALFREDA BURKE, Soprano Alfreda Burke’s vocal artistry has been described as “voluptuous, creamy and luxuriant” (Chicago Tribune). She has appeared in concert throughout North America and in Europe. Ms. Burke made her Carnegie and Orchestra Hall debuts in Strauss’ Elektra with the Chicago Symphony Orchestra led by Daniel Barenboim. Highlighted performances include the Chicago Symphony at Ravinia under Erich Kunzel, Cincinnati Pops Symphony