New York City Opera presents its 2006-7 awards for artistic excellence today, April 17, at a luncheon at the Carlyle Hotel. The awards and the recipients are as follows, according to the press release.
Mezzo-soprano and Fairbanks, Alaska native Vivica Genaux, who made her City Opera debut as Juno/Ino in
Semele, will be presented with the Christopher Keene Award for an artist performing in new or unusual repertory. Created in 1998 by the Horace W. Goldsmith Foundation in memory of Christopher Keene, City Opera's General Director from 1989-1995, the award commemorates Mr. Keene's commitment to artistic innovation.
The Diva Award, established in 1984 by Parfums Ungaro, is presented annually to an outstanding female City Opera artist who has reached an important stage in her professional career. This year's recipient is Cuban soprano Elizabeth Caballero, who sang Musetta in
La bohème in the fall.
The Kolozsvar Awards, presented this year to tenor Robert Breault and countertenor Gerald Thompson, were established in 1994 by an anonymous donor, to honor one artist from the fall season and one from the spring who have performed in new or usual repertory. "Kolozsvar," meaning "a magical place," is derived from Hungarian folklore. Menominee, Michigan's Breault, sang the role of Jupiter/Apollo in
Semele this past fall, and Pocahontas, Arkansas' Gerald Thompson is currently singing Guido in
Flavio, in his City Opera debut.
Warrington, England native Stephen Lawless, director of Handel's
Semele, is the recipient of this year's General Director's Council Award, established in 1998 by the members of City Opera's advisory council to recognize artistic achievement by a conductor, director or designer of a new production.
The Richard F. Gold Career Grant honors a young American opera singer who appears destined for a major career in the opera world. First presented in 1987, the award is administered by the Shoshana Foundation. This year's recipient is Dallas, Texas' Laura Vlasak Nolen, who sang Malcolm in
La donna del lago this spring.
The Richard F. Gold Debut Award is presented each year to an artist making a debut at City Opera. Originally established by Rita and Herbert Gold in 1975, the award was renamed in 1985 in memory of their son Richard, who was a member of the City Opera's administrative staff. The prize this year is given to Santa Monica, California soprano Juliana Di Giacomo, who made a debut (replacing an indisposed colleague) this fall as Fiordiligi in
Così fan tutte.
The Stanley Tausend Award is presented annually to a young artist the season following his or her debut, and was established in 1982 in memory of Mr. Tausend by his family. The recipient this year is soprano Shu-Ying Li, a Shandong, China native who made her company debut in the title role of
Madama Butterfly on City Opera's Japan tour and later made her house debut in the same role in 2005.
The Dr. Marcia Robbins-Wilf Award, created by Dr. Robbins-Wilf, a member of City Opera's General Director's Council, was created last year, and celebrates an outstanding dramatic performance by a singing actor or actress. Known for productions that have the impact of contemporary theater, City Opera strives to cast artists who possess outstanding musical and dramatic abilities. This year's recipient is soprano and Smithfield, North Carolina native Elizabeth Futral for her performance in the title role of
Semele.
The eighth annual
Betty Allen Prize will be presented to Edison, New Jersey tenor James Valenti who made his City Opera debut last fall as Rodolfo in
La bohème. The
Betty Allen Prize was created to recognize exceptional singers for their artistic excellence and ongoing commitment to City Opera. In 1999, The Reed Foundation launched the
Betty Allen Prize in honor of beloved City Opera board member and mezzo-soprano
Betty Allen, who is not only a champion of arts education, but also an ardent advocate for the needs of artists.
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