Published Sunday, August 24, 2008

Former football pro to sing opera at Centre

The Times-Herald

From offensive lineman to opera singer, Lawrence Harris lived a unique life.

The former professional football player, who has been an opera singer since 1989, will be presenting "From Football to Opera" at the Centre for Performing and Visual Arts on Lower Fayetteville Road on Tuesday. Today, he travels the United States mesmerizing audiences with his magnificent voice.

The New York Times has hailed Harris as "a major voice" in the world of opera. Admission is $7 for adults and $5 for students and senior citizens. Tickets are available at the Centre, Scott's Bookstore in downtown Newnan and Morgan's Jewelers at Ashley Park.

"From Football to Opera" is the 2008 recipient of the Award of Excellence from the Volunteer Council of the League of American Orchestras. The presentation also received the Award for Education at the Texas Association of Symphony Orchestras.

Harris will be coming to Newnan from Catskills, N.Y. where is is performing the first act of Tosca at the Altamura/Caruso Arts Festival.

In 2006-7 season, Harris sang such roles as the high priest in "Samson and Delilah" with Hawaii Opera, Germont in "La Traviata" with the San Antonio Opera, Scarpia in "Tosca" with Opera East Texas, Lebret in the David DiChiera premier of "Cyrano" with the Michigan Opera Theatre and King Melchior in "Amahl and the Night Visitors."

He also made his Lincoln Center debut as the burgomaster in Victor Herbert's "The Red Mill."

In 2004, Harris made his debut in the title role of "Rigoletto" at Philadelphia's Kimmel Center. The response established Harris as an important new Verdi baritone. His Rigoletto with Connecticut Grand Opera earned him an Opera Online nomination for 2005 Best Leading Male Performance.

The former lineman with the Houston Oilers has also appeared in leading roles with Opera North, Philadelphia's Center City Opera Theater, Connecticut Grand Opera, Bronx Opera, the Center of Contemporary Opera, the Manhattan Chamber Sinfonia, the New York Grand Opera, the Wagner Society of Washington, D.C., the Metropolitan Opera Guild, One World Symphony, the Garden State Philharmonic and Tulsa Opera.

Harris is the recipient of awards and grants from the Metropolitan Opera National Council, the Wagner Society of New York and Dallas and the Manhattan School of Music. Recent and upcoming engagements include Melchior in Fort Worth Opera's production of "Amahl," an appearance with the Richard Tucker Foundation featured soloist with the Texarkana Symphony Orchestra in selections from "Tosca" and "La Traviata" and the title role in "Rigoletto" in concert with the Sherman Symphony Orchestra.