Nothing Succeeds Like Success
(By Richard G. Johnson, Esq., reported by Julie Kirin)
In my last report, Kevin Gruden had recently returned from his opera role debut in as "Bruto," in the Respighi opera Lucrezia, with the Opera Theatre of Lucca in Italy. Upon his return, and even though his performances in Italy caused him to miss the July auditions, Kevin learned that the Canton Symphony Orchestra had selected him to perform something called the Haydn Theresienmesse. Shortly there-after, he secured a principal role in the Pittsburgh Opera Theater's May performance of Carlisle Floyd's American opera, Susannah. Before these performances took place, however, Kevin distinguished himself as the First Tenor Soloist in the Monteverdi Vespro Della Beata Vergine, in the Shady-side Music in a Great Space Series, and the same series featured him as the tenor soloist in the Symphony No. 9, by Beethoven, in April. Each of these performances received positive reviews in print and also on the Internet; the Sunday April 19 Canton Repository acclaimed Kevin for his "excellent [and] extremely beautiful per-formance" and noted that he possessed "a very fine voice and demonstrated mature and sensitive musicianship."
The year brought more than new engagements and good reviews. In April, Kevin competed in and won the Pittsburgh Concert Society audition (comp-etition). Those who follow the Pittsburgh Concert Society know that the auditions are open to instrumentalists as well as to singers and that winning this audition is a significant indication of musicianship and performing ability. The PCS (non-cellphone) audition winners perform in the PCS concert series, and Kevin's recital (with co-recitalist Lily Abreu, soprano) will be held in the Recital Hall of the School of Music at Duquesne University on November 8 at 2:00 pm.
This past May, Kevin per-formed the Bruckner Te Deum at Trinity Cathedral, followed by the spring OMT champagne reception graciously hosted by Ellen Bates. In June, Kevin learned that he had been selected to perform the lead role of Florestan in Beethoven's opera, Fidelio, with The Virginia Symphony. Almost immediately following this performance, which was sponsored in part by and held on the grounds of The Williamsburg Winery, in Williamsburg, Virginia, Kevin was asked to return to perform with The Virginia Symphony in their October series, when he will perform as Tenor Soloist in the Beethoven Mass in C. At this same time, Kevin received two personal telephone calls from a well-known New York artists' manager, Mr. Laurence Wasserman (Thea Dispeker Inc.), who suggested meeting with Kevin and his New York accompanist William Hampton Hicks, of the Metropolitan Opera, in early November.
From what we can tell, therefore, this year Kevin has sung in new venues, has received positive reviews, has won an important professional competition, and has secured the personal interest of a New York artists' manager.