Patricia Racette, soprano Photo: Devon Cass

Herbst Theatre, 401 Van Ness Ave., SF 94102 (Map)(Tickets)

Dawn Harms, Music Director & Conductor

Mahler - Symphony No. 1
Highlights from Showboat
Piaf medley

Patricia Racette, Soprano

Celebrating 10 years of music making, Bay Area Rainbow Symphony (BARS) will mark this milestone with a gala concert featuring renowned soprano and San Francisco favorite, Patricia Racette, who has appeared in the most acclaimed opera houses of the world. Professionally, she came out as a lesbian in the cover article of Opera News in 2002 and makes her primary home in Santa Fe with her wife, mezzo-soprano Beth Clayton. While best known for her extensive work in opera, Patricia's first love was jazz and cabaret, to which she returned in her album Diva on Detour. With BARS, she will revisit that first love with selections ranging from Jerome Kern to the most beloved tunes of Edith Piaf. Please join us for this anniversary celebration not to be missed! A portion of the proceeds of this concert will benefit the Trevor Project.

Part of BARS' LGBTQ Composer and Performing Artist Series, which strives to redefine perceptions of LGBTQ music and increase awareness of the beauty, talents, and accomplishments of fellow LGBTQ individuals and groups.

About Patricia Racette, soprano Soprano Patricia Racette has appeared in the most acclaimed opera houses of the world, including the Metropolitan Opera, San Francisco Opera, Lyric Opera of Chicago, Canadian Opera Company, Royal Opera House, La Scala, Paris Opera, Theater an der Wien, Teatro Liceu, and the Bayerische Staatsoper. Established as a great interpreter of Janáček and Puccini, she has gained particular acclaim for her portrayals of the title roles of Madama Butterfly, Tosca, Jenufa, Kátya Kabanová, and all three lead soprano roles in Il Trittico. Her repertory now expands to include triumphant portrayals of Strauss’s Salome, Minnie in La Fanciulla del West, Katerina in Lady Macbeth of Mtsensk, and Elle in La voix humaine. She has been a favorite on The Met: Live in HD series as both leading lady in Madama Butterfly, Tosca, and Peter Grimes as well as the celebrated host for multiple other productions. A champion of new works, Ms. Racette has created roles in a number of world premieres, including Leslie Crosbie in Paul Moravec’s The Letter at The Santa Fe Opera, Roberta Alden in Tobias Picker’s An American Tragedy at the Metropolitan Opera, the title role in Tobias Picker’s Emmeline at the Santa Fe Opera (broadcast on PBS/Albany Records audio), Love Simpson in Carlisle Floyd’s Cold Sassy Tree at the Houston Grand Opera, and most recently, the title role in Tobias Picker’s Dolores Claiborne at the San Francisco Opera. Upcoming projects this season include her role debut as Magda in Menotti’s The Consul, a role and house debut in Weill’s Street Scene for Madrid’s Teatro Real, and her directorial debut with a new production of La Traviata at the Opera Theatre of St. Louis. She also continues to be sought after for master classes and workshops to foster artistry in the next generation of classical singers. In January 2017 she presented the pilot program of her intensive seminar, Integrative Artistry, at the San Francisco Conservatory, and this season will present it at The Juilliard School. Born and raised in New Hampshire, Ms. Racette studied jazz and music education at North Texas State University. Among her recognitions are an Opera News Award, the prestigious Richard Tucker Award, and the Marian Anderson Award. She also received the 2017 Grammy Award for Best Opera Recording for her performance in the Los Angeles Opera production of The Ghosts of Versailles.