FARMINGTON – Classical music lovers heard a renowned young American opera singer, Jesus Garcia, perform in a recital Saturday evening in Nordica Auditorium at the University of Maine at Farmington.
Accompanied by pianist Richard Raub, the 28-year-old tenor captivated the audience for more than an hour with his voice and stage presence. His performance – part of his first visit to Maine – earned Garcia several standing ovations.
After the performance, the Houston native stuck around to sign autographs and meet with the public.
Garcia has been called the “young Pavarotti” and has been featured in Vanity Fair, The New Yorker and Vogue. The young singer has also been on various television shows, including A&E’s “Breakfast with the Arts,” the Tony Awards and the “Today Show.”
His was a winner in the 2003 Placido Domingo’s “Operalia” competition and in the 2001 Metropolitan Opera National Council auditions. He is also the recipient of a Tony Award as part of the ensemble in Baz Luhrmann’s 2002-03 production of “La Boheme” on Broadway.
The event was made possible by the work of UMF junior and classical vocalist Kate Reid, as well as many Farmington area arts organizations.
“Fund-raising, planning and negotiating were all apart of the process,” Reid said.
The event was sponsored by the Arts Institute of Western Maine, with support from the Nordica Memorial Association, UMF Student Senate, UMF and United Kingfield Bank.
Reid undertook the project with the help of David Scribner, executive director of the Arts Institute. Reid said she was particularly pleased because the Student Senate’s funding made it possible for all UMF students were admitted free.
“Simply negotiating such a huge name was a big task,” Reid said. All money raised from the concert will go toward funding the appearance of Garcia and Raub.
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