Opera star Frederica von Stade will sing on campus April 8

Fort Worth, TX

3/25/2008

World-acclaimed mezzo-soprano Frederica von Stade will perform at 7:30 p.m. Tuesday, April 8 in Ed Landreth Auditorium on the TCU campus.* This special event will benefit the TCU School of Music. Tickets range in price from $30 to $75 and may be purchased online at www.music.tcu.edu or by phone at 817-257-6349.

Born in New Jersey, von Stade acquired the nickname "Flicka" in her childhood. She made her debut with the Metropolitan Opera in 1970 and dazzled audiences at the Santa Fe Opera a year later. Trained in the bel canto style and recognized as one of the most beloved musical figures of our time, she has enriched the world of classical music for three decades with her appearances in opera, concert and recital. She has garnered fans around the world through numerous featured appearances on television include several PBS specials and Live from Lincoln Center telecasts. Von Stade was the featured performer at the opening ceremonies of the 2002 Winter Olympics in Salt Lake City and also sang with the Mormon Tabernacle Choir at the Cultural Olympiad held in conjunction with the games.

Her recordings number more than 60, including complete operas, aria albums, symphonic works, solo recital programs and popular crossover albums, including a bestselling version of Broadway’s Show Boat and a humorous “Songs of the Cat” with radio personality Garrison Keillor. Trivia-lovers can note that Miss von Stade was the idol of a key character in the CBS-TV series Northern Exposure (her interpretation of Bailero was included in the show’s soundtrack album).

For this Fort Worth concert, von Stade will be accompanied on the piano by TCU alumna Laurana Rice Mitchelmore. A native of Plano, Mrs. Mitchelmore was a piano student at TCU in the early 1970s and went on to study at the Juilliard School in New York City and the Vienna Academy of Music and Performing Arts.

*Ed Landreth Auditorium is located at 2800 S. University Drive, at the intersection of W. Cantey Street.