The Recital (Denyce Graves and Marc Mostovoy)

Mezzo-soprano Denyce Graves (born 1964) is an internationally acclaimed opera singer. Her elegant stage personality combines rich vocalism with exciting theatricality. Graves made her Metropolitan Opera debut in 1995 as Carmen, which, along with Dalila in Samson et Dalila, remains one of her signature roles. After the tragic events of September 11, 2001, Graves sang “America the Beautiful” and “The Lord’s Prayer” at the National Prayer Service held in Washington National Cathedral. She also honored late Supreme Court Justice Ruth Bader Ginsburg by singing at the U.S. Capitol as Ginsburg’s casket was lying in state.

Nelson Shanks pictured Graves in performance, with Marc Mostovoy (born 1942), the former artistic director of the Chamber Orchestra of Philadelphia, as her accompanist. Reflecting on posing for Shanks, Graves recalled: “Sometimes it felt like a dance. I could actually feel where he was on my face—my mouth or my eyes.”

La mezzosoprano Denyce Graves (n. 1964) es una aclamada cantante de ópera internacional. A su elegante presencia escénica se añade un rico vocalismo y un intenso sentido teatral. Graves debutó en el Metropolitan Opera en 1995 como Carmen, que, al igual que Dalila en Sansón y Dalila, es uno de sus roles distintivos. Tras los trágicos sucesos del 11 de septiembre de 2001, Graves cantó “America the Beautiful” y “The Lord’s Prayer” en el servicio nacional de oración efectuado en la Catedral Nacional de Washington. También honró a Ruth Bader Ginsburg, fallecida jueza del Tribunal Supremo, cantando en el Capitolio mientras su féretro se encontraba en capilla ardiente.

Nelson Shanks pintó a Graves en plena actuación, acompañada por Marc Mostovoy (n. 1942), ex director artístico de la Orquesta de Cámara de Filadelfia. Graves comentó que posar para Shanks “a veces parecía un baile. Podía sentir, literalmente, en qué parte de mi cara estaba... mi boca, mis ojos”.

Commissioned by Ian Cumming