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Dominick Argento
Composer
Biography
Dominick Argento, considered to be America's pre-eminent composer of lyric opera, was born in York, Pennsylvania in 1927. He earned his Bachelor's and Master's degrees at Peabody Conservatory and his Ph.D. from the Eastman School of Music. Fulbright and Guggenheim Fellowships allowed him to study in Italy and following his Fulbright, Argento became music director of Hilltop Opera in Baltimore, and taught theory and composition at the Eastman School. In 1958, he joined the faculty of the Department of Music at the University of Minnesota, where he taught until 1997 and later held the rank of Professor Emeritus.

During his years at Eastman, Argento composed his opera, The Boor (1957), of which John Rockwell of The New York Times stated: “[it] taps deep currents of sentiment and passion.” Following his arrival in Minnesota, Argento accepted commissions from the Saint Paul Chamber Orchestra and the Civic Orchestra of Minneapolis.

Since the early 1970s Argento's operas were heard with increasing frequency abroad. Among these are The Voyage of Edgar Allan Poe (1976), Dream of Valentino (1993), and Casanova's Homecoming (1984), which Robert Jacobson of Opera News hailed as ""a masterpiece.""

Dominick Argento received the Pulitzer Prize for Music in 1975 for his song cycle From the Diary of Virginia Woolf. He was elected to the American Academy of Arts and Letters in 1979, and in 1997 was honored with the title of Composer Laureate to the Minnesota Orchestra, a lifetime appointment."

OPERA America/Opera.ca Grants Awarded
Click here to learn more about OPERA America granting programs.
GRANT NAMEYEAR
The Opera Fund: Audience Development 2012
The Next Stage1999
Opera for a New America 1994
Opera for a New America 1993
Opera for the Eighties and Beyond 1988
Opera for the Eighties and Beyond 1988
Opera for the Eighties and Beyond 1988
Opera for the Eighties and Beyond 1988
Opera for the Eighties and Beyond 1988
Opera for the Eighties and Beyond 1987
Opera for the Eighties and Beyond 1986


Productions
Click company name to view productions details.
COMPANYTITLEDATES
Odyssey OperaThe Voyage of Edgar Allan Poe4/5/2024 - 4/5/2024
Odyssey OperaA Water Bird Talk11/22/2014 - 11/23/2014
Odyssey OperaMiss Havisham's Wedding Night11/22/2014 - 11/23/2014
Portland OperaPostcard from Morocco3/3/2014 - 3/29/2014
Minnesota OperaThe Dream of Valentino3/3/2014 - 3/9/2014
Minnesota OperaCasanova's Homecoming11/11/2009 - 11/21/2009
Curtis Institute of MusicPostcard from Morocco4/4/2007 - 4/22/2007
Curtis Institute of MusicPostcard from Morocco4/4/2007 - 4/22/2007
Skylight Music TheatreA Water Bird Talk1/1/2005 - 2/1/2005
Opera Theatre of Saint LouisMiss Havisham's Fire6/6/2001 - 6/21/2001
Encompass New Opera TheatreMiss Havisham's Wedding Night6/17/1998 - 6/28/1998
Opera North (U.S.)The Boor8/8/1997 - 8/22/1997
Dallas OperaThe Dream of Valentino1/6/1995 - 1/14/1995
Illinois Opera TheaterThe Aspern Papers2/1/1994 - 2/20/1994
University of Michigan | School of Music, Theatre The Boor3/1/1993 - 3/25/1993
Dallas OperaThe Voyage of Edgar Allan Poe1/1/1992 - 1/30/1992
Artist Information

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