MN at the MET

Posted at 3:16 PM on March 21, 2006 by John Birge
Filed under: The blog

Okay, think American Idol, with singers who can really sing, and genuinely great music for a change!

Last month, Minnesota Opera Resident Artists Alison Bates, Seth Keeton and John Michael Moore swept the Regional round of the Metropolitan Opera National Council Auditions. Last Sunday, Seth Keeton and John Michael Moore were among nine singers who won the National Semifinals round! Seth and John sing at the National Finals this Sunday on stage with the Metropolitan Opera Orchestra, and five Grand National Winners will be chosen. Each will receive $15,000, and a good chance at coming back to the Met someday in a role.

We're following this story on Classical Minnesota Public Radio, and I'll talk with Seth and John later this week to check in and see how they're preparing for the Big Event.

This contest is very prestigious; past winners include Ben Heppner, Renée Fleming, Susan Graham and Heidi Grant Murphy (and that was just in one year!). Minnesota Opera has had a superb track record there. Past Resident Artists who have competed at the national level are Esther Heidemann (national winner), Andy Gangestad (national finalist), Seth Keeton (national semifinalist) and James Valenti (grand national winner).