“Blue is surely one of the best operas to have been written in North America (…) in the past dozen years.”
Ralph P. Locke
“The one big name in the cast is Gordon Hawkins, a world-renowned Porgy, Rigoletto and Alberich who here establishes a rock-solid presence as The Reverend.”
“Gordon Hawkins used his weathered, imposing baritone to convey the Reverend’s wisdom and radiant compassion. It was through his voice that we began to comprehend the depth of sorrow at the core of the work.”
Opera News
Gordon Hawkins as The Reverend in Blue
Blue – Recording
Click here to order: The album – produced by Washington National Opera in association with San Francisco Classical Recording Company – is released as 2 SACDs and in digital format for streaming and high-resolution downloads.“BRINGING BLUE FROM COMMISSION TO WORLD PREMIERE” ISLESBORO FORUM SPEAKER SERIES (EXCERPTS)
Gordon Hawkins about taking on a piece like “Blue”: About creating the role of “The Reverend”: About the meaning of “Blue” in these times: Islesboro Forum Speaker Series (complete audio file): Francesca Zambello, Timothy O’Leary and Gordon HawkinsBLUE named best new opera by the Music Critics Association of North America.
https://classicalvoiceamerica.org/2020/06/17/opera-that-speaks-to-racial-lnjustice-wins-best-of-year/ WASHINGTONPOST.COM:
- Washington Post Article (Subscription)
- Südwestfunk/German Public Radio, “Black Lives Matter: Wie Rassismus und Polizeigewalt auf US-Opernbühnen zum Thema wird”
- Also read: https://www.nytimes.com/2019/05/30/arts/music/central-park-five-opera.html
- Review: Moody “Blue” Review: An even more startling vocal power came from baritone Gordon Hawkins as the rock-solid reverend
- “Blue” (World Premiere) Jeanine Tesori, composer (Tazewell Thompson, librettist) Role: The Reverend Performance Dates: July 14, 26, 29 and August 2, 6, 19,17, 22 Glimmerglass Festival 2019 https://www.glimmerglass.org
- “Blue” (New Production) Jeanine Tesori, composer (Tazewell Thompson, librettist) Role: The Reverend Performance Dates: September 11, 12, 2021 Michigan Opera Theatre
Review quotes:
“Act II, which begins after the Son has been killed by a policeman at a protest — an event we do not see — depicts another strained conversation, this time between the bitter Father and the Reverend (the stentorian baritone Gordon Hawkins), a well-intentioned but pontifical counselor.” Critic’s Pick, The New York Times. Link to full review.
“As the Reverend, Gordon Hawkins brings a wealth of experience to bear along with a penetrating, poised baritone of uncommon power and malleability. Mr. Hawkins’ duet scene with Mr. Kellogg crackled with tension.” Opera Today. Link to full review.
“Stimmgewaltig Gordon Hawkins, ein auch in Deutschland erfolgreicher Wagner-Bariton. Hawkins hat auch biografische Erfahrungen bei der Rolle. Sein Vater hatte ein hohes kirchliches Amt inne: ‘Der Polizist, dieser junge Mann, denkt nicht, dass die Kirche etwas für ihn tun kann. Aber es ist meine Verantwortung, ihn in seinen Gefühlen zu unterstützen. Ich erwarte nicht, dass er seinen Schmerz vergisst, aber ich versuche zu erreichen, dass er nicht in seinem Schmerz steckenbleibt’.” Deutschlandfunk. Link to full review.