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Terence Blanchard's Champion

Ryan Speedo Green plays boxer Emile Griffith in Terence Blanchard's tragedy Champion at the New York Met, the second opera by the Grammy Award-winning composer to be staged there.

Ryan Speedo Green stars as boxer Emile Griffith in operatic tragedy at the New York Met - the second opera by Grammy Award-winning composer Terence Blanchard to be staged there. Griffith took up boxing while working in a hat factory and rose to become world champion in three weight divisions, but in a welterweight title fight in 1962 he killed his homophobic arch-rival Benny "Kid" Paret in the ring. Eric Owens co-stars as Griffith’s older self, haunted by the ghosts of his past, alongside Latonia Moore as his estranged mother and Eric Greene as Paret.

This production contains some very strong language that some listeners may find offensive.

Presented by Debra Lew Harder with commentator Ira Siff.

Young Emile Griffith ...... Ryan Speedo Green (bass-baritone)
Elderly Emile Griffith ..... Eric Owens (bass-baritone)
Little Emile Griffith ..... Ethan Joseph (treble)
Emelda Griffith ..... Latonia Moore (soprano)
Benny "Kid" Paret ..... Eric Greene (baritone)
Kathy Hagen ..... Stephanie Blythe (mezzo-soprano)
Howie Albert ..... Paul Groves (tenor)
Luis Rodrigo Griffith ..... Chauncey Packer (tenor)
Sadie Donastorg Griffith ..... Brittany Renee (soprano)
Cousin Blanche ..... Krysty Swann (mezzo-soprano)
Lucia Paret ..... Helena Brown (soprano)
Paret’s manager ..... Tshombe Selby (tenor)
Ring Announcer ..... Lee Wilkof (actor)
Man in the Bar ..... Edward Nelson (baritone)
Metropolitan Opera Chorus and Orchestra
Conductor Yannick NΓ©zet-SΓ©guin

3 hours, 29 minutes

Last on

Sat 27 May 2023 18:30
ΒιΆΉΤΌΕΔ Radio 3

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Music Played

  • Terence Blanchard

    Champion: Act 1

    Singer: Ryan Speedo Green. Singer: Eric Owens. Singer: Ethan Joseph. Singer: Latonia Moore. Singer: Eric Greene. Singer: Stephanie Blythe. Singer: Paul Groves. Singer: Chauncey Packer. Singer: Brittany Renee. Singer: Krysty Swann. Singer: Tshombe Selby. Singer: Edward Nelson. Choir: Metropolitan Opera Chorus. Orchestra: Metropolitan Opera Orchestra. Conductor: Yannick NΓ©zet‐SΓ©guin. Singer: Helena Brown.

  • Terence Blanchard

    Champion: Act 2

    Singer: Ryan Speedo Green. Singer: Eric Owens. Singer: Ethan Joseph. Singer: Latonia Moore. Singer: Eric Greene. Singer: Stephanie Blythe. Singer: Paul Groves. Singer: Chauncey Packer. Singer: Brittany Renee. Singer: Krysty Swann. Singer: Edward Nelson. Choir: Metropolitan Opera Chorus. Orchestra: Metropolitan Opera Orchestra. Conductor: Yannick NΓ©zet‐SΓ©guin. Singer: Helena Brown. Singer: Tshombe Selby.

  • Wolfgang Amadeus Mozart

    String Quintet No 4 in G minor, K.516

    Performer: Consone Quartet. Performer: John Crockatt.

Broadcast

  • Sat 27 May 2023 18:30
    ΒιΆΉΤΌΕΔ Radio 3