One of the most important things we do at Lyric Opera is discovering fresh talent and putting exciting young artists on our stage for your listening and viewing pleasure. For The Pirates of Penzance we’re delighted to introduce two Lyric Opera debut artists we think you’ll love: bass-baritone Ashraf Sewailam as the Pirate King and tenor Benjamin Robinson as Frederic.
The Egyptian-born Ashraf Sewailam made his U.S. singing debut in 2004 with Opera Colorado, as Leporello in Don Giovanni. Since then he has performed with Seattle Opera, Lake George Opera, Mobile Opera, Virginia Opera, Nevada Opera, and Fresno Grand Opera. In 2007 Ashraf debuted at Lincoln Center’s Avery Fisher Hall with Grattacielo Opera. The New York Times singled him out as “the standout performance” in the roles of Uin-Sci in Leoni’s L’Orocolo and Salomone in Montemezzi's L’Incantesimo. Subsequent reviews, including in Opera News, described his voice as “purring and velvety with Ramfis-like top range” and his stage presence as “strong, mesmerizing and mysterious.”
Last summer 2009 Ashraf debuted with Chautauqua Opera in Il Trovatore and The Consul. He was also heard last season as Colline in La Bohème with The Chattanooga Symphony and Opera, and Escamillo in Carmen with Fargo-Moorhead Opera. His other engagements this season include Pistola in Falstaff with Seattle Opera, Alidoro in La Cenerentola with Opera Southwest, and Sparafucile in Rigoletto with Fresno Grand Opera.
Here’s something to tell your kids: In addition to his singing engagements, Ashraf served as music director for Disney Character Voice International (DCVI), dubbing Disney productions into Arabic, as well as performing several of the characters himself! We have a feeling he’s going to rock the house as the Pirate King.
The young and handsome tenor Benjamin Robinson earned degrees in music from the University of Michigan and the University of Houston, and is fresh out of the Kentucky Opera Young Artists Program, where he sang a variety of opera and operetta roles over the past two years. He has also performed with Ohio Light Opera and the Bay View Music Festival, including the leading Gilbert & Sullivan roles of Marco in The Gondoliers and Nanki-Poo in The Mikado, so we think he’s going to fit right in around here! We know you will want to welcome these exciting new talents to Lyric Opera, so make sure to buy your Pirates tickets today!
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