Master Arts Series: Kevin Burdette, Metropolitan Opera Bass with Eileen Downey, Piano

Dubbed “the Robin Williams of opera” by the New York Times, Knoxville native Kevin Burdette has impressed audiences around the world with his mellifluous bass voice and strongly dramatic characterizations. Recent career highlights include Señor Russell in Adès’s The Exterminating Angel and Stefano in The Tempest (Deutsche Grammophon, 2014 Grammy Award) with the Metropolitan Opera; Pangloss/Martin in Candide with the Gran Teatre del Liceu; Beck Weathers in the world premiere of Everest with Dallas Opera; Doktor in Wozzeck with Esa-Pekka Salonen and the Philharmonia Orchestra; over a dozen roles with Santa Fe Opera; Leporello with Gustavo Dudamel and the Los Angeles Philharmonic; and Sulpice in La fille du régiment with Washington National Opera. Upcoming engagements include his debut at Teatro alla Scala (Milan) and returns to Santa Fe Opera and Seattle Opera. Kevin is a member of the voice faculty at his alma mater, the University of Tennessee.

Eileen Downey is a Senior Lecturer of Collaborative Piano at the University of Tennessee in Knoxville, and a pianist for Knoxville Opera. She is going to Graz, Austria this summer to be a vocal coach for the AIMS in Graz program, and held the positions of chorusmaster, vocal coach, and Music Director for the Janiec Opera Company at the Brevard Music Center from 2013-14 and 2016-19. She has played for the Middle/East Tennessee Metropolitan Opera National Council Auditions since 2012, as well as the International Tuba and Euphonium Conference and the Tennessee Cello Workshop. Eileen is an alumna of the Merola Opera Program, and has played for Opera North, SongFest, AIMS in Graz, Aspen Opera Theater Center, Project Canción Española, and the Opera Theatre and Music Festival of Lucca, Italy.