New York Newsday called her the “Adrenaline Diva,” The New York Times compared her to Maria Callas, New York Magazine heralded her performance as Christine in Strauss’s Intermezzo as the New York City Opera’s “operatic performance of the season,” and Mount Morris Park calls her—our neighbor.

Lauren Flanigan

MMPCIA is proud to welcome world-renowned soprano and Grammy Award nominee Lauren Flanigan as guest speaker at Mount Morris Talks! on January 13 at 6:30 PM.

A champion of contemporary works as well as those of Verdi, Mozart, Hugo and Strauss, Lauren Flanigan has performed all over the world with the Metropolitan Opera, Teatro alla Scala, Glyndebourne and New York City Opera, singing such roles as Donna Anna in Mozart’s Don Giovanni, the Governess in Britten’s Turn of the Screw, the title role in Barber’s Vanessa, and Violetta in Verdi’s Traviata.

In the past 15 years, she has sung 85 different operas, including five world premieres written especially for her (one a symphony by Phillip Glass with text by Allen Ginsberg) and has performed with the New York City Ballet. Premiering at Lincoln Center in April is Séance on a Wet Afternoon, written expressly for Lauren by Wicked composer Stephen Schwarz.

She also developed and taught a series of acting classes for opera singers focusing on creating innovative and dynamic characters for opera and originated the project SOLO: The Art of Monodrama, focusing on historically wonderful and long-forgotten classical works for solo voice.

Raising her voice in song goes far beyond even entertainment and education for Lauren. She is the recipient of the Spirit of the City Award from the Cathedral of St. John the Divine and the Good Neighbor Award from the City of New York in recognition of her contribution to the musical life of the city and for her ongoing work on behalf of New York’s homeless. She was selected three years in a row as one of America’s Top 100 Irish Americans. She is the recipient of New York City Opera’s DIVA Award as well as its prestigious Betty Allen Award.

Closer to home and maybe to her heart is Lauren’s Music & Mentoring House on West 121st Street, the not-for-profit program she has brought to life for mentoring students whose primary goal is to be successful in opera. “They come here very single-minded,” she explains with the voice of experience. “I want to give them an environment that supports them in meeting their goals while also connecting them to a more inclusive view of the world. That not only adds dimension to what they bring to their art, it also opens them up to sharing their talents in a broader, more enriching manner.”

The students live on the third floor of Lauren’s brownstone and have complete access to all her research materials and library of scores and sheet music as well as to her coaching. “I grew up in the Haight-Ashbury district in San Francisco. When I came to Mount Morris Park in 2004, I found that same warm and welcoming atmosphere that I knew as a child and felt immediately at home. Growing up as a performer, I also know what it means to be immersed in a musical environment that is both instructional and nurturing.”

She cooks for them too, including the special experience of monthly dinners with composers, writers, artists, musicians and professionals from the business side of opera.

“I’m trying to lead by example. The hard part is getting out of my dog walking clothes before noon and looking like a halfway glamorous opera singer!”

Mount Morris Park is home to extraordinary talent. Don’t miss this chance to meet Lauren and hear from one of the most acclaimed voices in the world.

Mount Morris Talks to Lauren Flanigan
Thursday, January 13, from 6:30 to 8 PM
Harlem Branch of the New York Public Library
9 West 124th Street
Community Room, 3rd floor

MMPCIA is proud to sponsor this series and offers it free of charge to the community.