PRIOR EVENTS, 2009

WHEN & WHERE: Sunday, May 3rd, 2009:

·         2:00 P.M. - Performance ("Brief Encounter"): Wortham Theater Center downtown, at the Brown Theater;

·         ~5:00 P.M. - You're invited to the club's Reception in honor of Nathan Gunn at the home of Derek Harmon, UIAC of Houston club president, 2119 Peckham Street, Houston, TX 77019; (hors d’oeuvres/beverages to be served)

TICKETS:
Discounted club-purchased ticket price at $ 15 each for Grand Tier seating (Non-discounted seating in this seating area are $75 each!  Discounted seating courtesy of the Nexus Corporation)

Checks payable to UIAC of Houston and mailed to: UIAC of Houston, PO Box 542314, Houston, TX 77254

Deadline: April 10 (limited availability; first come-first served!) - send in your checks today!

(Tickets will be held at Wortham Box Office, available on day of performance.  When sending check, please include note indicating under whose name ticket[s] should be held.)

CONTACT: For more information contact event organizer Bob Morgan at: docjass@yahoo.com or 713/729-1918 (h) or 713/614-5914 (cell)

Write-up on the event, via Bob Morgan:

UNIVERSITY OF ILLINOIS ALUMNI CLUB OF HOUSTON

HOSTS RECEPTION FOR NATHAN GUNN

            On the afternoon of May 3, 2009, the University of Illinois Alumni Club of Houston hosted a reception in honor of UI Professor of Voice, Nathan Gunn, who, earlier that afternoon, had spectacularly performed the leading male role of Alec Harvey in the world premiere production of BHou lrief Encounter, Houston Grand Opera’s commissioned work from André Previn (music) and John Caird (libretto).  Professor Gunn is also an Illinois alumnus, receiving his undergraduate music degree from the Urbana campus in 1994.

            The reception was held at the home of UI Alumni Club/Houston president, Derek Harmon (’81).  Special guests included Nathan’s parents, Walter (also an alum!) and Nancy (from South Bend, Indiana) and Nathan’s son, nine-year old Dylan.  The following club members and guests attended that afternoon’s matinee performance of Brief Encounter, and then immensely enjoyed interacting with Professor Gunn and his family at Mr. Harmon’s residence:

            Daniel Adams

            Derek and Shenequa Aranda

            Ken Bayne and Elizabeth Goodwin

            Larry and Cindy Burns

            Michael and Michele Davis

            Jim and Judy Glasford

            Derek Harmon

            Takehiko Kahto and Linda Kato

            Bob Morgan

            Richard Sanford

            Patricia Stenstrom and Lynn Williams

            Representing Houston Grand Opera were HGO head music librarian, Tim Tull, and HGO orchestra principal harpist, Joan Eidman Tull.

            Professor Gunn was very generous in answering many questions that club members posed about Brief Encounter, the development of his career, etc.  He was even more generous at the event’s conclusion, when he thrilled club members with a spontaneous mini-recital featuring two of his signature tunes, Somewhere and Brother, Can You Spare a Dime? (equally-spontaneously accompanied by Bob Morgan [’74]).  Readers will recall that Gunn thrilled millions last December when he sang Somewhere on primetime CBS-TV in tribute to Barbra Streisand (2008 Kennedy Center honoree).

            Laudatory reviews of Brief Encounter and Nathan Gunn’s portrayal of Alec Harvey are already “piling-up.”  For example:          

Houston Chronicle, May 4, 2009:

Nathan Gunn confirms his “matinee idol” status as Alec.  From his smooth, easeful baritone to his manner and presence, every detail projects the genteel gallantry that draws Laura [the opera’s ingénue] to Alec.  Gunn’s effortlessness and utter sincerity are what make the performance so right.

Los Angeles Times, May 3, 2009:

In “Brief Encounter,” he [Previn] hooks you with a melody, turns it on its side and moves on, measure after measure feeling like a brief but significant encounter.  The opera will last.

During the reception, it was announced that the Houston club had made a contribution to the Jerry Hadley Memorial Scholarship Fund, in honor of Nathan Gunn.

            In an amazing coincidence that certainly speaks well for the Illinois opera program, the previous Houston Grand Opera production, Rigoletto, which closed as Brief Encounter was opening, also featured an UI music alum: Scott Hendricks, in the role of Rigoletto.