Text that reads: 'OPERA'S GREATEST HITS - A TRIBUTE TO ROBERT LYALL' in white letters on a black background.
Event details: September 22, 2:30 PM, conducted by Francis Graffeo.
Three women dressed in formal evening wear engaging in conversation on stage with a dark background and a blurred overlay of a person and musical instruments.
Orchestra musicians playing string instruments during a concert, dressed in formal black attire, with sheet music on stands in front of them.
An orchestra conductor leading musicians during a performance, with a violinist and a cellist in the foreground.
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Two women in black dresses are standing on stage during an orchestra performance, with seated musicians behind them.
Orchestra performing on stage with a conductor and a woman in a red dress singing or acting, under colorful stage lights.
A man and woman stand back-to-back on stage, facing opposite directions, with an orchestra behind them. The woman has brown hair, is smiling, and is wearing a blue dress. The man has a bald head, glasses, a beard, and is wearing a dark suit with a pi
A woman in a shiny gold and black dress sings on stage during a concert, with an orchestra playing behind her. A projection on a screen shows text, partly visible, reading "These pure hearts will not be sacked." The scene is dimly lit with red and ye
Two men in suits having a conversation on stage, with one man covering his mouth with his hands and the other gesturing with his hand.
A male conductor wearing a red patterned blazer conducting an orchestra during a performance, with a guitarist behind him and a screen in the background displaying the text, "She will be mine!"
Man in black suit speaking into a microphone on stage with orchestra in the background.
A man and a woman standing side by side, both looking serious, against a dark background with three bright lights.
A male choir conductor in a black suit conducting an orchestra and choir during a performance.
Orchestra performing on stage in a concert hall, with conductor leading and audience watching.
Three performers on stage singing with orchestra in the background, one woman and two men, all dressed in formal attire, with the woman wearing a floral dress and the men in suits.
A conductor gestures with his hand in front of an orchestra, with musicians playing string instruments and a choir in the background.
Two men on stage, one appearing angry or shouting and the other looking annoyed or skeptical.
Orchestra with three solo performers standing at the front on stage, conducting, singing, and looking at the audience, with musicians and instruments behind them under stage lights.
Orchestra and choir performers on stage after concert, with some musicians holding their instruments, audience silhouettes in foreground.
CONCERT PROGRAM
PHOTO GALLERY

Join us for an exhilarating afternoon of Opera’s Greatest Hits! From Puccini to Verdi to Mozart and beyond, this showcase will highlight operatic classics and feature thrilling soloists with full chorus and orchestra.

This performance is dedicated to the memory of Robert Lyall. Don't miss this chance to honor the legacy of Robert Lyall and experience the unparalleled beauty of opera at its finest.

Questions about what to expect when attending the opera? Check out our FAQs!

Where: Clayton Center for the Arts
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When: September 22, 2024, 2:30 PM

Parking: We recommend the Clayton Center parking lot

Tickets start at $25

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This project is being supported in whole or in part by federal award number 21.027 awarded to Knox County by the U.S. Department of the Treasury and the Arts & Culture Alliance.
This project is being supported, in whole or in part, by federal award number SLFRP5534 awarded to the State of Tennessee by the U.S. Department of the Treasury.

Thank you to the sponsors of Opera’s Greatest Hits

Title Sponsor

Dr. & Mrs. Joseph S. DeLeese

Presenting Sponsors

Logo of Metropolitan Knoxville Airport Authority, featuring a stylized globe with blue, green, and red sections, and text underneath reading 'METROPOLITAN KNOXVILLE AIRPORT AUTHORITY'
Logo of Massey Electric Company with a large yellow and dark blue M and E, and the company name in dark blue text below.

Supporting Sponsor

Lisa Breazeale

Contributing Sponsor

Dr. and Mrs. Parks Hitch

Community Sponsor

Genevieve Stubbs

Meet the Cast

Francis Graffeo, conductor

Christy Lee, Chorus Director

A man with short brown hair and light skin, wearing a dark pinstripe suit with a white dress shirt and purple pocket square, standing against a brick wall background.
Close-up of a man with short light brown hair, blue eyes, a beard, wearing a dark turtleneck and a blazer with a brooch on the lapel. The background appears to be an abstract or artistic drawing.

Michael Chioldi, baritone

John Pickle, tenor

David Weigel, bass-baritone

Joel Brown, baritone

A woman with long, wavy red hair and fair skin, wearing a dark, beaded, geometric-patterned dress, looking at the camera with a slight smile against a dark textured background.
A young man with brown hair, blue eyes, and light skin, wearing a red shirt and a black blazer, smiling in a professional headshot against a blurred background.

Hannah Ludwig, mezzo-soprano

Scott Purcell, baritone

Close-up portrait of a young woman with curly blonde hair, green eyes, red lipstick, and wearing pearl earrings, looking directly at the camera.
A woman with blonde curly hair, red lipstick, wearing a black leather jacket and a black and white patterned top, standing against a dark background with her hands on her hips.

Murrella Parton, soprano

Renée Tatum, mezzo-soprano

A man with styled dark hair, a goatee, wearing a black suit jacket, red dress shirt, and a patterned tie, outdoor setting with grass in the background.
A woman with long, wavy dark hair, wearing a black dress and gold jewelry, posing against a dark background with a confident expression.

Cody Boling, tenor

Tori Franklin, soprano

Portrait of a young woman with dark brown curly hair and bangs, smiling, wearing a black dress with purple and yellow floral pattern, against a plain beige background.
A woman with long brown hair, wearing a teal top, sitting at a white table, resting her head on her hand, and smiling at the camera.
A woman with long brown hair, blue eyes, and bright red lipstick smiling at the camera, wearing a black top and decorative earrings, with a stone wall and greenery in the background.
A close-up portrait of a smiling man with a beard and mustache, wearing an orange shirt with a dark patterned collar, against a dark, blurred background.
A woman with shoulder-length blonde hair, wearing a blue top and a silver necklace, smiling in front of a red background with a partial view of a black grand piano.
A middle-aged man with short hair, wearing a light gray button-up shirt, sitting in front of a piano with sheet music.
A young man with short brown hair and blue eyes, wearing a dark blue suit jacket and white shirt, standing against a black wooden background.
Portrait of a smiling man with a beard in a black suit and shirt against a dark background.

Staley Clark, mezzo-soprano

Lauren Boozer, soprano

John Overholt, tenor

Jacqueline Brecheen, soprano

Featuring the Knoxville Opera Chorus

Cody Boling

Lauren Boozer

Joel Brown

Staley Clark

Meghan Cluskey

Todd Cochran

Shauntina Collins

Falynn Davis

Nicole Dayton

Lindsay Dove

Liz Elliott

Margaret Elliott

Kaitie Fernandez

Eliza Foster

Molly Garrett

Emme Griffith

Jackson Guthrie

Oliver Hassall

Maurice Hendricks

Martin Hennessee

Harry House *

Ashley Victoria Jones

Meghana Krish

Deepti Kumar

Kurt Lannetti

Sarah Milford *

Jenna Moynihan

Jill Oberfeitinger *

John Overholt

Matthew Rajkowski

Sarah Ray *

Ernie Roberts *

Michael Rodgers *

Burt Rosevear

Kate Smith

Tanner Smith

Daniel Spiotta

Deshawn Stevens

Alexandra Thompson

Don Townsend *

Eric White *

Linda Williams *

Emma Wilson

*Sang with Robert Lyall at Knoxville Opera

Thank you to our sponsors who make this event possible!

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