She likes us. Denyce Graves must really, really like us, because the mezzo-soprano superstar has agreed to make her second appearance here in less than a year.
In June, she headlined a concert honoring the man who helped get her career moving, Central City Opera’s artistic director emeritus, John Moriarty. She’ll be back next month for Denver’s four-day commemoration of what would have been Martin Luther King Jr.’s 80th birthday.
Graves will solo with The Spirituals Project Choir in the Jan. 16 Dream Concert held at the Ellie Caulkins Opera House. Tickets went on sale Friday — and are going fast — at area King Soopers and .
Her ties to Colorado run deep. She got her start in the Central City Opera’s Young Artists Training Program. When The Ellie opened three years ago, Graves was the star of its inaugural offering, Bizet’s “Carmen.”
“She’s the perfect person to lead us in honoring Dr. King’s legacy,” says Mayor John Hickenlooper.
The founder and chairman of The Spirituals Project, Arthur Jones, a clinical professor of psychology at the University of Denver, agrees. “Denyce Graves will proudly honor the music that reflects the rich cultural contributions of African-American people.”
Nutcracker Sugarplums
A magical evening of dress-up and dancing at the Brown Palace Hotel was the occasion for 26 second-grade girls to celebrate their selection as Nutcracker Sugarplums for 2008.
The honorees, chosen by Colorado Ballet Auxiliary, wore identical dresses of crimson and white as they were presented to family and friends in a Friday-night ceremony emceed by Dr. Toby Cole. The next night, they were introduced again, on stage at the Ellie Caulkins Opera House right before the season-opening performance of “The Nutcracker.”
Caroline Elizabeth Caplis, daughter of radio personality Dan Caplis and his wife, former CBS4 news anchor Aimee Sporer, was part of the Sugarplum class of 2008. Read more about the 18th edition of this holiday gala by visiting my Seen First blog: .
Also of note
University of Denver Chancellor Robert Coombe and his wife, Julanna Gilbert, extend holiday cheer at two by-invitation gatherings at Phipps Mansion last week. . . . The members of Denver Phoenix Club voted to give proceeds from its holiday party, held Saturday at Theorie nightclub, to the Boys & Girls Clubs of Metro Denver. . . . The Denver Debutante Ball, chaired by Lise Bellmar, is Dec. 20 at the Brown Palace Hotel. . . . On the 21st, Anthony Graves and Gregory Moore, editor of The Denver Post, emcee the 25th anniversary Beautillion, at the Marriott City Center.
Society editor Joanne Davidson: 303-809-1314 or jdavidson@denverpost.com
