Acclaimed lyric tenor Joseph Kaiser ’95 returned to Kent for an intimate recital in Mattison Auditorium. Mr. Kaiser performed a variety of works including pieces by Handel, Liszt and Tchaikovsky accompanied by pianist Craig Rutenberg.
Mr. Kaiser credits Kent for not only igniting his passion for singing but also providing him with the knowledge to pursue and achieve his goals. “The foundation for my entire career; my determination, inspiration, and professionalism started here at Kent,” he says. “I learned so many life lessons, throughout the entire school, that taught me a lot about what it is to be a professional and to go after something with determination and dedication.” He also noted that he was honored to return to Kent to sing.
During intermission, Mr. Kaiser was inducted in to the Kent Music Honor Society, a program of the National Association for Music Education. “This Society recognizes musicians of Kent School community who actively support our music program and demonstrate a genuine appreciation for music,” notes Jennifer Hobbs, teacher and director of the String Program and Orchestra. “Students, faculty and alumni are selected for membership based upon scholarship, character, service, leadership and musical devotion.”
Joseph Kaiser has appeared in both the concert hall and operatic stage performances including the role of the First Prisoner in Beethoven’s Fidelio, the starring role of director Kenneth Branagh’s film of Mozart’s The Magic Flute, and the role of Lensky in Tschaikovsky’s Eugene Onegin. Most recently in October Mr. Kaiser made his Metropolitan Opera debut as Romeo in Gounod’s Romeo et Juliette. For this role, he received enthusiastic reviews, one of them written by Anthony Tommasini of The New York Times. His upcoming performances include the role as Narraboth in Salome at Covent Garden, Mao-Tse Tung in Nixon in China, and Jonas in Saariaho’s Adriana Mater at the Santa Fe Opera.
