NOTE: Due to illness, the Feb. 7 concert has been canceled. Contact Opera Grand Rapids for information on ticket refunds, 616-451-2741, ext. 103.

By Joanne Bailey-Boorsma
joanne@wktv.org

Not many people can say they have performed at the Metropolitan Opera and for Howard Stern on “America’s Got Talent,” but its only a couple of the many accomplishments opera star Sean Panikkar has on his résumé. 

“With Forte, (the classical-crossover-operatic pop trio that Panikker is a member of), we have a popular music fan base that discovered us on TV,” Panikkar said. “It is quite different to perform for that base than opera crowds…

“There is some overlap and particularly right after we were on ‘American’s Got Talent,’ a number of Forte fans traveled across the country to see me in various operas. Forth Worth Opera had Forte perform at concerts the day after I sang a performance of Pearl Fishers on the same Bass Hall stage.

That was the perfect confluence of what crossover can do for the classical opera world as the majority of the Forte fans had never seen an opera, but made a week of it and attend both shows.”

Opera Grand Rapids is looking to have the same crossover connection as Forte performed for the Opera Grand Rapids’ 50th Anniversary Gala last May and now Panikkar will perform solo Thursday, Feb. 7, as part of Opera Grand Rapids’ newly launched Opera Unlimited Series.

“Opera Grand Rapids is a mission driven organization , that translates into our creating opportunities to engage all of our citizens through the power of music and opera,” said Oper Grand Rapids Artist Director Maestro James Meena, “By using these universal qualities, Opera Grand Rapids can bring people from diverse backgrounds together for a shared, positive experience.”

Panikkar too, believes it is important for opera companies to foster growth of classical music by doing more outreach and education in the communities.”

“If you ask any opera singer which audiences are the best ones they have performed for, it will always be a final dress rehearsal crowd where the company invited local school students to attend,” Panikkar said. “They are the most enthusiastic and receptive crowd. They experience opera the way it was meant to be experienced and it resonates more with them if the people on stage reflect the community they are in.”

Presentations in the Opera Unlimited Series that have taken place already this season include an appearance by Opera Grand Rapids at the Grand Rapids Hispanic Festival, a Season Kick-Off Party highlighting local talent, and two masterclass presentations by Meena.

For the February program, Panikkar is set to perform with Rohan De Silva, who has partnerships with many of the leading violin virtuosos such as Itzhak Perlman and Joshua Bell. The evening will feature a mixture of opera and art songs in the Betty Vandel Opera Center. 

“Choosing repertoire for recitals is a bit of an art form,” Panikkar said. “My goal in a recital is always perform things that are interesting to me, the pianist, and the audience. Too often, I have attended recitals that were focused soley on challenging the audience and while there is a value in that, I prefer to have a more balanced approach of styles while also presenting beautiful music.”

Originally from Sri Lanka, Panikkar grew up in Bloomsburg, Penn. He came to Michigan as an undergraduate at the University of Michigan and “I immediately fell in love with Ann Arbor.” He stayed at UofM for his masters and then moved to San Francisco to train as an Alder Fellow for the San Francisco Opera. Panikkar loves midwestern sensibilities and “the fact that we have four seasons,” so when his wife and him were expecting, they moved back to Michigan, living in Ann Arbor. 

He looks forward to bringing his passion for music to the Grand Rapids area.

“I genuinely love everything I am performing in the moment and I approach every rehearsal and performance with an attitude of gratitude for the opportunity to sing,” Panikkar said. “It doesn’t matter whether I am singing Mozart, a world premiere, atonal music, or contemporary crossover, I love it all and I find the beauty in it.”

Panikkar, accompanied by Rohan de Silva, performs at 7:30 p.m. Thursday, Feb. 7, at the Betty Van Andel Opera Center, 1320 Fulton St. E. Tickets are $25/general and $5/students with ID. For tickets or more information, call 616-451-2741, ext. 3, or visit operagr.org.