Lucas Meachem

American lyric baritone (born 1978)

Lucas Meachem
Born	John Lucas Meachem^[1] June 11, 1978
Nationality	American
Citizenship	United States
Occupation	Lyric baritone
Known for	performing the role of Figaro in 2016 Los Angeles Opera's Ghosts of Versailles
Website	lucasmeachem.com

John Lucas Meachem (born June 11, 1978), known professionally as Lucas Meachem, is an American lyric baritone known for performing the role of Figaro in 2016 Los Angeles Opera's Ghosts of Versailles which earned him a Grammy Award.^[2]^[3]

Early life

Lucas Meachem was born and raised in Carthage, North Carolina and grew up singing karaoke before discovering opera.^[4] Meachem trained at the Adler Program artist residency at the San Francisco Opera from 2004 to 2005.^[5] He had his big break soon after that in 2006, when he was discovered at a karaoke bar in Paris by acclaimed mezzo-soprano Susan Graham, who suggested he step in for Gluck’s Iphigénie en Tauride at the Lyric Opera of Chicago from which the international star baritone Simon Keenlyside had withdrawn.^[5]

Career

Meachem made his Metropolitan Opera debut as General Rayevsky in War and Peace in 2008,^[6] and has since performed at the Met as Mercutio in Roméo et Juliette, Silvio in Pagliacci, and most recently Marcello in La bohème.^[7]

In 2016, Meachem won a Grammy for Los Angeles Opera's Ghosts of Versailles as Figaro.^[8] Also in 2016, Meachem was voted as the inaugural Emerging Star by San Francisco Opera.^[9]^[10]

In 2021, Meachem performed the role of Figaro in an abridged English-language adaptation of The Barber of Seville for the San Francisco Opera. The production was held as an open-air, drive-in event at the Marin Center due to the COVID-19 pandemic.^[11]^[12]

Personal life

Meachem is married to pianist/opera coach, Irina Meachem.^[13] They have a son, and live in Minneapolis.^[12]

Discography

CD

Bernstein: A Quiet Place (Juno Award for Classical Album of the Year – Vocal or Choral Performance)

Released: June 22, 2018
Format: Audio CD
Label: Decca Music Group Ltd.

The Ghosts of Versailles (GRAMMY WINNER, 59TH AWARDS: Best Opera Recording & Best Engineered Album, Classical)

Released: February 19, 2016
Format: Audio CD
Label: Pentatone

Tchaikovsky: Iolanta (Slovenian Philharmonic Orchestra/ Emmanuel Villaume)

Released: November 27, 2014
Format: Audio CD
Label: Deutsche Grammophon

Der Zigeunerprimas (Ohio Light Opera Orchestra)

Format: Audio CD
Label: Albany Records

DVD

Dido and Aeneas [Blu-ray] (Actors: Christopher Hogwood, Sarah Connolly, Lucas Meachem, Lucy Crowe, Sara Fulgoni)

Released: November 17, 2009
Format: DVD
Label: Opus Arte
Director: Wayne McGregor, Jonathan Haswell

References

^ "Lucas Meachem | Baritone on Instagram: "Vote like your life depends on it, because it does. Americans, don't take your voting privilege for granted. They only exist through the valiant efforts and sacrifices of those who came before us. Make your voices heard. VOTE!!! P.S. I had to remind myself to sign my full legal name (Would you have guessed my first name is actually John😉) #vote #voteearly #election2020"".
^ David, Menconi (15 February 2017). "'Here's to the grind!' Raleigh opera singer's hard work brings Grammy". www.newsobserver.com. Retrieved 16 May 2018.
^ "Meet Lucas Meachem, the 'rock star of opera' with the Minneapolis address". www.minnpost.com. 11 May 2018. Retrieved 16 May 2018.
^ "Lucas Meachem, ou quand un air de karaoké mène à l'opéra". www.lexpress.fr. Retrieved 16 May 2018.
^ ^a ^b Pia, Catton (13 April 2015). "Karaoke Is Key to Singer's Success - Lucas Meachem raises the bar for baritones". www.wsj.com. Retrieved 16 May 2018.
^ "A Conversation with Lucas Meachem — San Francisco Opera's Barber of Seville headshot". www.huffingtonpost.com. Retrieved 16 May 2018.
^ James R, Oestreich (3 October 2017). "Review: 'La Bohème' at the Met Is Grand, Reviled and Beloved". www.nytimes.com. Retrieved 16 May 2018.
^ "A Grammy-winning opera singer lives in Minneapolis Arts & Culture". www.mprnews.org. 15 February 2017. Retrieved 16 May 2018.
^ Opera News Desk (9 June 2016). "San Francisco Opera Announces Winner of Emerging Stars Competition: Baritone Lucas Meachem". www.broadwayworld.com. Retrieved 16 May 2018.
^ David, Salazar (23 February 2018). "Finding His Own Voice – How Lucas Meachem Went From Mimicking His Favorite Artists To Becoming An Opera Star". operawire.com. Retrieved 16 May 2018.
^ May, Thomas (April 30, 2021). "Rossini at the Drive-In, as San Francisco Opera Returns". The New York Times. Retrieved May 13, 2021.
^ ^a ^b Lichtenbaum, Elisa (May 13, 2021). "#PBSForTheArts Artist Spotlight: Lucas Meachem". PBS. Retrieved May 13, 2021.
^ Joshua, Kosman (23 August 2012). "Baritone celebrates his marriage with unusual recital". sfgate.com. Retrieved 16 May 2018.