Artist of the Year: GREER GRIMSLEY as Wotan

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Greer Grimsley won Seattle Opera's Artist of the Year Award the first time he sang Wotan, in 2005. The American bass-baritone, who has sung most of the other Wagner helden-baritone roles and many others (including Escamillo, Méphistophélès, Scarpia, and Jack Rance) for the company, took on the king of the gods again in 2009 and 2013. Here, at the climax of his Act Two monologue, he gives voice to his complete despair: “I grabbed at Alberich’s ring, clutched it in my greed. I tried to flee the curse, but it will not flee from me. I must abandon what I love, I must murder my own son, betray the one who trusts me. Pass away, godly splendor: empty arrogance! May all I’ve built fall to ruin, I abandon my work: I want only one thing now—the end.” Asher Fisch conducts the orchestra of Seattle Opera.

For a recent interview with Greer Grimsley, go to www.seattleoperablog.com/2013/07/meet…rimsley.html