Barton concert pushed back because of Met performance

Divas are often known for making things a little difficult. So when organizers of an upcoming operatic performance at the DeSoto called their event “Jamie Barton An Evening with the Down Home Diva,” they should have expected a few hiccups.

Reknowned Mezzosoprano Jamie Barton was supposed to perform at the DeSoto on Sept. 26. But when the Metropolitan Opera called and said they needed her on that day, she couldn’t refuse.

The winner of the 2015 Richard Tucker Award was asked to replace Latvian mezzosoprano Elina Garanca as Jane Seymour when “Anna Bolena” opens at the Met. Unfortunately, that was the same day as her DeSoto performance. So she’ll appear in “Down-Home Diva” at the DeSoto Theatre on Sept. 27.

“The DeSoto Theatre has a great deal to do with me being in performance now,” Barton said in a recent phone interview. “It’s where I saw my first show, performed my first role in community theater and worked backstage in college. To be able to go back to the DeSoto, where everything started, and to be living my dream at the Metropolitan Opera, all in the same weekened — it feels like my life is coming full circle.”

Chris Jackson, president of the Historic DeSoto Theatre Foundation, said all tickets purchased for the original date will be honored.

“It’s not every day that the Metropolitan Opera in New York City calls to request a favor from the DeSoto and the folks in Rome,” Jackson said. “When we found out that the Met neeed our Jamie to step in, we knew we had to share her with the opera world.”

Jackson added that he was confident hometown fans would be thrilled for Barton’s new opportunity.

The winner of both the Main and Song prizes at the 2013 BBC Carding Singer of the World competition, Barton is no stranger to the Met stage. She made her debut there as the Second Lady in Mozart’s “Magic Flute” in 2009. Her performances at the Met in “Anna Bolena” will take place in September, October and January.

She’ll perform at the “Down-Home Diva” benefit concert at the DeSoto Theatre on Sept. 27 starting at 7:30 p.m. Tickets are $18 for students, $28 for adults and $78 for patrons. Patron tickets will include reserved seating and entry to a Meet & Greet Patrons Party hosted by Heritage First Bank at their new Broad Street location.

Visit online at www. romelittletheatre. wordpress.com to purchase tickets or for additional concert information.