Puccini Society of Dallas Presents
Erik Earl Larson, baritone
Bridget Cappel, soprano
Andrew Packard, pianist
IN CONCERT
Saturday, February 8, 2025
We enjoyed our February 8 program, hosted by Dianne and Mark LaRoe in their lovely home. Many thanks to those of you who have attended.
Our program was presented by Erik Earl Lawson, baritone, and his wife Bridget Cappel, soprano. They are accompanied by Andrew Packard:
Erik Earl Larson, baritone
Hailed by critics for his “attractive”, and “penetrating” baritone voice, Erik Earl Larson has most recently been heard in Lucia di Lammermoor (Enrico) at Painted Sky Opera, La traviata (Baron Douphol) at The Dallas Opera, and Little Women (John Brooke) at Fort Worth Opera. A favorite of The Dallas Opera, Erik Earl has been heard there in recent productions of Rigoletto (Marullo), Tosca (Sciarrone), and Romeo and Juliet (Count Paris), as well as the Showcase Concert for the Hart Institute of Women Conductors — a performance for which Erik Earl was lauded as a vocal standout by The Dallas Morning News. Recently, Erik Earl sang with Virginia Opera in Le nozze di Figaro (Figaro), the Memphis Symphony in Handel’s Messiah (Bass Soloist), and Carnegie Hall in Michael Glasgow’s Gloria (Baritone Soloist). Along with two cats and one adorable French Bulldog, Erik Earl and his wife — soprano Bridget Cappel — make their home in Dallas, Texas.
Bridget Cappel, soprano
Bridget Cappel, praised for her “stunning singing, dazzling coloratura, and beautiful lyricism,” and her “assertive…supple, beautifully focused voice,” is thrilled to share exciting new repertoire today as she makes the transition from mezzo-soprano to soprano in 2025. This past season, Bridget returned to Opera NEO in San Diego to sing the fiery Eduige in Handel’s Rodelina. She made her company debut with Painted Sky Opera in Oklahoma City as Alisa in Lucia di Lammermoor and was delighted to return to the Fort Worth Opera stage with a debut of Meg in Adamo’s Little Women— both alongside her husband baritone Erik Earl Larson. Other recent appearances include a cover of the title role in Handel’s Rinaldo with The Glimmerglass Festival, Rosina in Il barbiere di Siviglia and Flora Bervoix in La Traviata with Shreveport Opera. Bridget is a winner of the Mary Jacobs Smith Singer of the Year Competition, the John Alexander National Vocal Competition, and a Regional Finalist of the Metropolitan Opera Laffont Competition.
Andrew Packard, pianist
Andrew Packard specializes in collaborative music making, regularly performing a wide variety of art song, opera, chamber music, and choral literature. He currently serves as organist at St. Andrew Methodist Church in Plano and previously held staff collaborative piano positions at Texas Christian University and Southern Methodist University. Recent appearances include a live radio performance with the Orpheus Chamber Singers on WRR 101.1, a performance of Saint-Saëns’ Symphony no. 3 with the Dallas Asian American Youth Orchestra as organ soloist, and guest recitals at Texas Christian University and Southwestern University.