Speight Jenkins Is Chevalier in the Order of Arts et Lettres

[Helene]

Former Seattle Opera General Director Speight Jenkins became a Chevalier in the Order of Arts et Lettres, receiving the insignia from the Consul General of France, Pauline Carmona during her first trip to Seattle.

http://www.seattletimes.com/entertainment/classical-music/france-honors-seattle-operas-speight-jenkins/

“It was a total shock,” when he heard he was being decorated. “I am really gratified.”

He suspects the French took notice of his production of 16 French operas in Seattle — productions not a lot of American companies take on, he said.

From the archives, the French operas by French composers that were produced first by Jenkins were:

• Manon
• Roméo et Juliette
• Pelléas et Mélisande
• Les pêcheurs de perles (2x)
• La voix Humaine
• Don Quichotte
• Dialogues des Carmélites

Operas by French composers returning under Jenkins were:

• Faust (2x)
• Carmen (2x)
• Lakmé
• Les contes d’Hoffmann (2x)
• Werther

Other operas in French:

• Iphigènie en Tauride (Gluck)
• Orphée et Eurydice (Gluck)
• La fille du régiment (Donizetti)
• Don Carlos (Verdi)

[sandik]

What a thrill for him, and such great recognition for the company!