Speight Jenkins
Encyclopedia
Speight Jenkins Jr is the general director of Seattle Opera
. Jenkins, a native of Dallas, Texas
, is the son of Speight Jenkins Sr and Sara Baird Jenkins. His B.A. degree is from the University of Texas at Austin
, and he graduated in 1961 from Columbia Law School
. He served in the US Army, and later became a music critic and journalist. He worked for seven years at Opera News
as its news and reports editor, and later at the New York Post
from 1973 to 1981 as music critic. He has been a host for U.S. television's Live from the Metropolitan Opera.
In the early 1980s, Jenkins was a guest lecturer at Seattle Opera for the company's production of Richard Wagner
's Der Ring des Nibelungen
. His knowledge impressed the Seattle Opera board of trustees such that they offered him the post of general director of the company. He began his tenure with Seattle Opera as general director in 1983, and in 2003, signed a 10-year extension to his contract.
Jenkins has released an art book, Pelleas + Melisande + Chihuly, and narrated a 4-CD commentary called "Enjoying Wagner's Ring of the Nibelung with Speight Jenkins".
Jenkins and his wife, the former Linda Sands, have two children, Linda Leonie Jenkins and Speight Jenkins III. His daughter, Linle, married James Froeb in 1998, and they have three daughters.
In 2011 he won an Opera Honor from the National Endowment for the Arts
.
Seattle Opera
The Seattle Opera is an opera company located in Seattle, Washington. Founded in 1963 by Glynn Ross, who served as the company's first general director through 1983, Seattle Opera's season runs from August to late May, with five or six operas offered and with eight to ten performances each, often...
. Jenkins, a native of Dallas, Texas
Texas
Texas is the second largest U.S. state by both area and population, and the largest state by area in the contiguous United States.The name, based on the Caddo word "Tejas" meaning "friends" or "allies", was applied by the Spanish to the Caddo themselves and to the region of their settlement in...
, is the son of Speight Jenkins Sr and Sara Baird Jenkins. His B.A. degree is from the University of Texas at Austin
University of Texas at Austin
The University of Texas at Austin is a state research university located in Austin, Texas, USA, and is the flagship institution of the The University of Texas System. Founded in 1883, its campus is located approximately from the Texas State Capitol in Austin...
, and he graduated in 1961 from Columbia Law School
Columbia Law School
Columbia Law School, founded in 1858, is one of the oldest and most prestigious law schools in the United States. A member of the Ivy League, Columbia Law School is one of the professional graduate schools of Columbia University in New York City. It offers the J.D., LL.M., and J.S.D. degrees in...
. He served in the US Army, and later became a music critic and journalist. He worked for seven years at Opera News
Opera News
Opera News is an American classical music magazine. It has been published since 1936 by the Metropolitan Opera Guild, a non-profit organization located at Lincoln Center which was founded to support the Metropolitan Opera of New York City...
as its news and reports editor, and later at the New York Post
New York Post
The New York Post is the 13th-oldest newspaper published in the United States and is generally acknowledged as the oldest to have been published continuously as a daily, although – as is the case with most other papers – its publication has been periodically interrupted by labor actions...
from 1973 to 1981 as music critic. He has been a host for U.S. television's Live from the Metropolitan Opera.
In the early 1980s, Jenkins was a guest lecturer at Seattle Opera for the company's production of Richard Wagner
Richard Wagner
Wilhelm Richard Wagner was a German composer, conductor, theatre director, philosopher, music theorist, poet, essayist and writer primarily known for his operas...
's Der Ring des Nibelungen
Der Ring des Nibelungen
Der Ring des Nibelungen is a cycle of four epic operas by the German composer Richard Wagner . The works are based loosely on characters from the Norse sagas and the Nibelungenlied...
. His knowledge impressed the Seattle Opera board of trustees such that they offered him the post of general director of the company. He began his tenure with Seattle Opera as general director in 1983, and in 2003, signed a 10-year extension to his contract.
Jenkins has released an art book, Pelleas + Melisande + Chihuly, and narrated a 4-CD commentary called "Enjoying Wagner's Ring of the Nibelung with Speight Jenkins".
Jenkins and his wife, the former Linda Sands, have two children, Linda Leonie Jenkins and Speight Jenkins III. His daughter, Linle, married James Froeb in 1998, and they have three daughters.
In 2011 he won an Opera Honor from the National Endowment for the Arts
National Endowment for the Arts
The National Endowment for the Arts is an independent agency of the United States federal government that offers support and funding for projects exhibiting artistic excellence. It was created by an act of the U.S. Congress in 1965 as an independent agency of the federal government. Its current...
.