Champion - Opera Tickets

The essentials

Quick Facts About Champion - Opera

• Champion is an opera in jazz by Terence Blanchard with libretto by Michael Cristofer; premiered in 2013 at Opera Theatre of Saint Louis/Jazz St. Louis (STL) with Denyce Graves in a key role. ([en.wikipedia.org](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Champion_%28opera%29?utm_source=openai))
• Metropolitan Opera presented the company premiere of Champion in April 2023, marking Blanchard as the first Black composer to premiere an original opera at the Met. ([metopera.org](https://www.metopera.org/about/press-releases/the-metropolitan-opera-will-present-the-company-premiere-of-terence-blanchards-champion/?utm_source=openai))
• The official Met recording of Champion won the 2024 Grammy Award for Best Opera Recording. ([metopera.org](https://www.metopera.org/about/press-releases/the-metropolitan-opera-wins-2024-grammy-award-for-best-opera-recording-for-terence-blanchards-champion/?utm_source=openai))
• Champion is described by Blanchard as an 'opera in jazz'—a blend of contemporary and classical idioms. ([terenceblanchard.com](https://www.terenceblanchard.com/collaboration/champion/?utm_source=openai))
• In 2025, The Soraya (Los Angeles area) hosted Terence Blanchard performing Champion selections with LA Opera Off Grand collaboration, including a show on April 6, 2025 at The Soraya in Northridge, CA. ([laopera.org](https://www.laopera.org/performances/2025/terence-blanchard-at-the-soraya?utm_source=openai))
• Blanchard’s career spans jazz trumpet, film scores, and opera; he serves as Executive Artistic Director of SFJAZZ (since 2023) and has multiple Grammy wins for his operatic and jazz works. ([terenceblanchard.com](https://www.terenceblanchard.com/about/?utm_source=openai))