American composer Kevin Puts draws exhaustively — and often wondrously — from a deep trove of colors, textures, and emotions. In 2011, Puts brought that multi-dimensional artistry directly to Minnesota. Commissioned by the Minnesota Opera and premiered in November that year, his opera Silent Night went on to win the Pulitzer Prize the year following.
In 2015, Puts's ties to Minnesota are growing yet stronger. This weekend, another Minnesota Opera commission The Manchurian Candidate premieres in St. Paul.
Last month, Classical MPR's Emily Reese sat down with Kevin Puts to kick off this season's Composer Conversations series, an extended chat touching on his background, body of work, and inspirations.