About
Denyce Graves: Breaking the Rules is an original WHYY television special featuring acclaimed opera star Denyce Graves, along with celebrity guests soul diva Patti LaBelle and popular R&B vocal group Take 6.

Denyce Graves: Breaking the Rules, recorded in June 2003 in front of a live audience at the Mann Center for the Performing Arts in Philadelphia, celebrates the talent, style and versatility of the mezzo-soprano. Graves leaves behind opera scores and wows the crowd with an electrifying collection of classical, gospel, R&B, and jazz favorites such as "Get Happy," "Ol' Man River," "Laid Down My Burdens," "Joint is Jumpin'" and more. The Chamber Orchestra of Philadelphia backs Graves on an elaborate stage that simulates an urban street scene complete with streetlights and espresso bar.

Highlights include Graves performing a powerful duet with Patti LaBelle. Their song, "Love Remembered," makes its premiere during the program and was written specially for their two unique voices. Graves also sings with one of opera's rising young stars Jessica Swink. The two perform one of opera's greatest and most popular tunes, the "Barcarolle," from Offenbach's Tales of Hoffman.

Another special moment in the program is a rousing rendition of "Smile" by male a cappella group, Take 6. The soulful group also engages the audience in a participatory version of "Wade in the Water."

For the grand finale, Graves performs "American Anthem," a song she first sang after 9/11 for the President of the United States at the National Memorial Service in Washington's National Cathedral.

Maestro Steven Mercurio, who has created arrangements for a wide array of artists including Andrea Bocelli, Placido Domingo and Bryn Terfel, conducts the concert.

Graves is recognized worldwide as one of today's most exciting vocal talents. Her career has taken her to the world's greatest opera houses and concert halls. She has become particularly well known to operatic audiences for her portrayals of the title roles in Carmen and Samson et Dalila. She has also appeared in a broad range of musical programs with leading theaters in North America and Europe, and is a much sought-after recitalist. Her recordings range from a performance of Rigoletto with conductor James Levine and the Metropolitan Opera Orchestra to the release, "The Lost Days: Music in the Latin Style."

Grammy Award winner Patti LaBelle has been a chart staple through a half-dozen hits with the futuristic trio LaBelle, and later a stunning solo career with over 30 charted singles, including 1983's chart topper "If You Only Knew" and the 1985 smash "New Attitude."

Take 6 has received numerous Grammy Awards for their complex jazz harmonies, original songs and vocal pyrotechnics, representing some of the best a cappella ever recorded. The six-man group has built a catalog of songs that draws from gospel, jazz, doo-wop, R&B, pop, '60s soul and hip-hop.

Denyce Graves: Breaking the Rules will be available on DVD and VHS with additional material, including commentary from Graves and footage of her at home.

The program is made possible by PNC Bank, The Hartford Foundation for Public Giving, The ARAMARK Charitable Fund, Peter Buttenwieser and Terry Ann Marek, the City of Philadelphia and The Connelly Foundation.

The program is co-sponsored by Carmen Productions