The work of Gene Scheer is noted for its scope and versatility. His music and lyrics have gained enthusiastic admirers among a broad audience.

In 2005 Mr. Scheer worked as librettist with Tobias Picker on "An American Tragedy" which was premiered at the Metropolitan Opera. This opera was Mr. Scheer's second collaboration with Mr. Picker. Their first opera "Therese Raquin", premiered at the Dallas Opera in November 2001. "Therese Raquin" was subsequently performed in Montreal (in a French translation) and in 2003 in San Diego. The recording, available on Chandos, was cited by Opera News as one of the ten best recordings of 2002. In March 2006 a new production of "Therese Raquin" opened at Covent Garden in the Linbury Theater ... read full bio

The work of Gene Scheer is noted for its scope and versatility. His music and lyrics have gained enthusiastic admirers among a broad audience.

In 2005 Mr. Scheer worked as librettist with Tobias Picker on "An American Tragedy" which was premiered at the Metropolitan Opera. This opera was Mr. Scheer's second collaboration with Mr. Picker. Their first opera "Therese Raquin", premiered at the Dallas Opera in November 2001. "Therese Raquin" was subsequently performed in Montreal (in a French translation) and in 2003 in San Diego. The recording, available on Chandos, was cited by Opera News as one of the ten best recordings of 2002. In March 2006 a new production of "Therese Raquin" opened at Covent Garden in the Linbury Theater.

Since introducing his compositions just a few years ago, Mr. Scheer's songs have been performed by artists including Renee Fleming (with Christoph Eschenbach), Denyce Graves, Sylvia Mcnair, Stephanie Blythe, Jennifer Larmore and Nathan Gunn, The distinguished documentary film maker, Ken Burns, has chosen to feature Norah Jones singing Mr. Scheer's song "American Anthem" in his upcoming film about World War II entitled "The War". The seven part film will air in September 2007 on PBS. "American Anthem", first performed by Ms. Graves for President and Mrs. Clinton at the Smithsonian Institute, .has been recorded both by Denyce Graves (on RCA) and by Nathan Gunn (on EMI.) Ms. Graves included Scheer's "Christmas Once More" on her nationally televised PBS Christmas Special and has performed a number of songs by Mr. Scheer with orchestras including the National Symphony in Washington DC (with Leonard Slatkin) and the National Arts Symphony of Canada. In 2003 Mr. Scheer was commissioned to write a choral version of his song "Christmas Once More" which was performed in Orchestra Hall with the Chicago Symphony and Chicago Symphony Chorus. This work was later performed by the Colorado Symphony with the Colorado Symphony Chorus.

Duain Wolfe conducted. Renee Fleming performed works by Mr. Scheer on her most recent concert tour-- including a performance at Carnegie Hall. She opened her "Live from Lincoln Center" program with the Orpheus chamber orchestra with a new version of Mr. Scheer's song "Another New Voice Teacher" written by Mr. Scheer and Andrew Thomas especially for the event. In 2004 Ms. Fleming, who was asked to give the commencement speech at Julliard, commissioned a song from Mr. Scheer with which she concluded her remarks to the graduating class.

Nathan Gunn recently performed Mr. Scheer's song cycle "Voices from World War II" with the Isis Chamber orchestra. Mr. Gunn debuted the work (piano accompaniment) at London's Wigmore Hall. He has subsequently performed the work in New York, Berkeley California, Washington DC and most recently at the Monnaie in Brussels.

In 2006 Mr. Scheer collaborated with Wynton Marsalis on a new piece entitled "It never goes away" which was featured in Mr. Marsalis' work entitled. "Congo Square." This new work was premiered in New Orleans in April 06 and then after a tour through the United States was performed at Lincoln Center on May 6, 2006.

In November 2006 the Philharmonia Baroque Orchestra with Nic McGegan conducting performed the premiere of a new Lyric Drama by Jake Heggie and Mr. Scheer entitled "To Hell and Back". This new piece featured Patti LuPone and Isabelle Bayrakdarian.

Most recently Mr. Scheer has been working on a number of new commissions. He wrote the libretto for a children's opera based on an original story entitled "The Star Gatherer" with composer Stephen Paulus. This piece was premiered in Minnesota in late Oct 2006. With Jake Heggie, Mr. Scheer has written two song cycles, "Statuesque" and "Rise and Fall." Currently they are working on a new piece for Frederica Von Stade and a song cycle based on the experiences chronicled in the film " Paragraph 175."