A Tallahassee resident is in the running for a Grammy Award. The last work by Carlisle Floyd, considered one of the fathers of American opera, is one of five contenders for "Best Opera Recording."
Carlisle Floyd's "Prince of Players" debuted just over 4 years ago. It took him 3 years to write and as he began that process, he told WFSU that, after a dozen year hiatus from composing, it was among the toughest tasks he'd ever tackled.
"You feel like a real novice! But eventually it took hold and I went on. But it was never as easy as it was in the beginning."
A beginning that dated from 1955 when his groundbreaking opera "Susannah" almost caused a scandal. Floyd believed more sophisticated modern audiences would be more accepting of "Prince of Players."
"It's a much healthier climate for composers now. Much more. Because much more is accepted as being okay, whatever your idiom is."
The 63rd Annual Grammy Awards, which include Carlisle Floyd's last opera, will be aired on CBS-TV the last day of January.
