(Photo credit: Ekua Holmes) The New England Conservatory (NEC) puts on the 7th annual Coretta Scott King Tribute Concert, titled “Life. Love. Legacy.” on Feb. 26 in Jordan Hall. The musical tribute is co-curated by NEC’s Black Student Union and Castle of our Skins. This year’s concert holds special significance as it marks the 70th anniversary of Coretta Scott King’s {…}
(Photo credit: NBC) On Feb. 5, the NBC Nightly News ran a feature on OperaCréole and Opera Lafayette on their efforts to produce the earliest known opera by a Black American,”Morgiane.” NBC Nightly News traveled to New Orleans to film a segment on OperaCréole’s Artistic Director Givonna Joseph and her work to bring restorative justice to American opera through presentations {…}
The Experiential Orchestra and Videmus present the Julia Perry Centenary Celebration and Festival in New York City. Julia Perry (1924-79) was an African-American composer, born in Lexington, Kentucky and raised in Akron, Ohio. She spent two summers at the Berkshire Music Center, studied with Luigi Dallapiccola and briefly with Nadia Boulanger. She won the Prix Fontainebleau and two Guggenheim Fellowships, {…}
The Choral Arts Society of Washington and the Washington Performing Arts Men, Women, and Children of the Gospel Choirs will co-present the 36th-annual choral tribute concert “Living the Dream…Singing the Dream” at the Kennedy Center on Feb. 18, 2024. The performance, under the direction of Artistic Director Theodore Thorpe III, pays tribute to the life and legacy of Dr. Martin {…}
Photo Credit: Tania Barricklo Multi-talented opera director, fight choreographer, composer, singer, and conductor Maria Todaro spoke with OperaWire about revising the recent productions of “The Anonymous Lover” and her ‘love affair’ with the composer Joseph Bologne, Chevalier de Saint-Georges. In 2022 Todaro staged “The Anonymous Lover” for Minnesota Opera. Paying homage to Bologne, she set the opera in 18th century {…}
Soprano Abiodun Koya is about as multifaceted as a person can get: opera singer, poet, fashion designer, model, activist, and humanitarian, to name a few. But the title she’s most proud of? Humanitarian. The soprano is living out that purpose, singing in front of and meeting people who can effect positive change and help forward her foundation’s goals. The Abiodun {…}
As Black History Month 2020 draws to a close, we take a look at some of the great black artists of the past and present for our latest word search. Instructions: You are free to solve the word search directly on your mobile or desktop device; just click the first and last letter of each word for it to appear {…}
Marian Anderson, born on Feb. 27, 1897, will forever be remembered as one of the most important figures in the history of opera. To commemorate the contralto’s birthday and what she means as a part of Black History Month, here is a quiz that tests you on her career exploits. As always, have fun.
(Credit: Lynn Lane) The Houston Grand Opera is set to showcase the 68th world premiere in company history when it opens “Marian’s Song” on March 5 and 6, 2020 at the Cullenter of the Wortham Theater Center. The opera, which is written by Deborah D.E.E.P. Mouton and composed by Damien Sneed, is based on the life of the legendary opera {…}
The final days of Black History Month coincide with the birthday of one of the great black singers in the history of opera, quite possibly the most important. While Leontyne Price belongs in the pantheon of the world’s greatest singers and is quite possibly the most famous ever, Marian Anderson, born on Feb. 27, 1897, was the one that allowed {…}
For the past two weeks we have honored the black singers making strides in today’s diverse opera world. But unfortunately, as has been the case in many social situations, the opera world was not always that diverse and the black community was not always a lock for representation on the biggest stages. But throughout the years major operatic pioneers manage {…}