Banner Arts & Culture Sponsored by Cruz Companies
Black History Month and Valentine’s Day meet during “Black Joy! Celebrating Black Excellence in Opera and Art Song,” a brunch performance by Opera on Tap lauding Black love and joy through music.
Pioneered by soprano Nina Evelyn and Opera on Tap board member Melynda Davis, this event brings together five artists to perform songs with themes of love, laughter and community. Evelyn and Davis will be on stage alongside soprano Morgan Beckford, tenor Fred VanNess and pianist Julian Gau.
“We’re still using Black composers and Black poets that we’re focusing on but considering all of the turmoil going on in the world, we thought we would focus on love and joy,” said Davis. “Then everyone will leave the concert uplifted.”
Evelyn says that the program is designed to encapsulate that whole experience, including the journey to joy and the heartbreak and pain that lead to great love as well as the magic itself. The program will include songs from 19th and 20th century composers such as Margaret Bonds and Harry Burleigh as well as contemporary composers like Rosephanye Powell and Adolphus Hailstork. The evening will conclude with a group performance of “Lift Every Voice and Sing.”
Evelyn is particularly excited about a piece by Grammy-nominee Damien Sneed that reflects on the love and support between ragtime composer Scott Joplin and his wife, a bridge between history and our present moment.
“On the average opera stage there’s not a lot of Black composers,” said Davis. “This is a great opportunity to not only introduce music that’s not done often, but also to celebrate the work on Black artists.”
This is the third year Opera on Tap has performed a February homage to Black culture and most of the performers have participated in the past. Evelyn says many audience members are hearing these songs for the first time, which has inspired a desire to hear more work by Black musicians.
“Black Joy!” will be performed Feb. 22 at City Winery. Tickets start at $15. Folks are welcome to gather and order brunch from the City Winery menu while enjoying the performance. The atmosphere is intended to feel welcoming and accessible even for listeners without much opera experience.
“It’s really important to show people the breadth and the massiveness of the work,” said Evelyn. “Black composers have long been overlooked in the classical music canon. I hope people will come and want to hear more of this music and it will create a shift.”
Leave a Reply
You must be logged in to post a comment.