The concert halls and classrooms alike give the undeniable impression that while Blacks are vitally important and great in repertoires outside the concert halls (such as blues, jazz, and spirituals), the concert halls themselves are, and have always been, the domains of Whites—most of them men, most of them European. This impression is only corroborated…
Part 3 of 3 History of classical music by composers of African descent. In the final part of this series Eleanor Alberga touches on the impact of colonialism and immigration on classical music and considers the history of black composers in the UK. This program begins with music by Samuel Coleridge-Taylor, who was born in…
The Metropolitan Opera open its 2021-22 season with Terence Blanchard’s “Fire Shut Up in My Bones” — the first work by a Black composer ever presented by the Met. Featuring a libretto by filmmaker Kasi Lemmons, the opera tells a poignant and profound story about a young man’s journey to overcome a life of trauma…
Composer Michael Abels shared a track he produced for singer/composer Rhiannon Giddens forthcoming opera about a Muslim African enslaved and brought to Charleston in 1807.
Please see blog – Violinist Booker Rowe retires after 50 years https://africlassical.blogspot.com/2020/09/sergio-mims-6abccom-trailblazing.html
Part 1 of 3 series highlighting composers of African descent https://www.bbc.co.uk/sounds/play/m000j2bs. See pic Janise White, Afro-American Chamber Music Society Orchestra
Part 2 of 3 series highlighting composers of African descent https://www.bbc.co.uk/sounds/play/m000j96f In this second program of the series, British composer Eleanor Alberga charts the contribution that black composers have made to the story of western classical music, the focus is America, and how “Black pride and identity” have helped to shape American classical music from…
Los Angeles Philharmonic Soundstage Episode 1- LOVE IN THE TIME OF COVID Gustavo Dudamel, conductor María Valverde, narrator J’Nai Bridges, mezzo-soprano LIEBERSON Neruda Songs: “Amor mío, si muero y tú no mueras” WALKER Lyric for Strings MAHLER Adagietto from Symphony No. 5 Read more at soundstage.laphil.com
The Los Angeles Philharmonic’s SOUND/STAGE media project, an online compendium of concert films, debuts Friday, September 25, at 10am with “Love in the Time of COVID.” Friday, September 25, 2020, at 10am. Series Available at laphil.com/soundstage This first episode will be narrated in Spanish by actress María Valverde, wife of LA Phil Music & Artistic…
DEEP RIVER-The ART of the SPIRITUAL – academic discussion of Negro spirituals as art songs including comments and vocal performances by baritone Kevin Deas. Bass Baritone Kevin Deas volunteered performances of two opera arias during MusicUNTOLD Nov. 21, 2015 concert at Constitution Hall (Washington DC) celebrating the ‘150th Anniversary 13th Amendment to US Constitution…