One of America’s favorite operas returns to the Met for the first time in nearly 30 years. James Robinson’s stylish production transports audiences to Catfish Row on the Charleston waterfront, vibrant with the music, dancing, emotion, and heartbreak of its inhabitants. “If you’re going to stage Gershwin’s opera, this is how,” raved the Guardian when the new…
DetailsInvisible: The Forgotten Story of the Black Woman Lawyer Who Took Down America’s Most Powerful Mobster Stephen L. Carter ©Macmillan 2019 Available at Amazon and other fine retailers. Read more at the publisher’s website: Picador – Invisible
DetailsPacific Symphony offers concert of music by American composers featuring pianist Aaron Diehl and conductor Mei-Ann Chen https://www.pacificsymphony.org/tickets/concert/rhapsody_blue
DetailsMusicUNTOLD presented JUNETEENTH WorldWide Concert June 19, 2011 featuring mezzo soprano Denyce Graves at the Terrace Theater, Long Beach, Ca. JUNETEENTH is the oldest celebration in the nation commemorating the ending of slavery. In addition to the opera recordings that made her famous, Ms. Graves had recorded the slave opera MARGARET GARNER (based on Toni…
DetailsOn November 22, 1965, Muhammad Ali tortured Floyd Patterson for refusing to call him Muhammad Ali instead of Cassius Clay. Approximately 1979, I arranged for Muhammad Ali to appear on KABC Sports Talk with host Bud Furillo to help me promote the California Golden Glove Championship at the Los Angeles Olympic Auditorium. When I arrived…
DetailsSoprano Makeda Hampton volunteered a performance during the Nov. 21, 2015 concert at Constitution Hall-150th Anniversary 13th Amendment to US Constitution – ABOLISHMENT OF SLAVERY. Makeda Hampton sang: ‘Tis Sunset in the Garden from William Grant Still opera Troubled Island; This Little Light of Mine arranged by Jacqueline Hairston. Victor Simonson pianist. See attachment. Soprano Makeda Hampton, is now on stage,…
DetailsBass Baritone Kevin Deas volunteered a performance of two opera arias during the Nov. 21, 2015 concert at Constitution Hall-150th Anniversary 13th Amendment to US Constitution – ABOLISHMENT OF SLAVERY. Kevin Deas sang: I Made Me A Man from Adolphus Hailstork opera Rise for Freedom: The John P Parker Story; No Man’s Possession from Ulysses…
DetailsOctober 2019 marks the 50th anniversary of the premiere performance of Dave Brubeck’s The Gates of Justice, a civil rights era cantata emphasizing the spiritual and historical parallels of Jewish and African Americans.
William Warfield Centennial Masterclass with Legendary The Metropolitan Opera Tenor George Shirley at the July 17, 2019 National Association of Negro Musicians Centennial Convention in Chicago, Recorded live by Patrick D. McCoy July 18, 2019. Imani Francis, soprano George Johnson, III, tenor Detra Davis, soprano Elliot Brown, tenor Alan Williams, bass-baritone Wilfred Delphin, piano
DetailsViolinist Annelle Kazumi Gregory promo video for upcoming August 9, 2019 CD release with Dmitry Yablonsky Kyiv Virtuosi Symphony Orchestra Russian Music for Solo Violin and Orchestra Annelle K. Gregory, violin Dmitry Yablonsky, conductor Kyiv Virtuosi Symphony Orchestra CD to be released on August 9, 2019 Naxos Records Pre-orders: www.AnnelleViolin.com
DetailsSmithsonian Magazine America’s forgotten migration – the journeys of a million African-Americans from the tobacco South to the cotton South By Edward Ball; Photographs by Wayne Lawrence November 2015 https://www.smithsonianmag.com/history/slavery-trail-of-tears-180956968/ When Delores McQuinn was growing up, her father told her a story about a search for the family’s roots. He said his own father knew the…
DetailsFrom July 24 to 27, the YOLA (Youth Orchestra of Los Angeles) National Symposium will bring together educators, administrators, advocates, and other key stakeholders in Sistema-inspired programs and programs similarly invested in youth and community development through music education. The theme of the symposium is “Empowering Youth, Building Community.” Over the course of the symposium,…
DetailsAnnelle Kazumi Gregory shared comments from Burgos International Music Festival Faculty Concert Cathedral, Burgos, Spain, July 17, 2019 “What a wonderful time playing Strauss Piano Quartet with these amazing musicians! It was so fun rehearsing and performing with you guys. Thank you for a wonderful experience! Let’s do it again soon.”
DetailsColonel Charles Young named a tree in the Sequoia National Park in honor of Booker T. Washington and the giant tree was lost for 100 years. See https://blackvoicenews.com/2003/09/14/after-100-years-young-and-booker-t-get-recognition/ Public television host Huell Howser dedicated a segment to Colonel Charles Young and the lost Booker T. Washington tree. https://blogs.chapman.edu/huell-howser-archives/2004/02/01/sequoia-black-history-californias-gold-6002-2/
DetailsNYC-ARTS Profile: Julia Bullock Clip: Season 2019 Episode 424 | 11m 48s A profile of soprano Julia Bullock, currently The Met Museum’s artist in residence. Known for her rich voice and versatile artistry, she is approaching the museum’s collection as both a musician and an activist. NYC-Arts Profile: Julia Bullock https://www.pbs.org/video/nyc-arts-profile-julia-bullock-shjw9o/
DetailsWilhelmena Rhodes Kelly was the first woman of color to start a Daughters of the American Revolution (DAR) Chapter in June 2012 She became the first woman of color elected to the (DAR) National Board June 2019. http://www.cuny.tv/highlight/SP2000065 Historic Advance for Daughters of the American Revolution Brooklyn College/CUNY graduate Wilhelmena Rhodes Kelly is…
DetailsDr. Kehembe V. Eichelberger, Assoc. Prof., Howard University shared a press release with MusicUNTOLD announcing the 25th anniversary of WADE IN THE WATER (26 episode series on NPR honoring the legacy of African American sacred music tradition over a 200 year period). https://newsroom.howard.edu/newsroom/static/10841/npr-releases-wade-water-26-part-series-25th-anniversary-produced-howard WASHINGTON – Howard University has made an impact on music with alumni…
DetailsUCLA Centennial celebrations began in May, 2019. Street banners may be seen in many parts of Los Angeles. I have not attended any of the special events such as kick off at LA City Hall. However, I hope Frederick Madison Roberts, first African American elected to California State Assembly who sponsored legislation to start UCLA…
DetailsJune is African-American Music Appreciation Month. Unsure if KUSC Classical Radio host Brian Lauritzen or the other KUSC Radio host acknowledge the designation, nevertheless I enjoyed listening to Brian Lauritzen selection of Florence Price Symphony #4 in d, John Jeter / Fort Smith Symphony Orchestra shortly after 5:00 PM on June 25, 2019.
On June 13, 2019, I had successful outpatient cataract surgery in my right eye by Dr. Audrey Mok at St. Mary Hospital in Long Beach, Ca. A friend called to check on the surgery and shared some information about Dr. Patricia Bath whose research on lasers advanced cataract surgery. Patricia Bath, Inventor of Laser-Based Cataract…
DetailsSouthern California violinist Annelle Gregory is scheduled to teach and perform in Spain. http://www.annelleviolin.com/calendar.html. See pic of Annelle and 2018 Jazz Grammy trumpeter/composer Terence Blanchard after classical music performance by Sphinx Virtuosi of Terence Blanchard commissioned DANCE FOR A NEW DAY featuring violin soloist Annelle Gregory.
DetailsJune 22, 2019 attended ALOUD (Library Foundation of Los Angeles) RIGHTS NIGHT: 14th AMENDMENT conversation featuring attorneys Nina Shaw (Del Shaw Moonves Tanaka Finkelstein & Lezcano) and Melissa Goodman (ACLU SoCal) followed by poet Alyesha Wise. Nina Shaw and Melissa Goodman are in the forefront of TIME’S UP (movement dedicated to combating sexual harassment and…
DetailsJune 14, 2019 KUSC Arts Alive interview with composer Anthony Davis CENTRAL PARK FIVE Opera https://media.kusc.org/audio/2019/06/20190612-AA-Bonus-Anthony-Davis.mp3 About The Central Park Five In 1980’s New York, five African American and Latino teenagers were in the wrong place at the wrong time. They were unjustly convicted of a Central Park rape but exonerated through DNA evidence thirteen years…
DetailsGenerally aware of concert and other events highlighting the accomplishments of composer William Grant Still in Los Angeles, I was greatly surprised when I attended the International City Theatre (Long Beach) production of BESTSELLER on June 20, 2019. The cast included Eric Myrick (Alex) whose credits included “William Grant Still and the Harlem Renaissance” at…
DetailsClassical conductor Thomas Wilkins will conduct opening night at Hollywood Bowl featuring John Legend with Youth Orchestra of Los Angeles to include fireworks. Maestro Wilkins will conduct Los Angeles Philharmonic Orchestra July 4th Fireworks Spectacular with Nile Rodger & Chic, July 2, 3, 4, 2019. Maestro Wilkins will be interviewed Monday June 17, 2019 on…
Details
