Sunday, May 9, 2010

Scott Joplin's 'Treemonisha' Performed by Pegasus Opera June 5 North Devon, June 9 London


[Pegusus Opera Presents Scott Joplin's Treemonisha (Photo: NorthDevonTheatres.org.uk]

The Scott Joplin page at AfriClassical.com explains Treemonisha was completed in 1910 but was first staged in January, 1972 in a concert performance. It was staged in Atlanta, Georgia by the Afro-American Music Workshop of Morehouse College and the Atlanta Symphony under Robert Shaw, conductor. Subsequent productions in the United States and the Caribbean have been discussed, and on August 3, 2009 AfriClassical posted: “Kazem Abdullah to Conduct Mark Dornford-May's Production of Scott Joplin's 'Treemonisha' in Paris.” The opera was presented at Chatelet-Theatre.com. Michael S. Wright of Devon, England tells us Pegasus Opera Company will present its production of Joplin's Treemonisha in North Devon on June 5, 2010 and in London June 9, 2010:

“Through a clever legal coup, Joplin secured the rights to royalties to his Maple Leaf Rag, which not only established him as the King of Rags’, but also provided him with a steady if humble income for the rest of his life. However, Joplin’s ambition was to write for the lyric stage, and his first piece, The Ragtime Dance – a ballet for dancers and singer-narrator depicting a typical black American ball, was first performed at Wood’s Opera House in Sedalia on 24 November 1899. His next work for the stage, A Guest of Honor, was an opera about the black leader Booker T. Washington having dinner at the White House with president Roosevelt and was first performed in 1903. During the soon following tour, vital receipts and information were stolen, and the manuscript of the never published opera remains lost. A period of ragtime melodies followed, including Cascades and Chrysanthemum until his next and last opera, Treemonisha, which began writing in 1904 after the death of his second wife, Freddie Alexander, who is also the dedicatee.” “After finally publishing the score himself in 1911, the piece received very favourable reviews in the American Musician and the Art Journal in May 1911, but – despite numerous plans to do so – was never staged in Joplin’s lifetime.”

“9 June 2010, 7:30 PM
Donna Bateman soprano
Maureen Brathwaite soprano
Bernard Abervandana tenor
Herbert Perry bass
Rodney Clarke baritone
Hyacinth Nicholls soprano
Abram Wilson arranger
Tomorrow's Warriors Jazz Orchestra
Peter Selwyn conductor
Pegasus Opera Company presents Scott Joplin's Treemonisha. Set in the American South and written a century ago, the story centres on Treemonisha, an educated former slave. In attempting to free her community from the grip of ignorance and superstition, she faces hostility, suspicion and dangerous opposition.”

“Starts: Saturday, June 05, 2010”
“Following their successful production of Delius’ Koanga at London's Sadler's Wells, Pegasus Opera Company once more offers audiences a rarely performed but seminal operatic work.”






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The Pegasus Opera website has now been updated to show performances in Newport, Barnstaple Middlesborough, Worthing, Queen Elizabeth Hall (London) and Greenwich (London):

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