Maestro Anthony Parnther
The 65th season began with Dvorák’s Symphony No. 9 in E minor “FROM the NEW WORLD”. Music Director/Conductor Anthony Parnther prefaced
the influence or spirit behind the composition was Negro spirituals
before directing a delicate and precise performance of all four
movements. The second half featured vocal tributes to Camilla Williams
and pop music icons Whitney Houston, Donna Summer, and Etta James plus
an encore instrumental tribute to Michael Jackson.
Maestro
Parnther noted that Camilla Williams was the first African American
signed to a major opera company (New York City Opera in 1946) and that
was nine
years before Marian Anderson became the first African-American singer
to appear at the Metropolitan Opera. He also mentioned she replaced
Marian Anderson, who was stuck in traffic, to sing the National Anthem
before Dr. Kings “I Have a Dream Speech” in 1963. Parnther did not
mention Camilla Williams also sang at King's Nobel Peace Prize ceremony the next year. Soprano Yolanda West superbly represented Camilla Williams singing Un Bel Di from Madame Butterfly and Summertime.
In
addition to the Southeast Symphony Orchestra, the Southeast Symphony
Association (SESA) also operate the Southeast Symphony Conservatory for
students 3rd grade through high school. Southern California Edison awarded the Conservatory $5,000.
Looking forward, Southeast Symphony has scheduled their annual Messiah Sing-Along for December 2nd and LEGACY IN BLACK (music of leading Black composers) for January 27, 2013.
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