William
Grant Still (Photo is the sole property of William Grant Still Music,
and is used with permission).
William
Grant Still (1895-1978) is profiled at AfriClassical.com, which
features a comprehensive Works List by Prof. Dominique-René de
Lerma, http://www.CasaMusicaledeLerma.com
mural of Jean-Jacques Dessalines in Port-au-Prince, Haiti
South Shore Opera Company of Chicago presents
Troubled Island
an opera in four acts by William Grant Still
libretto by Langston Hughes
Saturday, October 19, 2013 at 6:00 p.m.
Robeson Theater
South Shore Cultural Center
7059 South Shore Drive, Chicago
Tickets: $100 • $50 • $35
The $100 ticket includes a post-opera celebration including dinner. Please call 773-723-4627 for availability.
Purchase online at SouthShoreOpera.org.
William Grant Still’s Troubled Island chronicles revolution, the birth of a Black nation, and a charismatic leader’s epic fall from grace.
Troubled Island grapples with love and lust, trust and
betrayal, set against the backdrop of Haiti’s historic battle for
freedom. Jean-Jacques Dessalines, the opera’s central figure, shook the
world, defeating Napoleon’s forces in the Caribbean, forging a new
nation, and inspiring slaves across the globe. The libretto by Langston
Hughes gives voice to all people fighting injustice.
Still’s music exhibits a mature and original voice, projecting an easy
virtuosity. His style combines the intensity and grandeur of late
Romantic opera with the piquancy and dynamism of traditional
African-American music.
Our not-to-be-missed single performance makes use of the composer’s own
piano version, representing his authentic statement of the opera’s
musical essence.
Come experience this forgotten masterpiece!
To celebrate South Shore Opera’s fifth anniversary, the internationally
acclaimed conductor Leslie Dunner has been engaged to lead the singers
in this masterwork deserving a place in the standard repertoire.
Maestro
Dunner leads an all-star cast.
- Leslie Dunner, conductor
- Kirk Walker, baritone
- Gwendolyn Brown, contralto
- Cornelius Johnson, tenor
- Dana Campbell, soprano
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