Rory Frankson, Lawrence Brownlee and Issachah Savage
Sergio A. Mims writes:
I think you would be interested in this Ebony interview with Lawrence Brownlee and other black male opera singers:
31 March 2015
By Janelle Watkins
Black female opera singers
have long been some of the most respected within the classical world—ask
anyone to list the top 10 opera singers of all time and the list will
invariably include several singers of color. Leontyne Price. Marian
Anderson. Martina Arroyo. Grace Bumbry. Shirley Verrett. These are just a
few who’ve been celebrated throughout the world for their operatic
genius.
Now it seems that it’s young Black men who are leaving their indelible
mark in the world of classical music and opera. And their mark is by no
means negligible.
Enter Lawrence Brownlee, Issachah Savage and Rory Frankson.
Lawrence Brownlee (42) is one of the most sought after
lyric tenors in the bel canto repertoire. The veteran of this group, he
began his career in 2002, proceeding directly to one of the top three
opera houses in the world, La Scala Milan, to sing in a leading role—a
feat typically unheard of in the world of opera. That role, which has
become his signature character, was Count Almaviva in Il Barbiere di Siviglia. Brownlee’s career has seen him sing in virtually all of the world’s top opera houses.
Issachah Savage (36) was the winner of the 2014 Seattle International
Wagner Competition, earning a trifecta of awards including the main,
audience and orchestra favorite prizes. He was also bestowed special
honor by Seattle Opera’s general director Speight Jenkins (renowned for
awarding special opportunities to Black male singers), who invited
Savage to sing alongside opera greats including Clifton Forbis,
Stephanie Blythe and Greer Grimsley at his retirement gala
.
Rory Frankson (34) is a Jamaican baritone who has yet
to make it on the main stage, but whose spark, personality and voice has
everyone who hears him cheering him on. Frankson currently sings his
way through the Caribbean at the various Sandals resorts, bringing his
brand of classical music into the hotels and throughout the islands.
He’s sold over 2,000 copies of his first album, You Are the One, which for an indie artist with no airplay or publicity is no small feat.
The interesting thing is that all three singers entered the classical realm quite by chance.
Comment by email:
Comment by email:
Great!
Many thanks. Savage, by the way, was a student of Betty Ridgeway at
Morgan, who also taught Kishna Davis (a private student of Leontyne
Price) and Kevin Short (leading man all over Europe), as well as those
who worked with Stevie Wonder. Dominique-René de Lerma
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