American Opera Projects: Celebrate Black History Month - Stream AOP / Nkeiru Okoye's Harriet Tubman: When I Crossed that Line to Freedom [YouTube (1 hr., 57 mins.)]

Nkeiru Okoye

Harriet Tubman opera by Nkeiru Okoye - World Premiere 2014

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=CXhVfF25_XU&list=PLjbmxRatK2iMKxHcZLfyFulNtt4b_MGRZ

A MESSAGE FROM NKEIRU OKOYE, composer:

Harriet Tubman: When I Crossed that Line to Freedom

When I first contacted American Opera Projects in 2010, I was already an orchestral composer, and was working on what would become my first opera, Harriet Tubman: When I Crossed that Line to Freedom. The opera tells the actual story of the American icon through a mosaic of African-American musical styles including gospel, jazz, ragtime, spirituals, call and response, and juba dance.

AOP worked with me to develop Harriet Tubman over the next three years, workshopping excerpts to gain audience feedback and then premiering the full production. Since the AOP premiere, they have helped me develop two more operas as well as helping me promote Harriet Tubman to other companies.

Eight years later, I'm thrilled to still be part of the AOP family that supports my music, and also the music of countless other composers over its 30-year history. As you enjoy the stream of Harriet Tubman this February, I hope you will support AOP in its mission to bring more groundbreaking operas to light.

Celebrate Black History Month!

Nkeiru Okoye, composer

Comment by email:

Hi Bill,  How wonderful to hear from you. Sending you a smile and sincere appreciation for all you do!  Nkeiru  [Nkeiru Okoye]