Narrator Kirk Robbins, Composer Trent Johnson and Tenor Sam McKelton as The Inquisitor
Kevin Maynor and Rod Dixon, as Jomo Kenyatta and Oginga Odinga
Bass Baritone Brace Negron as Martin Luther
Kenyatta, Act 2 Scene 5
Trent Johnson writes:
Two Recent Premieres for composer Trent Johnson
Organist and composer Trent Johnson recently had
two successful premieres, his opera "Kenyatta" and his oratorio
entitled, "Wittenberg - The Story of Martin Luther."
On November 19,
2017, Trent's opera Kenyatta, commissioned by Trilogy: an Opera Company, was
premiered at the New Jersey Performing Arts Center in Newark, New Jersey. This
new work tells the story of Kenya's first president, Jomo Kenyatta, and the ensuing political conflict with vice
president Oginga Odinga. Bass Kevin Maynor sang the role of Kenyatta, while
tenor Rod Dixon sang the role of Oginga Odinga. The soloists, chorus, orchestra
and the Newark City Ballet were led by conductor Julius Williams.
Music critic, Paul Somers of Classical New Jersey
wrote, "Kenyatta is an effective presentation of history with an
orchestral score which ably supports the action. Johnson uses the standard
operatic devices of scena, orchestrally supported recitative, and big
arias."
“Bass Kevin Maynor as
Kenyatta…. conveyed the dignity and the humanity of Kenyatta, the nation's
first president, with musicality and drama.”
"Odinga was sung with great power by Chicago
based tenor Rod Dixon. His ringing tenor and immaculate diction won over the
audience very quickly. His Act II solo scene praising his pro-Soviet version of
nationalism with its climactic high C, elicited cheers from the audience."
"The "stars" of Trent Johnson's
new opera Kenyatta were for many the djembe, the African drums in the pit
played enthusiastically by Wilson Torres and Jimmy Musto, which set the tone
throughout the 3 Act evening. Their tempo and rhythms changed for each dramatic
situation, but always they reminded us that this was an African drama set in
the context of Kenya having shaken off British rule."
On March 18, 2018, Trent Johnson led the
premiere of his oratorio, "Wittenberg - The story of Martin Luther"
scored for narrator, soloists, chorus, and orchestra. This new work tells of
the German reformer's journey from monk to reformer, with the centerpiece of
the work being his famous trial in the German city of Worms.
The work featured
narrator, Kirk Robbins, bass baritone Brace Negron as Martin Luther, tenor, Sam
McKelton as the Inquisitor, the Oratorio Singers of Westfield, NJ and members
of the New Jersey Symphony Orchestra, conducted by Trent Johnson. The concert also featured works by
Mozart, Beethoven and Copland.
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