William Grant Still (1895-1978)
Langston Hughes
Latonia Moore
John Malveaux of MusicUNTOLD.com writes:
Judith Still, daughter of composer William Grant Still, shared "I might
mention that the Metropolitan Opera gave him (William Grant Still) an
appointment to show them a score of TROUBLED ISLAND, but when he arrived
and they saw he was the "wrong color" they left him in the outer office
for four hours but would not see him. No apologies given." See https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Troubled_Island
The March 31, 1949 world premiere of TROUBLED ISLAND by the New York City Opera was greeted with 22 curtain calls. The opera has never been staged again in the United States. The
Black Swan Theatre & Opera Company has scheduled TROUBLED ISLAND at
UCL in London Sep. 9, 10, 11, 12, 14, 15, 16, 17, 18, 19.
Metropolitan
Opera soprano Latonia Moore is scheduled to sing the aria 'Sunset in
the Garden" from TROUBLED ISLAND Opera June 29, 2020 at the iconic Walt
Disney Concert Hall.
Correction: October 19, 2013 the South Shore Opera Company of Chicago presented the opera in full with a black cast, black chorus and black conductor. The opera was held at the Paul Robeson Theatre of the South Shore Cultural Center.
ReplyDeleteJohn Malveaux
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