Free Concert: A Tribute to Black Pioneers in Music Performance

Posted by metroafrican • January 16, 2009 • Printer-friendly

The next concert of the award-winning Lamont Symphony Orchestra will be on Friday January 16th at 7:30 pm in Gates Hall of the Newman Center for the Performing Arts on the DU campus.

Taking place on the Friday of Martin Luther King, Jr. weekend, this very special evening is entitled "A Tribute to Black Pioneers in Music Performance" and will feature Metropolitan Opera stars Leona Mitchell and George Shirley as well as Tara Davison, Lori Hicks, Lucia Bradford, Darnell Ishmel and Master of Ceremonies Frederick A. Peterbark.

The program will include famous opera arias and scenes associated with history-making performances by legendary African-American singers including music from Pagliacci, Rigoletto, Otello, La Forza del Destino, Samson and Delilah and Il Trovatore. Music Director Lawrence Golan and his graduate conducting assistants Devin Hughes and Ace Edewards will conduct.

The program opens with the "Festive Overture" by William Grant Still and closes with the world premiere performances of two pieces by the exciting, young African-American composer Ozie Cargile II. "Epoch: Opening of the Heavens" is a lush, romantic work and "The Audacity of Hope" is a very powerful and moving composition inspired by Barack Obama and named after his book.

The performance is free and open to the public. However, due to over-capacity crowds for LSO concerts, tickets are required. The box office will open at 6:30 pm on the evening of the performance. In addition, it is possible to pick up your tickets in advance at the Newman Center Box Office, 10am-4pm, M-F.

Hope to see you there!

Newman Center for the Performing Arts: Corner of University and Iliff. Enter parking garage on Wesley (free parking).