OPERA NORTH Songs of Hope presents
Reflection “I Want To Be Free” T. J. Anderson
Rise Up Singing! Oh Freedom A Black History Celebration Mr. Warfield and Mr. Burton
Lisa Edwards-Burrs, soprano Let Us Break Bread Together John Carter N. Cameron Chandler, bass-baritone (from Cantata for Voice and Piano, movement # 4, Air) Mr. Williford Takesha Meshé Kizart, soprano Cailin Manson, baritone I Dream a World Uzee Brown, Jr. Marlin Williford, tenor Ms. Kizart George Braxton, baritone George Burton, piano Come Sunday Edward Kennedy Ellington Doris Coleman, piano (from Black, Brown and Beige) Tim Warfield, tenor and soprano saxophone Mr. Chandler, Mr. Warfield and Mr. Burton
Welcome Songs of Justice Dr. Samuel Cosby Reflection “Justice” Dr. Martin Luther King, Jr.
Songs of Reflection Decisions Adolphus Hailstork Ms. Edwards-Burrs Steal Away Mr. Warfield and Mr. Burton If We Must Die Adolphus Hailstork Mr. Manson and Ms. Coleman Sometimes I Feel Like a Motherless Child John Carter (from Cantata for Voice and Piano, movement # 3, Recitative) Peter, Go Ring Them Bells John Carter Mr. Williford and Ms. Coleman (from Cantata for Voice and Piano, movement # 2, Rondo) Mr. Williford I Just Can’t Stay Here by Myself arr. Hall Johnson Mr. Manson and Ms. Coleman Intermission Watch and Pray Undine Smith Moore Ms. Edwards-Burrs and Ms. Coleman Songs of Love and Inspiration Songs of Faith
Reflection “Longing” Paul Laurence Dunbar Reflection “The Flame Burns Brightly” John Lovell, Jr. from Black Song: The Forge and the Flame Soliloquy Thomas Kerr Mr. Chandler, Mr. Warfield and Mr. Burton I’m Gonna Sing Andre J. Thomas
Miranda’s Prayer H. Leslie Adams Ride On, KING JESUS arr. Philip Kern (from Blake) Ms. Edwards-Burrs, Ms. Kizart, Mr. Williford, Ms. Edwards-Burrs Mr. Manson and Mr. Chandler
Love, Elusive Love James H. East Mr. Williford
Praise God and Dance Edward Kennedy Ellington (from Second Sacred Concert) Ms. Kizart
With Thanks and In Tribute
“Chi il bel sogno di Doretta” Giacomo Puccini (from La Rondine) Ms. Edwards-Burrs
“Largo al factotum” Gioachino Rossini (from Il Barbiere di Siviglia) Mr. Manson
“Ernani Involami” Giuseppe Verdi (from Ernani) Ms. Kizart
“Chi mi frena” Gaetano Donizetti (Sextet from Lucia di Lammermoor) Ms. Edwards-Burrs, Ms. Kizart, Mr. Williford, Mr. Manson and Mr. Braxton In Memoriam Program Notes
Reflection “I Want To Be Free” T. J. Anderson
I am proud of my race I am proud of my color of face I am proud of the blacks, the browns and the tans, We are proud. We are proud of their tints on body and hand. I want to be free. Proud of the hearts that beat in our breast. Beats with pride for those blacks who have stood the world’s test, Sylvia Olden Lee (1917-2004) I want to be free. I and my children are going to be free. Opera North lovingly dedicates this Black History Celebration Concert Free from the stigmas on me you place, 2006 to the memory of Miss Sylvia Olden Lee. Ms. Lee was a renowned Free from the bar you erect in my face; vocal coach and accompanist, and the first African-American to be employed by the Metropolitan Opera. She was a master of all aspects of Free from the bonds that bind my heart in with hypocrisy conceit with European classical music as well as the Negro Spiritual. Ms. Olden Lee was strife and with sin. born into the very musical Olden family in Meridian, Mississippi. Her I want to be free. father, James Clarence Olden, was a member of the Fisk Quartet, which I must grow better for I yearn to be free. included Roland Hayes. She studied piano and organ at Howard University I will not let injustice crush what is within me. and Oberlin Conservatory. For I am God’s child I breathe his free air, Among the highlights of her career: I am God’s Black child I stay in his care. • She was invited to play at the White House for the inauguration of Franklin Delano Roosevelt. Reflection • In 1942 she toured with Paul Robeson. “Justice” Dr. Martin Luther King, Jr. • In 1954, after being hired as vocal coach for the Metropolitan Opera, When Evil men plot, she was the impetus for the historic invitation to African-American contralto Marian Anderson to perform in Giuseppe Verdi's Un Ballo in Good men must plan. Maschera. When Evil men burn and bomb, Good men must build and bind. • In 1956 she began studies with famed German tenor Gerhard Huesch. When Evil men shout ugly words of hatred, Good men must commit themselves to the glories of love. Ms. Lee taught at a number of universities, including the Curtis When Evil men would seek to perpetuate an unjust status quo, Institute of Music. Opera North is proud to have included her on the Board Good men must see to bring into being a real order of justice, of Directors for a number of years. She shared her musical expertise with Justice! the Opera North Company as well as providing her support and love for the Opera North Mission. Reflection Translations “Longing” Paul Laurence Dunbar “Chi il bel sogno di Doretta” Gioacomo Puccini If you could sit with me beside the shore today (from La Rondine) And whisper with me sweetest dreaming o’er and o’er, I think I should not mind the clouds so dim and gray, Who could guess the beautiful dream Doretta had? And not so loud the waves complaining at the shore. Why her mystery came to an end
If you could sit with me upon the shore today One day a student kissed her on the mouth And hold my hand in yours as in the days of old, And that kiss was the revelation I think I should not mind the chill baptismal spray, It was the passion! Nor find my hand and heart and all the world so cold. Mad love! Mad happiness! If you could walk with me upon the strand today, Who will ever be able again And tell me that my longing had won your own, To describe the light caress I think all my sad thoughts would then be put away. Of a kiss so burning? And I could give back laughter For the Ocean’s moan. Oh! My dream!
Oh! My life! Reflection Who cares for wealth “The Flame Burns Brightly” John Lovell, Jr. If at last happiness comes! from Black Song: The Forge and the Flame Oh golden dream To be able to love in this way! “Herein is the spiritual’s greatness. These slaves did not stop with writing about the human soul on its journey to the stars. They brought in their personal experiences, but they did not sing for themselves alone. “Largo al factotum” Gioachino Rossini They sang faith and hope and truth for all mankind. They sang the (from Il Barbiere di Siviglia) triumph, however long it took of freedom and justice. They sang the right of every man to his exalted portion of the tree of life. Make way for the topman of the city. Rushing to his shop now that it's dawn. And for these reasons, wherever they touch the world’s people, who Ah, isn't life good, how pleasant it is perpetually need to rebelieve in freedom and justice and man’s For a barber of class! individual greatness, the world’s people sing! We all sing together!” Ah, nice one Figaro! Nice one, really nice one!
I am the luckiest it's true to say! Ready for anything, night and day Always busy and around. Ernani, steal me away from the hated embrace. A better lot for a barber, Let us flee, if love permits me to live with you. A more noble life cannot be found. I shall follow you through caves and hostile barren lands. Razors and combs Those caves shall be like an Eden, a Paradise, of delight to me. Lancets and scissors, At my command I despise all that that doesn’t speak to my heart of Ernani, And there are Are all here. no gems that can transform hate into love, Ah! And there are `extras', I wish time would fly and quickly bring me the moment of my happy Then, for the business escape. With women... and with gentlemen... Fly, oh time, waiting is torture for a loving heart. Everyone asks for me, everyone wants me, Women, young people, old people, the golden haired; What about the wig... A quick shave... “Chi mi frena” Gaetano Donizetti Some leeches for bleeding... (Sextet from Lucia di Lammermoor) Quick the note... What about the wig, a quick shave, Edgardo: Hurry - the note, o me! (Who restrains me at such a moment? Who disrupts the course of anger? Figaro! Figaro! Figaro! etc. Her misery, her terror are proof of remorse! But, like a wilted rose, she Heavens, what mayhem! hangs between life and death…I am vanquished…I am shocked!...I love Heavens, what crowds! you, thankless one, I love you still!) One at a time, For pities sake! Figaro! Here I am. Enrico: O me, Figaro! Here I am. (Who restrains my fury, the hand that reaches for the sword? But for the Figaro here, Figaro there, unhappy girl there rises in my breast sounds of sympathy! She is of my Figaro up, Figaro down, blood! I have betrayed her, she hangs between life and death…Oh, that I am not able to stifle the remorse in my heart.) Quicker and quicker the sparks fly with me; I am the topman of the city. Lucia: Ah, nice one Figaro! Nice one, really nice one; (I hoped that my life had ended all my fears…But death has not come to From you luckiness will not depart. help me…I live still, to my torment! The veil has fallen from my eyes, earth and heaven have both betrayed me! I want to weep, but I cannot…Ah, even tears have forsaken me!) “Ernani Involami” Giuseppe Verdi (from Ernani) Raimondo: (What an awful moment! All words fail me…Heavy clouds of terror seem The night has risen and Silva hasn’t returned! to hide the sun’s rays! Like a wilted rose she hangs between life and Ah! If he never returned… death…Whoever is not deeply moved by her has a tiger’s heart in his This hated old man, a filthy ghost, who always pursues me with talk of breast!) love. He implants Ernani ever deeper in my heart. Enrico: (She is of my blood! I have betrayed her, etc. Edgardo: Artist Profiles (Who restrains me at such a moment, etc. N. Cameron Chandler, bass-baritone Enrico: (Ah, she is of my blood, I have betrayed her, etc. N. Cameron Chandler is a classically trained baritone who has entertained professionally over the last two Arturo: decades. His travels as a performer have taken him to (What an awful moment, etc. California, Jamaica, Canada, regionally - The Spectrum, The Philadelphia Museum of Art and many more venues. Alisa: He has appeared numerous times on local television and performed solos (Like a wilted rose, etc. for the Grand Old Gospel broadcast on the international Family Radio Station. Lucia: An itinerant soloist, Mr. Chandler's selections span various genres (I want to weep, ah, I want to weep, etc. including standards, classical, gospel, R & B, pop, country, and musicals in concert settings across the nation. Edgardo: Receiving musical instruction from tenor Anthony Pugliesi, (Ah, I am vanquished, ah, I am shocked, etc. Philadelphia, and baritone Frank Capelli, Philadelphia, Mr. Chandler has used his classical training in operas with the Little Lyric Theater and Workshop, The Performing Arts Center of Norristown, and Opera North, Inc. among other regional theatrical agencies. Presently, Mr. Chandler is working on the Robeson Project, a concert in tribute to Mr. Paul Robeson.
Lisa Edwards-Burrs, soprano
Lisa Edwards-Burrs received her B.M. and M.M. degrees in Vocal Performance from Virginia Commonwealth University. An accomplished lyric soprano, her performances in recital, oratorio, and chamber music are extensive. Her operatic roles include Blanche in Dialogues of the Carmelites, Monica in The Medium, Mariane in Tartuffe, Despina in Cosi fan Tutte, Madame Altina in La Divina, Zerlina in Don Giovanni, Treemonisha in Treemonisha, Adina in L’Elisir D’Amore, and Poppea in L’Incoronazione di Poppea, as well as partial roles of Gilda in Rigoletto, Mimi in La Boheme, Clara in Porgy and Bess, Sister Angelica in Suor Angelica, Violetta in La Traviata, Pamina in Die Zauberflöte and Zerbinetta in Ariadne auf Naxos. As a featured guest artist on several concert series, she has appeared at Fayetteville State University (Artist-in-Residence), Georgia State University, University of Richmond, Christopher-Newport University, Virginia State University and Virginia Commonwealth University, as well as the Virginia Museum of Fine Arts and the Petersburg International Cailin Manson, baritone Festival of Music. She has appeared in concert at New York’s St. Patrick’s Cathedral and in Las Vegas with the Southern Nevada Musical Arts Cailin Manson has been featured in a wide range of Society. Ms. Edwards-Burrs is the founder and artistic director of musical presentations, both in the United States and BELLISSIMA!, an operatic ensemble as well as the chamber ensemble, abroad. He has performed as a soloist with the Radio Black, Brown & Beige, featuring flutist Leslie Savoy Burrs and pianist Symphony Orchestra Stuttgart, the Southwest German Russell Wilson. Festival Orchestra, the Florida Philharmonic, and with She has performed recitals in Caux, Switzerland at the International various other organizations such as The Choral Arts Society of Conference of Moral Re-Armament and, as one of only twelve singers Philadelphia, Opera North, Inc. and the Philadelphia Suburban Music chosen from nationwide auditions in 1994 by the United States Information Collective. An avid recitalist, Cailin has presented numerous recitals in Agency, served as an Artistic Ambassador for the United States ( the first concert halls in Switzerland, Norway, Italy and France, where he was time vocalists were considered). The result of this honor was a five-week invited to act as guest cantor at the Cathedral of Notre Dame and Sacre concert tour of South America with pianist Melanie Day in which she gave Coeur Basilica in Paris, and The Basilica of St. Mark in Venice. 16 concerts, conducted master classes and made several television appearances. Regarding her performances, South American embassy Marlin Williford, tenor representatives wrote: “The power of Ms. Edwards-Burrs’s voice combined with the interpretive strength of her delivery caused more than one audience Marlin Monroe Williford is a native of Detroit, Michigan. member to comment on how the music had moved them.” He attended Bowling Green State University where he Praised for her “.... silvery voice” and “innate vocal warmth and natural studied with Andreas Puolimenos. He has performed with beauty,” considered “one of the most respected singers in the region” and the Michigan Opera, the Aspen Opera, the Bowling described as “a soprano of crystalline purity,” Ms. Edwards-Burrs continues Green Opera, New Orleans Opera, Opera Theatre of to dazzle audiences with her elegant stage presence and command of Lucca, (Lucca, Italy) and many other smaller companies in the United diverse repertoire. States of America. Mr. Williford has toured throughout Europe singing with different Opera companies. Roles and scenes in which he has Takesha Meshé Kizart, soprano performed are A Little Night Music, La Traviata, Rigoletto Street Scene, Falstaff, Porgy and Bess, Il Tabarro, Ariadne auf Naxos, Carmen, Taesha Meshé Kizart was born in Chicago, Illinois and Rondine, La Boheme, Butterfly, Rigoletto, and The rise and fall of received her B.M. from the University of North Texas. Mahagonny, and many others. Her operatic roles include Tisbe/Cenerentola in La He has worked with conductors such as Julius Rudel, James Conlon, Cenerentola, Giorgetta/Angelica in Il trittico, Donna John DeMain, David Zinman, and Robert Lloyd. Mr Williford has sung on Anna in Don Giovanni, Fiordiligi in Cosi fan tutte, the Master Classes hosted by Shirley Verrett, Richard Miller, James Hanna Glawari in The Merry Widow, Countess in Le nozze di Figaro, and Conlon, Banita Valente, Susan Menzter, George Shirley, Vinson Cole, Musetta in La boheme. Marlena Malas, and the Metropolitan Opera Young Artist Program. Ms. Kizart has competed successfully in numerous vocal competitions Mr. Williford made his National Public Radio (NPR) debut with, Porgy including: winner, 2001 Leontyne Price Vocal Arts Competition; winner, and Bess as Daddy Peter under the baton of John DeMain. He also just 2001 National Association of Negro Musicians Competition; finalist, 2003 finished a 3-month European tour of Porgy and Bess. He has worked for Palm Beach Opera Competition; international finalist, 2004 International the Interlochen Arts Academy as an Educational Staff member, an Assistant Hans Gabor Belvedere Competition; and national semi-finalist, 2004 Director of the opera program, and taught voice in the surrounding city Metropolitan Opera National Council Auditions. areas. Mr. Williford vocal studies are with George Shirley, Neil Semer, and coaches with Donna Brunsma of Chicago Lyric Opera. George Burton, piano Washington, D.C. for two years before leaving to lead and co-lead groups in the Central Pennsylvania and Baltimore/Washington areas. George Alfred Burton III began playing music at the age of four. He was In 1990 he was chosen to be a member of trumpeter and CBS/Sony born in Philadelphia, Pennsylvania, and was quickly placed under the recording artist Marlon Jordan’s Quintet. In 1991 he was selected to record influence and strong discipline of two musical parents. His mother, Tough Young Tenors on the Island/Antilles label, listed as one of the top Katherine, is a violin teacher for the Philadelphia School District, his ten recordings of the year by the New York Times. He also joined Jazz father, G. Alfred Burton, Jr., a church organist and pianist. Futures, a world touring group assembled by George Wein to showcase He began his training on the violin, and at the age of nine he added the some of the world’s brightest young stars in jazz. Also in 1991, Mr. piano to his musical studies; at the age of 16, he added viola to his Warfield placed third at the Thelonious Monk International Jazz Saxophone repertoire. Mr. Burton was trained at Settlement Music School, where he Competition held at the Smithsonian Institution in Washington, D.C. studied with Gloria Goldhirsh (piano) and Estelle Kerner (violin), and Mr. Warfield has made several television appearances including the Temple Music Prep’s Center for Gifted Young Musicians, where he studied Today Show, Bill Cosby’s You Bet Your Life (where he was a member of with Evelyn Louise (viola). As a teenager he attended the Philadelphia the house band until 1992), and Ted Turner’s 1998 Trumpet Awards. High School for the Creative and Performing Arts (CAPA), which Additionally he has made numerous stage appearances with such names as produced such fellow talents as Christian McBride and Joey DeFrancesco. Donald Byrd, Michelle Rosewoman, Marcus Miller, Marlon Jordan, James After high school, Mr. Burton attended Temple University’s Esther Williams, Christian McBride, The Harper Brothers, Dizzy Gillespie, Isaac Boyer College of Music where he continued his musical studies. It was Hayes, Shirley Scott, Jimmy Smith, Nicholas Payton, Charles Fambrough, during this time that his abilities as a jazz pianist flourished, while under Eric Reed, Carl Allen, Terell Stafford, Stefon Harris, Orrin Evans, The the instruction of Tom Lawton (piano) and Terell Stafford, director of the Newport Millennium All Stars, “Papa” John Defrancesco, Joey nationally recognized Temple University Jazz Band. After graduating in Defrancesco, Claudio Raggazzi, Danilo Perez, and others. In 1994, he 2001 with a bachelor’s degree in jazz piano performance, he continued his joined bassist and Verve recording artist Christian McBride’s group, where musical endeavors with determination and fortitude. he remained a member until 1999. Mr. Burton was awarded first place at the 2002 Peter Nero Piano Mr. Warfield’s first recording, A Cool Blue, was selected as one of the Competition, and subsequently performed as a guest soloist with the Philly top ten recordings of the year in a 1995 New York Times critic’s poll, as Pops. Since then, he has performed with such world-renowned artists as was his 1998 recording Gentle Warrior (featuring Cyrus Chestnut, Tarus Patti LaBelle, Michael Brecker, Me’Shell Ndegé Ocello, Odean Pope, Joe Mateen, Clarence Penn, Terrell Stafford, and Nicholas Payton), Lovano, and Tim Warfield, and all the while pursuing his own ventures as proclaiming him possibly the most powerful tenor saxophonist of his a composer, performing with his own band. generation. In 1999, he was awarded “Talent Deserving Wider Recognition” in DownBeat Magazine’s 49th Annual Jazz Critic’s poll. In Doris Coleman, piano 2000, alongside crooner Loston Harris, Mr. Warfield performed at the MTV GQ Men of the Year Awards in New York City. Tim Warfield, tenor and soprano saxophone In the fall of 1999 he exclusively joined forces with New Orleans trumpeter and Warner Bros. recording artist Nicholas Payton. Tim Warfield, Jr., a native of York, Pennsylvania, began He has appeared on several GRAMMY-nominated recordings such as studying the alto saxophone at age nine. He switched to Stefon Harris’ “The Grand Unification Theory,” as well as “Dear Louis” tenor saxophone during his first year at William Penn Sr. and “Sonic Trance,” both under the leadership of trumpeter Nicholas High School where he participated in various musical Payton. ensembles, winning many jazz soloist awards including Mr. Warfield is currently serving as a board member for the Central second out of forty competitors at the Montreal Festival of Music in Pennsylvania Friends of Jazz as well as an artist-in-residence at Messiah Canada. After high school, Mr. Warfield attended Howard University in College in Grantham, Pennsylvania. Acknowledgments Opera North History
Opera North is grateful to Mr. Michael Guzzardi for his generous support. The vision for Opera North began with Sister Mary Elise of the Sisters of the Blessed Sacrament, who fought zealously to break the color barriers that denied performance opportunities to gifted African-American vocal artists, musicians, and conductors on major opera and concert stages in America. For the past 30 years, Opera North, Pennsylvania’s only African- American opera company, has continued to fulfill this vision by presenting opera productions, recitals, concerts, and Black History programs that feature celebrated and rising African-American artists, as well as providing an impressive array of education and outreach programs. Through our Opera In The Schools Program, professional artists each year introduce the wonders of opera to over 3,200 children in our inner city public and parochial schools who otherwise would receive little or no exposure to classical music. Our Opera North Youth Guild brought to the stage for the first time in Philadelphia an all youth production of Oliver! with a cast of nearly 75 children, ages 8 to 18. Our offerings to the public Michael Guzzardi specializes in residential and commercial real estate also include the Opera for Seniors program, which takes lively operatic in Delaware, Chester, Philadelphia, and Montgomery Counties. He has repertoire to elderly persons in convalescent and retirement homes. With been in property management since 1976 specializing in rentals, the assistance of a grant from the William Penn Foundation in 2002, we renovations, site development, and affiliated aspects of Center City have developed and adopted a Strategic Plan for 2004-2008 to further residential and commercial markets. insure Opera North’s high-quality programming, planning, assessment and Michael was born and raised in Springfield, PA and is a Broker in both fiscal management. Pennsylvania and Delaware and a Pennsylvania State Certified Broker/ Opera North’s Artists-In-Concert Program is a commitment to Appraiser. Mr. Guzzardi holds a degree from Lehigh University in Business present young artists in diverse settings such as community and education Administration and a degree in technology from The Chubb Institute. outreach programming, concerts and operatic productions to further Michael is a retired flight instructor and commercial helicopter pilot. enhance their performance opportunities, skills and public visibility. Michael has received numerous listing and customer service awards Another crucial aspect of Opera North’s Artist-In-Concert activities is to and is knowledgeable and available for all of your real estate needs. provide for its audiences and young artists the means to create an You can reach Michael at [email protected] or 610-565-9315. exceptional performance experience. This has been accomplished in part by combining the talents of the Artists-In-Concert performers with the talents of established international performers for Opera North presentations. The appointment of composer, Leslie Burrs, as Executive/Artistic Director, has brought even more excitement to Opera North. His acclaimed American opera, Vanqui, attracted a highly diverse audience to the famed Prince Music Theater in May 2005. It evidences our continuing growth in artistic excellence and steadfast focus upon our mission to broaden, deepen and inspire African-American cultural participation in opera.