Kathleen Battle Celebrates the Roots of African

Underground Battle Legendary Soprano Kathleen Battle celebrates the roots of African.. American spirituals By Pamela Toutant uperstar soprano Kathleen cape to free states and Canada through was born in Portsmouth, Ohio, an im Battle will embrace the an informal network of secret mutes portant hub of the Underground Rail inspiration and power of and safe houses. The well-known spir road, and began singing spiritual ruusic Afi-icCln-American spiritu itual "Swing Low, Sweet Chariot," for as a young child in the choir of the al music in a show cele example, refers to an underground "sta African Methodist Episcopal C hurch. brating the freedom of slaves via the ti on" called "Rankin House," the home By the time Battle was 8, the beauty U nderground Railroad. of the Rev. John Rankin where fugi of her voice had inspired church mem The idea for the May 27 perform tive slaves were we lcome and waited ber C harles Varney to tell the young Cl nce with the Ba ltimore Symphony for help. The house, which still exists, girl that: "God has blessed you and you Orchestra and Morgan State Universi is perched on what is known as Liber must always sing." Varney eventually ty Choir is derived from ri ch local his ty Hill overlooking the town of Rip became Battle's high sc hool music tory, says BSO Gene ral M a nager ley, Ohio, and the Northern side of the teacher and mentor. Kendra Whitlock Ingram. O hio River, an area slaves referred to After studying voice and music edu "When we began planning the covertly as "Jordan:" "I looked over cation at the University of Cincinnati BSO's 2009- 20 10 season around a Jordan and what did I see/Coming for College-Conservatory of Music, Battle musical roots theme, our Ill.inds imme to carry me home/A band of angels briefly taught music in C incinnati pub diately jumped to the existence of the coming after me." lic schools. Her career as a class ical per Underground Railroad between Wash Maryland's Eastern Shore was also a former was Launched when she was cho ington, D.C., and Baltimore, and the draw for runaway slaves from all over se n as the soprano soloist in Brahms' A African-American spiritual music that the South. It was the birthplace of lead Gennan Requiem at "the 1972 Festival grew out of the quest for freedom," In ing abolitionists Frederick Douglas and dei Due Mondi in Spoleto, Italy. gram says. Harriet Tubman. Tubman was a "con Known for her agile, light voice and Ingram attended an a ll-spiritua l ductor" on the Underground Railroad her pure, silvery tone, Battle has ap recital by Battle at Carneg ie Hall in and risked her life to help dozens of peared on the stages of the world's lead 2009 and found the performance "in slaves escape the South for freedom in ing opera houses and performed with credible and deeply moving." An or the North. Another historic al figure, many of the wo rld's great orchestras chestral expansion of that program will Josiah Hemon, was born into slavery a nd conductors. She is a five-time tell the story of the origins of African near Rockville and later escaped to Grammy Award winner and public oc American spirituals and the history of Canada. Henson was the inspiration casio ns often are marked with her the Underground Railn'lad. for Harriet Beecher Stowe's lead char artistry. In 2008, she sang "The Lord's Nineteenth century slaves developed acter in Uncle Tom's Cabin . Prayer" at a White House arrival cer sp iritual songs that sometimes includ Battle was destined, it seems, to sino emony honoring Pope Benedict XVI. ed hidden meanings to help others es African-American spiritual music. She The influence of African-American 14 APPLAUSE at Strathmore . APRIL 2010 IIKathleen Battl'e is a voca I gia nt. When you work with someone of her cal,iber, you cannot help but be taken to a higher level and to develop a deeper sensitivity to the music." -Eric Conway, Director of the Morgan State University Choir spirituals is heard in American pop, jazz, blues and in modern classical com position. Many classical composers have used the spiritual as a thematic element including, for example, African-Amer ican composer Adophis Hailstork, who has premiered and recorded some of his story of the Underground Railroad will ing Nelson Mandela and the Dalai work with the BSO. be guest conductor Damon Gupton. In Lama. Known for its emphasis on pre Battle's finit performance of spirituals addition to his career as a conductor, serving the heritage of spirituals, in was at Carnegie Hall in 1990 with fre Gupton has performed in many roles cluding the historic practices of per qucnt collaborator soprano jessye Nor on stage and for television and film, formance, the choir was specifically man. Although Battle no longer appears including Unfaithful and Before the requested by Battle. in operas, she has continued to perform Devil Knows You're Dead. "Kathleen Battle is a vocal giant," and record classical works. Additional One of the nation's most prestigious says Conway. "When you work with collaborations include performing and university choir ensembles, the Mor someone of her caliber, you cannot rccording with such artists as jazz vocal gan State University Choir led by Er help but be taken to a higher level ist Al jarreau, trumpeter Wynton ic Conway, will accompany Battle. This and develop a deeper sensitivity to Marsalis, pop singer Janet jackson and historically black college choir has per the music. We look forward to sharing saxophonist Grover Washington jr. formed with many of the country's great the inspiring stories of the Under joining Battle to tell the inspiring orchestras and for dignitaries includ ground Railroad."r.\ APPLAUSE at Strathmore. APRIL 2010 15 .

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