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.