Table of Contents Page ~
4, 5 - Samuel Coleridge-Taylor 6 - Program 7, 8 - Gregory Hopkins biography 9 - Manna KnJoi, Soprano 10 - Daveda Browne, Mezzo Soprano 1I - Charles Williamson, Tenor 12 - Markel Reed, Baritone 13 - Mission, Board of Directors 14 - Sponsors 15 – Acknowledgements and Thanks 16 – Program link - website
Samuel Coleridge-Taylor
(August 15, 1875 – September 1, 1912)
Samuel Coleridge-Taylor was an English composer, conductor and political activist who fought against race prejudice with his incredible compositions. Born in Holborn in 1875 to an English mother and a father originally from Sierra Leone, he liked to be identified as Anglo-African – and was later referred to by white New York musicians as “Black Mahler” owing to his musical success. His name was given to him after the famous poet Samuel Taylor Coleridge who, curiously, became a great source of inspiration during his career. Raised in a family of keen musicians, Taylor’s father taught him to play the violin at a young age. The boy’s talent and affinity towards music was obvious, so he was encouraged to join the Royal College of Music when he was just 15 years old and it was here that he perfected his technique. Soon enough, Taylor began writing compositions under the guidance of Professor Charles Stanford and after completing his degree, his career as a composer went from strength to strength. Samuel Coleridge-Taylor, The Song of Hiawatha composer. Coleridge-Taylor – a life of music and poetry The bright young composer made his musical debut with “Ballade in A Minor”. for which he was called “a genius” by music publisher August Jaeger. Conscious of his African descent, Taylor’s classical compositions were heavily influenced by traditional African music and this made him one of the most progressive writers of his time.
SAMUEL COLERIDGE-TAYLOR, Composer
Samuel Coleridge - Taylor He also became well-known for his use of poetry – particularly in his cantata trilogy, The Song of Hiawatha, which included the epic Hiawatha Overture and was based on a poem by Henry Wadsworth Longfellow. Despite the black community’s ongoing battle against racism, the first part of this work, Hiawatha’s Wedding Feast, was so popular that it led him to embark on three tours of the United States. In fact, his work across music and politics was so well received that in 1904, he was even invited by President Theodore Roosevelt to visit the White House – a bold statement and a positive step forward for African Americans. Samuel Coleridge-Taylor’s legacy Samuel Coleridge-Taylor died of pneumonia on September 1, 1912 in Croydon, at the age of 37. Throughout his short life, he faced financial struggles and personal tragedy, which are both often linked to his early demise. Some of Taylor’s best-known works today include ‘Nonet in F Minor’, his extraordinary ‘Christmas Overture’ and ‘Deep River’ – a traditional African-American spiritual. Written in 1904, ‘Deep River’ was originally arranged for the piano but was recently reimagined by cellist Sheku Kanneh–Mason with added violin and cello. The tribute is also Sheku’s first recording with his brother and sister, Braimah and Isata, as part of the Kanneh-Mason Trio. The siblings first heard the track while filming for a Chineke! Documentary and instantly fell in love with Taylor’s melody. Coinciding with National Freedom Day, the single was released in February 2019, 115 years after the song was first published, making Taylor’s music just as relevant today as it was then. (Photos: Getty)
HARLEM OPERA THEATER
PROGRAM (Continued)
Tribute to Samuel Coleridge-Taylor
My Love Mr. Williamson, Tenor Oh, Roses for the blush of youth Ms. Browne, Mezzo Soprano
PROGRAM Welcome and Introductions Gregory Hopkins, Artistic Director Master of Ceremonies ARTISTS Manna KnJoi, Soprano Daveda Browne, Mezzo Soprano Charles Williamson, Tenor Markel Reed, Baritone Gregory Hopkins, Artistic Director, piano
Life and Death
Mr. Reed, Baritone
Oh! my lonely, lonely pillow Ms. KnJoi, Soprano
You lay so still in the Sunshine Mr. Reed, Baritone
Too late for love Ms. Browne, Mezzo Soprano
Onaway! Awake, beloved (Hiawatha's wedding feast)
Mr. Williamson, Tenor
This is the island of gardens Ms. KnJoi, Soprano
The Shoshone's Adieu Mr. Reed, Baritone
Drake's Drum Mr. Williamson, Tenor and Mr. Reed, Baritone Sweet evenings come and go, love Ms. Browne, Mezzo Soprano The Violet Bank
Ms. KnJoi, Soprano
Candle Lightin' time (Paul Lawrence Dunbar) Ms. Browne, Mezzo Soprano
Edymion's Dream Ms. Knjoi, Soprano and Mr. Williamson, Tenor CLOSING REMARKS
GREGORY HOPKINS, Artistic Director Gregory Hopkins was born and reared in Philadelphia, PA. He received his advanced education in voice from Temple University, and in opera from Curtis Institute of Music. Hopkins has won prizes in competitions including: The Verdi Prize in Busetto, Italy; Outstanding Tenor Award, Mantova, Italy; The Dealy Award and The Opera Index Grant. As a singer, pianist, organist, choral conductor, teacher and clinician, Hopkins has traveled throughout the Americas, Europe, Asia and The Middle East, with recent performances including The Cervantes and Pitic Festivals (Mexico); Orvieto, Rome and Umbria Festivals (Italy); Vienne Festival (France) and Vitoria-Gasteiz Festival (Spain). Additional performances included Mozarteum (San Juan, Argentina); Teatro Mayor (Bogota, Columbia); Sodre (Montevideo, Uruguay); Pro Arte (Cordoba, Argentina). His Harlem Jubilee singers recently completed a tour of Chile with the Concepcion Symphony performing Porgy and Bess. He also conducted performances of Gershwin’s “Blue Monday”, Britten’s “The Burning Fiery Furnace” with Harlem Opera Theater and HL Freeman’s opera “Voodoo”. Earlier this year saw concerts in Argentina and Japan. Recently Hopkins has been contracted to provide and prepare singers for Martina Arroyo’s “Prelude to a Performance” and Alvin Ailey’s “Revelation” Celebration at Lincoln Center.
GREGORY HOPKINS, Artistic Director
Hopkins has served The National Convention of Gospel Choirs and Choruses as Director of Performance Ministries; The Hampton University Minister's Conference as Recital Co-Coordinator; and Gospel Music Workshop of America as Assistant Music Director to the Men's Department. He has been honored three times to prepare and present musicals for the National Baptist Convention, and was musical director for the NAACP's Centennial Celebration. At Arkansas Baptist College's EC Morris Institute and Ithaca College he has been Choral Clinician. For the Million Man March he was selected by Minister Farrakhan to sing immediately following the address. Equally occupied as an educator, he has served on the faculties of: Community College of Philadelphia; Morgan State University; Westminster Choir College and NY Seminary of the East. Currently, he is Coordinator of Classical Voice and Operatic Activities at Howard University DC. For more than one-third of a century he has been Minister of Music for Harlem's Convent Avenue Baptist Church. He is also Artistic Director for Harlem Opera Theater, Music Director for the Harlem Jubilee Singers and Cocolo Japanese Gospel Choir. He is a featured artist on more than 6 commercially released CD projects; one of which was nominated for a Grammy.
GREGORY HOPKINS, Artistic Director
Manna Knjoi, American Soprano, made her international stage debut as Fiordiligi in Cosí fan tutte at the Tuscia Opera Festival in Italy. An artist of great versatility, she made her Broadway debut in the hit concert, Rocktopia, a Classical Revolution. An active soloist on the concert stage, she has impressed audiences coast to coast in performances with Opera Ebony, Colour of Music Festival, Harlem Opera and Trilogy: An Opera Company. Career highlights include riveting title-role portrayals of Cio-cio San in Puccini’s Madama Butterfly at Carnegie Hall and Suor Angelica with the California Opera Association. Additionally, Pamina in The Magic Flute, Mother in Amahl and the Night Visitors, and Micaëla in Carmen at Lincoln Center. She is known for her renderings of prominent black women such as Margaret Washington, wife of Booker T. Washington, Nancy Turner, mother of slave rebellion leader, Nat Turner, and Elizabeth Eckford of the Little Rock Nine, all by Black composers. Manna’s honors include awards and recognitions from: Riccardo Zandonai International, Paris Opera, Benjamin Mathews, Opera Birmingham, Art Song Preservation Society, International Thespian Festival, American Prize for Opera, Palm Springs Opera Guild, and Mid-South District Metropolitan Opera National Council Auditions.
MANNA KNJOI, Soprano
Kittitian-American Mezzo Soprano, Daveda Browne, is known for her beautiful, rich voice and captivating presence, Daveda has performed and continues to perform all over the world. Most recently, Daveda travelled to Vienna, Austria where she coached and performed the role of Amneris from the opera Aida with the infamous opera legend Grace Bumbry in her inaugural season of the program The Bumbry Way. Daveda is excited to be here with you today celebrating Samuel Coleridge-Taylor.
DAVEDA BROWNE, Mezzo Soprano
Charles opened his 2019-20 season in the ensemble of the Metropolitan Opera’s new production of Gershwin’s Porgy and Bess. Followed by Alvin Ailey American Dance Theater’s signature choreographic work, Revelations. A consummate recitalist, Charles works to program traditional classical repertoire alongside lesser known and contemporary classical masterworks by composers of color. Concert highlights include Resilient Heart, a recital combining the European romanticism of 19th century lieder with the contemporary compositions of African American composers H. Leslie Adams and Damien Sneed. L’invitation au Voyage, which included mélodie by Henri Duparc and spirituals composed by women of color, Songs of Love and Justice, a program highlighting the musical achievements of prominent musicians and poets working during the Harlem Renaissance, and Poetic Passions, a recital celebrating piano vocal music from three composers spanning 170 years. Mr. Williamson is a native of Passaic, New Jersey and is a graduate of North Carolina Central University and the University of North Carolina at Greensboro.
CHARLES WILLIAMSON, Tenor
Markel Reed, a native of Charlotte, N.C., has been featured in various concerts and recitals throughout the U.S., Canada and in Europe. His repertoire includes Figaro in Il Barbiere di Siviglia , Count Almaviva in Le Nozze di Figaro , Don Giovanni and Leporello in Don Giovanni, Morales in Carmen, Papageno in Die Zauberflöte, and John Sorel in The Consul. As a passionate conveyor of the operatic repertoire, Mr. Reed has established himself as a wonderful interpreter of the standard works of Classical and Romantic Composers, along with expanding into the realm of new operatic works. In the Summer of 2019, he originated the role of “Chester” in Terence Blanchard’s acclaimed opera Fire Shut up in my Bones with Opera Theatre of St. Louis.
MARKEL REED, Baritone
ABOUT HAR LEM OPER A THEATER Under Artistic Director, Gregory Hopkins, internationally acclaimed tenor, conductor, organist and pianist, Harlem Opera Theater performances include all types of musical offerings: opera, oratory concerts, recitals, Negro Spirituals and varied forms of American music, in keeping with our mission “to provide performance opportunities for professional and developing gifted artists within Harlem and communities where opera is seldom performed; and to cultivate and expand audience appreciation for opera and classical music through creative programming.” Particular focus is given to the works of African-American composers and to projects that link different aspects of the performing arts.
OUR HISTORY AND ACHIEVEMENTS Board of Directors Edwina Meyers Lynch, President Gregory Hopkins, Artistic Director Carol Brown, Secretary Members Leslie Bright, Jeffrey Colvin, Dante Harrell, Ruqaiyah Nabe, Twila Perry Arturo Carvajal, International Coordinator
The mission of Harlem Opera Theater is to provide performance opportunities for gifted professional and developing singers, as well as other musicians of exceptional potential for an operatic career in local, national and international forums. The organization develops an audience for the classical art form in underserved communities where opera is seldom heard. Founded in 2001 under the leadership of Dr. Gregory Hopkins, Artistic Director, as a non-profit corporation, the concert season includes a Salute to Black History Month in February, celebrating Spirituals by African American composers such as Harry T. Burleigh, Father of the Spiritual Arrangement, Hall Johnson and Margaret Bonds; also, selections from operas of classical composers, Giuseppe Verdi, Gaetano Donizetti and Scott Joplin. We present concerts, recitals and new initiatives; we collaborate with other organizations to present new artists throughout the year and host a Community Holiday Sing in December. We have hosted a master class for artists and a community focus group session with Harlem stakeholders. We develop the audience and potential artists of the future as we present “Opera for Beginners”, a music literacy project to enrich the lives of children through inschool performances in the NYC Public Schools; charter schools and after school programs, such as the Northside Center. Harlem Opera Theater has presented approximately 190 classical singers in concert to a combined audience of over 18,000 patrons of the arts.
TRIBUTE TO COMPOSER SAMUEL COLERIDGE-TAYLOR ACKNOWLEDGEMENTS AND THANKS – SPONSORS and the Friends of Harlem Opera Theater
HCMC Graphics – Ruthann Richert VIDEO ~ Nidal Q. Harvey
2020 – 2021 Season Acknowledgements and Collaborations Our Board of Directors wishes to thank patrons of the arts for their continuing support during this global pandemic, which has allowed Harlem Opera Theater to appear on the virtual stage. Harlem Classical Music Celebration Opera Ebony, Three on 3 Music, The Harlem Chamber Players Harlem Opera Theater Manhattan Borough President Gale Brewer Gomez Tax Corp. | Harlem One Stop | Harlem Presents Harlem School of the Arts | The Brownstone Donations Welcome and Appreciated. www.harlemoperatheater.org
A Tribute to Composer Samuel Coleridge-Taylor YouTube: https://youtu.be/nZexgxbMEXI Website: www.harlemoperatheater.org