Melanated Moments in Classical Music

Angela and Joshua reflect on the inspiring life and work of the brilliant composer Undine Smith Moore. As a woman living through the time of the Jim Crow South, Moore's body of work mirrors the deliberate and intentional evolution of her personal worldview.
Featured Music:
"Love, Let the Wind Cry" by Undine Smith Moore, performed by Aundi Marie Moore
"Allegro" from the Afro-American Suite by Undine Smith Moore, performed by Kate Steinbeck, Tim Holley, and Dewitt Tipton
"Watch and Pray" by Undine Smith Moore, performed by Angela Brown

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Joshua and Angela acquaint us with a groundbreaking composer and pianist, Margaret Bonds. Joshua takes us through the life of Margaret Bonds, who was at the epicenter of cultural and artistic expression during the turn of the 20th century, collaborating with luminaries Florence Price and Langston Hughes, among others. We hear a performance of Bonds' Montgomery Variations, performed by the University of Connecticut Symphony Orchestra, a stunning example of the composer's ability to "score" the civil rights movement.

Featured music:
"Montgomery Variations" by Margaret Bonds, performed by the University of Connecticut Symphony Orchestra

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The libretto for this week’s piece was written by poet laureate and iconic literary figure Toni Morrison. Margaret Garner is an opera that tells the story of an escaped slave who is captured but decides to kill her own children rather than see them forced back into slavery. Our own Angela Brown voiced one of the principal characters during the world premiere in Detroit, and she walks us through this powerful and thought-provoking opera.
Featured Music:
"Ease Yourselves," "He Is By," and "Epilogue" from Margaret Garner by Richard Danielpour, performed by soprano Angela Brown and pianist Cliff Jackson

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In this episode, Angela introduces everyone to the life and legacy of trailblazer Shirley Verrett. Her remarkable voice and artistry allowed her to successfully span mezzo-soprano and soprano roles. Verrett ascended to the heights of operatic stardom during the Civil Rights era of the 1960s, defying the racist and exclusionary customs of the industry. Verrett is recognized as one of the most revered Black operatic figures and continues to be a role model to generations of aspiring vocalists.

Featured Music:
"Mon coeur s'ouvre á ta voix" from Samson et Dalila by Saint-Saëns, performed by Shirley Verrett
"Vissi da'rte" from Tosca by Pucinni, performed by Shirley Verret
"Give Me Jesus" performed by Shirley Verrett

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Angela and Joshua cap Season Five with Terri Allen, Executive Director of the Coalition for African-Americans in the Performing Arts (CAAPA). From humble origins to a nationally respected model, Terri details the 20-year journey of CAAPA's intentional strategies for leveling the playing field in the world of classical music. CAAPA's dedication to providing scholarships for burgeoning Black classical musicians and unwavering commitment to arts education at all talent levels exemplify the power of programming to create opportunities for real change in the performing arts.

Featured Music:
"Porgy and Bess," feat. soprano Angela Brown and baritone Kenneth Overton
"Habanera," from Carmen, feat. mezzo-soprano J'Nai Bridges

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