On Friday, August 28th, Black Opera Productions will be presenting ‘Black Opera Live: Canada.’ At 7p.m. EST, the 90-minute Facebook Live broadcast will be hosted by baritone Kenneth Overton, featuring beloved Canadian sopranos Measha Brueggergosman, Othalie Graham and Audrey DuBois-Harris.
Kenneth Overton
Canadian film producers and performers Jonathan Estabrooks and Miranda Plant are presenting this special event that will go “beyond the American experience to explore the careers of these Black Canadian artists” in the world of opera. These artists will have a meaningful discussion around their experiences of being both Canadian and Black in the classical arts. Plant and Estabrooks are also co-creators of the documentary Black Opera, currently in production.
The documentary team, having recently completed interviews with George Shirley, now has exciting plans to document the history of Black opera artists in relation to the American Civil Rights movement. According to a press release, the film “celebrates the professional careers of the first generation of African American singers who transcended the classical color line to become operatic legends,” including Leontyne Price, Grace Bumbry, Simon Estes, George Shirley, Martina Arroyo and Jessye Norman.
Featured opera stars in Black Opera productions’ documentary: ‘Black Opera’
The documentary will feature a combination of artist interviews as well as archival performance footage showing how these artists overcame racial restrictions of 1960s America to become the international stars on the leading operatic stage.
‘Black Opera Live: Canada’ airs on August 28th at 7p.m EST.
