As the last month of 2008 climaxes, many outstanding cultural, artistic and entertainment events were enjoyed throughout the year.
As the last month of 2008 climaxes, many outstanding cultural, artistic and entertainment events were enjoyed throughout the year.
Two African American operas were produced at the Auditorium Theatre of Roosevelt University and at the Lyric Opera of Chicago.
Margaret Garner featured Denyce Graves in the title role at the Lyric Opera and Gregg Baker as the husband Robert Garner. The opera was composed by Richard Danielpour using the libretto by Toni Morrison and was directed by Kenny Leon.
Porgy and Bess, written by George Gershwin during the second decade of the 20th century, is one of his greatest dramatic masterpieces that featured artists representing Blacks dwelling in the community of Charleston, South Carolina in the ghetto area of Catfish Row. The opera emerges as a significant relationship between former slaves and descendants from the West Coast of Africa and the Gullah tradition. The Lyric Opera production was completely fascinating as two Black individuals, Porgy, a cripple whose means of transportation is a goat pulling him with a cart, who sincerely falls in love with Bess and a licentious girl who has Crown as her lover. Porgy and Bess develop a sincere love that is beautiful.
Grammy and Stellar Award nominee Kenny Latimore and Chante’ Moore collaborated in a special program at Park West in honor of Darrell Hill’s 50th birthday celebration as a benefit for children suffering as a result of autism over the Thanksgiving weekend with a near capacity audience providing support. A combination of genuine talent, their varied program was beautifully rendered with grace and enjoyment.
The Taste of Chicago 2008 opened with the legendary Chaka Khan, and thousands packed Grant Park to witness the genius of Stevie Wonder, who continues to reign as one of music’s overwhelming superstars.
One of the most profound events during the summer was a concert celebrating the 90th birthday of Nelson Mandela at the Jay Pitzker Pavilion in Millennium Park by Obert Davis and the Chicago Jazz Philharmonic Orchestra. Davis, an internationally famous trumpet virtuoso, was inspired by Mandela’s determination to free South African natives from the cruel epics of apartheid.
Davis’ composition blended elements of jazz, classical and South American idioms while weaving Mandela’s messages of peace and unification. The musical suite embodied the talents of Zim Ngqawana, Ari Brown, Dee Alexander and T’keyah Crystal Keyman. Davis said, “as an inspiration for his piece, I took from various emotional moments in Nelson Mandela’s life and the amazing triumph in becoming South Africa’s first Black African President.”
Simone, daughter of the famous pianist and vocal stylist, the late Nina Simone, performed this summer at the Old Town School of Folk Music and penetrated into the hearts of that capacity audience as she paid tribute to her mother who died in 2003. Simone introduced songs from her first album that also honored the contributions her mother made to music entitled Simone On Simone that was released on May 13.
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