“All of that to say, that we should never underestimate that rich community of classically trained singers and other artists in Pittsburgh.” –Thomas W. Douglas
When was the last time you saw a live theatrical musical production with an all-Black cast that wasn’t “Porgy and Bess”?
Chances are like a lot of people you’d be hard pressed to name one. And likely just as hard pressed to name the last opera you attended.
So you’ll be in for a rare treat this weekend when the Neighborhood Opera Company returns to the stage with a modern adaptation of the classic opera, “Don Giovanni.” Better still, in the words of NOC’s Producing Artistic Director Thomas W. Douglas:
“The Neighborhood Opera Company’s production of this opera, now called “The Don’s Fire: Mozart’s Giovanni,” tells the story of the Don, a seducer or in modern language, a player (especially by seducing women by pretending to care about them, when in reality they are only interested in sex).”
In the end, karma catches up with the Don, i.e. if you play with fire, you’ll get burned (or in biblical terms, you reap what you sow). As with most operas, the plot includes romance, deception, betrayal and the payback – a lot like Love and Hip Hop minus the ratchetness. Given the popular culture’s obsession with reality TV, “The Don’s Fire” is the best choice to reacquaint Pittsburgh with the NOC. The NOC initially performed at a Kwanzaa celebration in Carnegie Hall and as guests of the Edgewood Symphony Orchestra.
Douglas founded the Neighborhood Opera Company in 2001 in the tradition of the National Negro Opera Company, which was founded and based in Pittsburgh’s Homewood community in 1941. The NNOC could be viewed as an act of righteous indignation in response to the sanctioned segregation known as Jim Crow. Instead of limited performance opportunities that were few and far between (recall the Daughter of the Revolution’s refusal of Marian Anderson to sing at a national landmark), the quality of NNOC’s talent and productions allowed it to thrive until 1962 (a victim of its own success and increased integration of the arts).
Douglas, a Homewood native and graduate of Wilkinsburg High School, has been on the faculty for 24 years at Carnegie Mellon University in the School of Drama and the Director of Choral Activities in the School of Music. Through his work he has first-hand knowledge of the abundance of talent in Pittsburgh.
“There is a wealth of African-American artists in Pittsburgh,” said Douglas.“I selected this cast from singers that I’ve known over the years.” Many cast members have performed with the Civic Light Opera and/or the Opera Theatre of Pittsburgh; such as Eugene Perry, Justin Lee Miller, Charlene Canty, Denise Sheffey Powell, Albert Rudolph Lee, Anqwenique Wingfield, Michael Jackson and Jonathan Stuckey.
I suspect that had I held formal auditions, there would have been a large turnout of capable singers. All of that to say, that we should never underestimate that rich community of classically trained singers and other artists in Pittsburgh.”
(The Don’s Fire: Mozart’s Giovanni, with a live orchestra, will be presented this weekend at the Alumni Concert Hall at Carnegie Mellon University. The performances will be Saturday, May 24 at 8 p.m. and Sunday, May 25 at 3 p.m. Tickets are $30 for adults, $20 for seniors and $15 for students; and are available through www.brownpapertickets.com or contact the Neighborhood Opera Company at 412-241-4044.)
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