Blackness in opera / edited by Naomi Andre, Karen M. Bryan, and Eric Saylor.

Format:

Book

Contributor:

André, Naomi Adele.

Bryan, Karen M. (Karen McGaha), 1954-

Saylor, Eric.

Language:

English

Subjects (All):

Black people in opera.

Opera.

Physical Description:

xii, 289 pages : illustrations ; 25 cm

Place of Publication:

Urbana : University of Illinois Press, [2012]

Summary:

Blackness in Opera critically examines the intersections of race and music in the multifaceted genre of opera. A diverse cross-section of scholars places Wells-knows operas (Porgy and Bess, Aida, Treemonisha) alongside lesser-known works such as Frederick Delius's Koanga, William Grant Still's Blue Steel, and Clarence Cameron White's Ouanga! to reveal a new historical context for re-imagining race and blackness in opera. The volume brings a Wide-ranging, theoretically informed, interdisciplinary approach to questions about how blackness has been represented in these operas, issues surrounding characterization of blacks, interpretation of racialized roles by blacks and whites, controversies over race in the theatre and the use of blackface, and extensions of blackness along the spectrum from grand opera to musical theatre and film. In addition to essays by scholars, the book also features reflections by renowned American tenor George Shirley. Book jacket.

Contents:

1 From Otello to Porgy: Blackness, Masculinity, and Morality in Opera / Naomi Andre Andre, Naomi 11

2 Hearing the Other in The Masque of Blackness / Sarah Schmalenberger Schmalenberger, Sarah 32

3 Nationalism, Racial Difference, and "Egyptian" Meaning in Verdi's Aida / Christopher R. Gauthier Gauthier, Christopher R., Jennifer McFarlane-Harris McFarlane-Harris, Jennifer 55

4 Race, "Realism," and Fate in Frederick Delius's Koanga / Eric Saylor Saylor, Eric 78

5 Political Currents and Black Culture in Scott Joplin's Treemonishna / Ann Sears Sears, Ann 101

6 Clarence Cameron White's Ouanga! in the World of the Harlem Renaissance / Karen M. Bryan Bryan, Karen M. 116

7 New Paradigms in William Grant Still's Blue Steel / Gayle Murchison Murchison, Gayle 141

8 Performers in Catfish Row: Porgy and Bess as Collaboration / Gwynne Kuhner Brown Brown, Gwynne Kuhner 164

9 Searching for "Authenticity" in Paul Bowles's Denmark Vesey / Melissa J. de Graaf Graaf, Melissa J. de 187

10 The Politics of Color in Oscar Hammerstein's Carmen Jones / Melinda Boyd Boyd, Melinda 212

11 Performing Race in Ernst Krenek's Jonny spielt auf / Jonathan O. Wipplinger Wipplinger, Jonathan O. 236

12 Il Rodolfo Nero, or The Masque of Blackness / George Shirley Shirley, George 260.

Notes:

Includes bibliographical references and index.

ISBN:

9780252036781

0252036786

9780252093890

0252093895

OCLC:

741937646