'Champion: An Opera in Jazz' presented by Opera Parallele and SFJAZZ
Organization:
Opera Parallele
Category:
Performing Arts
Geographical Area:
San Francisco
Start
Date:
2/19/2016
End Date:
2/28/2016
Start Time:
7:30 PM
End Time:
6:00 PM
Event
Info:
7:30 pm FridaySunday, February 19, 20 and 21 Tuesday and Wednesday, February 23 and 24 Friday and Saturday, February 26 and 27 and at 4 pm Sunday, February 28
San Francisco's Opera Parallele and SFJAZZ will present their first collaboration: a new, fully staged production of Champion: An Opera in Jazz by Terence Blanchard, SFJAZZ Resident Artistic Director, with eight performances to be given February 19-28, 2016 at SFJAZZ Center. Based on the life of African-American, bisexual boxing champion Emile Griffith (1938-2013), the production marks both Opera Parallele's first foray into an operatic jazz idiom and SFJAZZ's first opera.
A groundbreaking work combining the disciplines of opera and jazz, Terence Blanchard's Champion: An Opera in Jazz (2013) tells the real-life story of world champion boxer Emile Griffith, a man haunted by memories of his past who struggled to reconcile his sexuality in a hyper-macho world. Co-produced by Opera Parallele and SFJAZZ, Champion 's visually stunning production will feature full staging and video elements with soloists, a jazz trio, orchestra and Gospel chorus, bringing out the full glory of Blanchard's soulful score as it illuminates Griffith's triumphs and struggles, which are still broadly and powerfully relevant today. Tormented by the death of opponent Benny Paret following their 1962 bout for the welterweight title, Griffith spent his life questioning himself and a society that would accept his accidental killing of a fellow athlete, but not his bisexuality. The opera features a libretto by Pulitzer Prize-winning playwright Michael Cristofer and was premiered at Opera Theatre of Saint Louis in June 2013.
DISCLAIMER: Our aim is to continuously provide our
progressive audience with an open and interactive medium to view
and share relevant,
beneficial and interesting "career, economic, lifestyle and
networking" listings, ads, content and resources.
While the above information may be accurate and viable, the role
of Minority Professional Network, Inc. (MPN) is
strictly as a communications medium, and we do not
accept any responsibility for
cancellation, changes, errors, omissions, inconveniences, or any other form
of liability for any content
displayed or disseminated via our web sites, or e-marketing or social media
promotional services.
If there are any
doubts, we
encourage you to conduct additional research or contact the listed host or responsible entity.
CLICK HERE to inform us about any ads, listings or content
which appear to be
inappropriate,
fraudulent or misleading, or inconsistent with our theme and focus.