X: The Life and Times of Malcolm X
X: The Life and Times of Malcolm X is an opera with music by Anthony Davis and libretto by Thulani Davis, to a story by Christopher Davis. It is based on the life of the civil rights leader Malcolm X.
Performance history
[edit]The opera premiered in a full production at the American Music Theater Festival (AMTF) in Philadelphia on October 9, 1985, and was subsequently revised and expanded for a production at the New York City Opera (NYCO) on September 28, 1986. The latter was listed as the world premiere in accordance with an agreement made between then-NYCO artistic director Beverly Sills, and AMTF directors Eric Salzman and Marjorie Samoff.[1][2][3] The Oakland Opera Theater performed the work in June 2006.[4] New York City Opera presented an abridged concert version on May 12, 2010, at the Schomburg Center for Research in Black Culture. A new production directed by Robert O'Hara and starring Davóne Tines premiered at Detroit Opera in 2022;[5][6] this production was later performed at New York's Metropolitan Opera in November/December 2023[7][8][9] and Seattle Opera in February 2024.[10]
Roles
[edit]- Malcolm (baritone)
- Elijah, leader of the Nation of Islam / Street, Malcolm's mentor (high tenor)
- Louise, Malcolm's mother / Betty, Malcolm's wife (soprano)
- Ella, Malcolm's half-sister (mezzo-soprano)
- Reginald, Malcolm's brother (bass-baritone)
- Young Malcolm Little (boy soprano)
Recordings
[edit]- Gramavision: Orchestra of St. Luke's, William Henry Curry, conductor (recorded in 1989, issued in 1992)
References
[edit]- ^ Henahan, Donal, "Anthony Davis's X (The Life and Times of Malcolm X)", The New York Times, September 29, 1986
- ^ Rockwell, John, "Opera: X, A Pre-Debut" The New York Times, October 11, 1985
- ^ "Anthony Davis: X: The Life and Times of Malcolm X (1986), work details, G. Schirmer
- ^ Kosman, Joshua, "Scrappy Oakland theater triumphantly revives gripping Malcolm X opera", San Francisco Chronicle, June 6, 2006
- ^ "X: The Life and Times of Malcolm X". Detroit Opera. Retrieved August 2, 2024.
- ^ Woolfe, Zachary (May 15, 2022). "Review: After 36 Years, a Malcolm X Opera Sings to the Future". The New York Times. Retrieved August 2, 2024.
- ^ Ross, Alex (May 27, 2022). "Malcolm X and Hamlet Seize the Opera Stage". The New Yorker. Retrieved July 3, 2022.
- ^ "X: The Life and Times of Malcolm X production details 2023". Metropolitan Opera. Retrieved February 4, 2024.
- ^ Joshua Barone (November 6, 2023). "Review: Anthony Davis's Malcolm X Opera Finally Arrives at the Met". The New York Times. p. C1. Retrieved February 4, 2024.
- ^ "Malcolm X production marks a first for Seattle Opera's mainstage". The Seattle Times. February 21, 2024. Retrieved February 23, 2024.
External links
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