An evening-length vocal recital produced by and featuring soprano Karen Slack, celebrating the history and legacy of seven African queens. The program centers newly commissioned songs written for Slack by composers including Jasmine Barnes, Damien Geter, Jessie Montgomery, Shawn Okpebholo, Dave Ragland, Carlos Simon, and Joel Thompson, woven together with narrative text. Slack premiered the program at the Ravinia Festival, with co-commissioners including the Aspen Music Festival and Tanglewood, and an orchestral version is in development.
Program
- Dave Ragland: Precatio
- Carlos Simon: Behold, The Queen
- Dave Ragland: The Queen of Sheba
- Jessie Montgomery: The Song of Nzingha
- Fred Onovwerosuoke: Luwah (Bitter Tears)
- Shawn Okpebholo: A Letter From Queen Ufua
- Intermission
- Fred Onovwerosuoke: Duniya (Mystic Universe)
- Jasmine Barnes: I Am Not Your God
- Will Liverman: A Prayer
- Joel Thompson: Queen Nanny's Lullabye
- Damien Geter: Amanirenas