'Mixed emotions... I know I'm not the first qualified' - Terence Blanchard on becoming first Black composer to debut opera at The Met
Record ID:
1639080
'Mixed emotions... I know I'm not the first qualified' - Terence Blanchard on becoming first Black composer to debut opera at The Met
- Title: 'Mixed emotions... I know I'm not the first qualified' - Terence Blanchard on becoming first Black composer to debut opera at The Met
- Date: 28th September 2021
- Summary: NEW YORK CITY, NEW YORK, UNITED STATES (SEPTEMBER 27, 2021) (REUTERS) SIGN READING ENGLISH: THE METROPOLITAN OPERA OPERA BANNER PEOPLE ARRIVING TO SHOW PEOPLE STANDING IN LINE DIGITAL BILLBOARDS IN TIMES SQUARE WHERE SHOW WILL BE BROADCASTED
- Embargoed: 12th October 2021 02:06
- Keywords: black composer new york opera spike lee terence blanchard the met
- Location: NEW YORK CITY, NEW YORK, UNITED STATES
- City: NEW YORK CITY, NEW YORK, UNITED STATES
- Country: USA
- Topics: Arts/Culture/Entertainment,Music,United States
- Reuters ID: LVA006EWMUL3H
- Aspect Ratio: 16:9
- Story Text:Composer Terence Blanchard said he was full of mixed emotions as he becomes the first Black composer to present an opera at The Metropolitan Opera in New York on Monday (September 27).
"It is an overwhelming thing to be the first, but at the same time, I know I'm not the first qualified to be here. So, I want to make sure that we do the best that we can for all of those people who didn't get the chance to, but wanted to," said Blanchard.
The show titled "Fire Shut Up in My Bones" is the second opera Blanchard has ever composed and first premiered at the Opera Theatre of Saint Louis in 2019.
The production served as The Met's official post-COVID opening and brought out a host of celebrities including Blanchard's long-time collaborator director Spike Lee.
Speaking on the plaza outside the theater, the New Orleans, Louisiana native said bringing a production to The Met was never a goal.
"It wasn't on my radar, I never thought this would happen. I'm still like kind of in disbelief, like I don't know how I got here with all these people showing up here. I mean, this is kind of crazy to me. But, you know, I hope people have a good time tonight."
The opera tells the story of "a young man's journey to overcome a life of trauma and hardship" and is based from a Charles M. Blow memoir.
The Grammy winner said he recognizes himself in Charles, the main character in opera, and how he overcame adversity.
"I really can relate to the isolation that he felt in his own community just because he was a little different. You know, I was a guy who wanted to play music in a city that was really about athletics and sports. So that wasn't - even though I did those things, too, on the weekend, carrying my horn to the bus to go to, you know, my lessons wasn't the most popular thing in my neighborhood."
For the first time, the opera was simulcasting to Marcus Garvey Park in Harlem and for the 15th year to screens in Times Square.
(Production: Andrew Hofstetter, Alicia Powell) - Copyright Holder: REUTERS
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