Opera Baltimore and the Reginald F. Lewis Museum of Maryland African American History & Culture present “Roots and Resonance: An Operatic Love Letter to Baltimore” on Saturday, Feb. 14, but this is not your typical romance story.
“Roots and Resonance” is the kick-off event for an initiative highlighting the long and deeply-intertwined histories of Baltimore’s Black and Jewish communities, in partnership with the Reginald F. Lewis Museum and the Jewish Museum of Maryland. The initiative, “Voices in Solidarity: Baltimore’s Black and Jewish Operatic History,” spotlights the enmeshed and longstanding community ties through music, conversation, and education.
On Feb. 14, “Roots and Resonance” will open with a moderated panel of scholars, archivists, and performers, including music-related artifacts from the Lewis Museum. Through conversation and music, the panel will examine themes of tradition, support, tension, and solidarity.
Panelists will include Dr. Ida E. Jones, associate director of Special Collections at Morgan State University; Nicole Steinberg, Opera Baltimore’s cultural programs curator; Em Davidson, the Lewis Museum’s collections manager and archivist; Ra Brave, chief of special facilities at the Shake & Bake in West Baltimore; and acclaimed Baltimore-born opera singer Daniel Rich.
The event will include a boxed lunch and tour of the museum, culminating in “Tapestry: Heart & Soul,” a recital curated and sung by baritone Daniel Rich. Rich is a graduate of the Metropolitan Opera’s prestigious Lindemann Young Artist Development Program and traces his journey from Baltimore to the international opera stage. He will sing selections from opera, musical theater, spirituals, and new works by Baltimore composers. Each piece reflects a different form of love and connection to home. Rich will be joined by poet, singer, and visual artist Vincent Stringer and pianist W. Patrick Alston, Sr.
Tickets for this event are available on the Reginald F. Lewis Museum’s website. Prices are $15 for adults and $12 for seniors, college students, military, and youth 7-17. Children 6 and under are admitted free of charge. Boxed lunch is an additional $20.
The Reginald F. Lewis Museum of Maryland African American History & Culture is located at 830 East Pratt Street, Baltimore, MD.
