ABOUT THIS PERFORMANCE
Celebrated American soprano Karen Slack’s dynamic opera and recital performances combined with her passionate advocacy for racial justice and women composers make her a sought-after artist on many fronts. For her performance at Chamber Music Detroit, Slack performs Of Thee I Sing! Songs of Love and Justice, her incredibly moving program conceived during the turmoil in the summer of 2020, when the country was forced into a long-overdue racial awakening. After witnessing the murder of George Floyd on national television – as many did while confined to their homes during the onset of the pandemic – Slack felt it necessary to create a program focusing on the healing powers of justice and love. The program will include material from composers Clayton White, Undine Smith Moore, Ricky Ian Gordon, Scott Gendel, H. Leslie Adams, Jake Heggie, and Adolphus Hailstork.
PROGRAM
Of Thee I Sing
Clayton White: Over My Head
Undine Smith Moore: Love Let The Wind Cry…How I Adore Thee
Undine Smith Moore: I Want to Die While You Love Me
H.T Burleigh: Lovely Dark and Lonely One
Ricky Ian Gordon: My People
Scott Gendel: Kids Who Die
H. Leslie Adams: Prayer
Jake Heggie: Eleanor Roosevelt: Marian Anderson’s Mink Coat
Jake Heggie: From Iconic Legacies: First Ladies at The Smithsonian
Adolphus Hailstork: Songs from Love and Justice (Text by Rev. Dr. Martin Luther King, Jr.)
Traditional: Selection of Spirituals
“...the feisty, rich-voiced soprano Karen Slack”
ABOUT THE ARTISTS
Karen Slack, soprano
Hailed for possessing a voice of extraordinary beauty, a seamless legato and great dramatic depth, American soprano Karen Slack has garnered international renown for her artistic versatility, charisma and entrepreneurial endeavors. A recipient of the 2022 Sphinx Medal of Excellence, Slack is known for her dynamic and passionate performances in both lead operatic roles and on the concert stage; as a sought-after collaborator, curator, and artistic advisor; and for her ground-breaking approach to engagement. She is an Artistic Advisor for Portland Opera, Co-Chair of the Women's Opera Network with Opera America, and serves on the board of the American Composer’s Orchestra. In January 2022, Slack was appointed Creative Partner with Brooklyn’s National Sawdust, opening with a solo recital and continuing through multiple programs throughout the season.
Casey Robards, piano
Korean adoptee, Casey Robards is a music director, pianist and vocal coach known for her sensitive musicality, stylistic versatility, and expert collaboration. She has concertized throughout the United States, Europe, Central and South America and Asia. Recent CDs with Sara Fraker, John Dee, Bernard Scully, and Fangye Sun celebrate ecomusicology and newly composed music.
Recent music directing projects include “Three Decembers”, “The Gift”, “Die Zauberflaute”, “La Boheme”, “La Traviata”, “Carmen” and the Afro-surrealist “Water Riot in Beta: A Cyberpunk Rock Opera” created by Derek McPhatter for the Museum of Contemporary Art in Chicago.
A sought after recital partner and vocal coach, Robards’ 2022-23 programs with Ollie Watts Davis, LaToya Lain and Karen Slack around the U.S. as well as the Carnegie Hall debut of emerging baritone, Ethan Neal, promote justice and historical understanding through spirituals and art song of Black composers. Robards was a coach/pianist for Santa Fe Opera’s production of “This Little Light of Mine”, spotlight on Fannie Lou Hamer.
Dr. Robards is Asst. Professor (Vocal Coaching and Accompanying), University of Illinois. Professional memberships include IKCAS, NATS, Maestra, MUSE, and NOA (Chair, Sacred in Opera Initiative). She was a recipient of the Henri Kohn award at Tanglewood.
