March daily: Naomi André
An opera scholar examines the meaning of “voice”
Naomi André is currently the David G. Frey Distinguished Professor in the Department of Music at the University of North Carolina Chapel Hill. She’s also one of the most significantly connected and contributing scholars in the field of opera. Seattle Opera’s Scholar in Residence since 2019, she lectures, writes, consults, and discusses matters of race, voice and gender with opera companies across the country.
I met Naomi André when we both taught at the Univeristy of Michigan. During that time, she published her book Black Opera: History, Power, Engagement. It rocked my world. At the time, I was deeply disenchanted with opera, which seemed to me to be irrevocably focused on the past. Black Opera not only taught me about past Black opera performers and their artistic activities, of which I’d been totally ignorant, but framed opera as a medium in which social change and activism could take place.
Naomi André’s scholarship, passion, and generosity have been felt by opera practitioners in every corner of this country. Dig into her writing and prepare for a wide, inspiring view.
thanks for reading.