Singer

 Charlie Parker’s Yardbird paints a portrait of the tortured jazzman, legendary saxophonist, and inventor of ‘bebop.’ As his soul lingers between life and death, Charlie (Martin Bakari) returns to his famous NYC jazz club, Birdland, and is challenged to compose a final masterpiece, all while pondering the inspirations, demons, and women who fueled his creative genius. Indianapolis-native and opera superstar Angela Brown debuted the role of Charlie’s mother, Addie Parker, and will reprise this powerful character for the Indiana premiere. Written by composer Daniel Schnyder with libretto by the late playwright Bridgette A. Wimberly, this 90-minute opera offers an unflinching portrayal of one man’s journey to redemption against a backdrop of the music, opioid crisis, and racial inequality of 1950s America.

EPSG:4326

Charlie Parker’s Yardbird

Madam Walker Legacy Center

This collaboration between UMS and the U-M School of Music, Theatre & Dance features a new commission and world première by American composer Nkeiru Okoye. When the Caged Bird Sings fuses elements of oratorio, theater, and opera in a multi-movement musical ceremony of sorts, which Okoye describes as “a gathering” that invokes the ritual of the concert experience as a ritual of community.

Nkeiru Okoye’s When the Caged Bird Sings

University of Michigan

Angela Brown was deemed "glorious" in the role of Tosca, and we couldn't be more proud of our incredible cast, chorus, orchestra, and artistic and office staff for their dedication to this special production. In addition, we extend a sincere thank you to our production sponsor Spectrum Wealth Management for their generosity.

​Tosca

The Center for the Performing Arts

Thank you for joining us for Opera in the Park on Saturday, September 10, 2022. It was a wonderful event filled with beautiful music! Our celebrity host Angela Brown performed an iconic aria from her upcoming role in Indianapolis Opera's Tosca, our Resident Artists had an incredible Indianapolis Opera debut, and Daniel Narducci brought a beautiful rendition of "Do you hear the people sing?" to this uplifting program. Joshua Thompson (Sock Joplin) performed a stunning piano rendition of "Troubled Water" by Margaret Bonds and paired with Jared Thompson on saxophone and soprano Angela Brown to light up the stage with "Trust" by Roy Hargrove with original lyrics by Jared Thompson. We are thrilled that so many of you were able to join us for this event. This Opera in the Park crowd was the largest yet!

​Opera in the Park

Garfield Park

Two of the world’s most powerful men shake hands – as the world looks on. With their opera about the state visit by US President Nixon to China in 1972 composer John Adams and librettist Alice Goodman rendered a recent historical event in operatic form. They envisioned a »heroic opera« telling of modern myths and the power of images. This rapprochement between the two great powers gave rise to one of the most prodigious media spectacles of the 20th century. Nixon himself put the event on a par with the moon landing. The opera, whose composition was pushed for by Peter Sellars, the director of the eventual premiere, is a depiction of both the details of the visit and the coverage by the media. Alice Goodman’s libretto reflects the tradition of 19th-century opera, with larger-than-life characters interacting and the protagonists dealing with both affairs of state and their private lives. Staged in the style of an excessively satirical documentary, the minimal-music opera sticks close to protocols from the state visit, depicting the larger-than-life protagonists swerving between exhibitionism, helplessness and the desire to reach a mutual understanding.

Angela Brown

Soprano

Events

Upcoming events

Feb 28 - Mar 5, 2025

Nixon in China · Deutsche Oper Berlin

Past events

Mar 16, 2024

Charlie Parker’s Yardbird · Indianapolis Opera

Feb 10, 2024

Nkeiru Okoye’s When the Caged Bird Sings · University Musical Society

Future and recently performed repertoire

Ching Hua (Actress 2) in Nixon in China by Adams

Deutsche Oper Berlin

About

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