“Opera Is Hot” will be presented during five performances at The Faison Firehouse on Dec. 3 and Dec. 4 in Harlem.
The musical series will present four concerts featuring Harlem Opera Theater Vocal Competition winners, Jasmine Thomas, soprano, Flora Mendoza, mezzo-soprano, Patrick Dailey, counter-tenor, and Barry L. Robinson, baritone.
The program will also include guest performances by Robert Mack, tenor of the Metropolitan Opera, Phillip Boykin, the acclaimed Crown in the upcoming Broadway production of Porgy and Bess, and Richard Bellazin. The series will present arias by Donizetti, Puccini, Mozart, Bizet and Gershwin. In addition, the repertoire will include Negro Spirituals and works by African American Composers Hal Johns on and Nathaniel Dett.
Conceived and staged by choreographer George Faison, poetry form renowned African American writers will be interwoven throughout the program to recreate an era of self-discovery and determination reminiscent of the Harlem Renaissance. Brian Whitted, Faison Firehouse Theater Musical Director will provide the piano accompaniment.
The historical prospective will blend the talents of these gifted young stars of tomorrow into a new creative production that will serve as a preview of future presentations of up and coming opera singers. This artistic philanthropy is in keeping with the now 11-year Faison Firehouse mission to “reclaim restore and rebuild our youth and our community through dance, music, art and theater.”
The theater is located at 6 Hancock Place.
