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from Michael Barrett: Featured on the NYFOS Next Feb. 4 program curated by David T. Little was the music of Kate Soper. David introduced me to Kate's work, for which I am grateful. OK, she is still pretty young, so I forgive my own ignorance. She performed two...
from NYFOS’s own Michael Barrett: We have just had our first 2016 NYFOS Next concert at Opera America. The next two are Feb. 11 and Feb. 18. On Feb. 4, David T. Little curated a wonderful program that, along with excerpts from his brand new opera JFK (premiering Ft....
from Michael Barrett: For my final choice of this week's survey of the Negro Spiritual, I have a selection of six from the amazing Shirley Verrett in live concert from the 1960s. Ms. Verrett was a vocal force and a major Met opera star. I had the good fortune to work...
from Michael Barrett: Today's song is "Let Us Break Bread Together" sung by Jessye Norman, with beautifully orchestrated accompaniment. Antonin Dvorak was an early champion of the negro spiritual during his stay in New York (and Iowa) in the early 20th century. He...
from Michael Barrett: In our brief survey of the Negro Spiritual this week, we've heard from Marian Anderson and Mahalia Jackson. Let's hear now from Robert McFerrin Sr. from 1957. Yes, this is Bobby McFerrin's Dad. Two years before this recording Mr. McFerrin became...
Today's Song of the Day features Mahalia Jackson and Nat King Cole in Steal Away. The lyrics are "Steal away, steal away, steal away to Jesus. Steal away, steal away home. I ain't got long to stay here." Again, it is code for an escape to freedom. This recording from...