Opera honoring MLK previewed at museum
Published Sunday, April 8, 2018
A PREVIEW of the world premiere of I Dream, an opera by composer Douglas Tappin, was at the Toledo Museum of Art during a luncheon hosted by the Toledo Opera Guild and The Links Inc. It is “to honor the life and work of Dr. Martin Luther King, Jr., and to move those who experience I Dream to live that dream by loving as Dr. King did,” Mr. Tappin said.
Adrienne Green, The Links Inc. president, commented how wonderful it is that Toledo was chosen for the world premiere. Kelly Wrobel-Kotchetov, Opera Guild president, agreed, especially since it is the 50th anniversary of King’s assassination. Kudos to event chairmen Megan Kabour and June Rose Galvin.
A curated tour of the museum featured cast members performing excerpts from I Dream in response to art in the museum’s collection, including a painting by Henry Ossawa Tanner, the first internationally renowned African-American painter.
A reception for sponsors, volunteers, trustees, the 24 community partners, and the community leadership committee of nearly two dozen led by chairman Rhonda Sewell was at the Valentine on Wednesday prior to the I Dream dress rehearsal, which was attended by area students all gussied up for the occasion. Sponsors included Owens Corning, ProMedica, KeyBank, the LaValley Family Foundation, Steve Goldman, Kate and Tom Donnell, PNC, and many others including media sponsors Madhouse, Buckeye Broadband and Telesystem and The Blade, and WGTE Public Media.
Toledo Opera’s Jim Meena, principal artistic adviser, and Suzanne Rorick, executive director, who both were responsible for bringing I Dream to Toledo, thanked everyone for their support.
Seen were Jay and Trina Secor, Barb Oostra, Dr. Allen and Hindea Markowicz, Betsy Kelsey and Judge Reeve Kelsey, Shirley Joseph, Jennifer Poirier, Alex Heard, and board president Maureen Brown. Also seen were Bob Lubell, Ebony Harris, Marcus Harrison, and Brigette Burnett.
In addition to the dress rehearsal, students had a Q&A session with Mr. Tappin. The evening ended with a standing ovation.
Sunday’s 2 p.m. matinee is the final curtain call for the I Dream opera in Toledo before it travels to other cities.