Article published May 05, 2005
Story of runaway slaves gets world premiere at Detroit Opera House
Among those starring in Margaret Garner at the Detroit Opera House are, from left, Angela
Brown, Gregg Baker, and John MacMaster.
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JOHN GRIGAITIS PHOTOS
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By STEVEN CORNELIUS
BLADE MUSIC CRITIC
On a winter night in 1856, Kentucky-held slaves Margaret Garner, her husband, and children made a break for the free state of Ohio. They escaped across the frozen Ohio River, but were soon surrounded by pursuers.
Rather than return to slavery, Garner decided to kill first her children, then herself. She failed, but one daughter died before Garner was overpowered and dragged back to face Kentucky justice.
The trial spurred a legal debate that aroused the entire country. Should Garner be tried for murder (as Ohio insisted) or destruction of property (as Kentucky would have it)?
Garner's story is told on the stage beginning this weekend when Michigan Opera Theatre presents the world premiere of Grammy Award-winning composer Richard Danielpour and Nobel Prize-winning librettist Toni Morrison's opera Margaret Garner in the Detroit Opera House.
This is a story that naturally resonates in the city of Detroit, where some 80 percent of the population is African American, said David DiChiera, Michigan Opera Theatre's artistic director.
But with its topic of "the quest for freedom, [it also] carries national and international significance," he said.
Denyse Graves has the title role in the opera
production of Margaret Garner.
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Mezzo-soprano Denyce Graves heads up the cast as Margaret. Baritone Gregg Baker sings the role of Margaret's husband and soprano Angela Brown plays Margaret's mother-in-law. Two choruses are also employed. One is black, the other white
Some six years in the making, the project is a collaboration between Michigan Opera Theatre, Cincinnati Opera, and the Opera Company of Philadelphia. As the major contributor, Michigan Opera Theatre received the world premiere, the first ever in the Detroit Opera House.
Michigan Opera Theatre presents Richard Danielpour's "Margaret Garner" at 8 p.m. Saturday; 7:30 p.m. Wednesday; 8 p.m. Saturday, May 14; 8 p.m. Friday, May 20; and 5 p.m. Sunday, May 22 in the Detroit Opera House. Remaining tickets range from $60 to $110. Information: 313-237-7464.
Contact Steven Cornelius at: scornelius@theblade.com
or 419-724-6152.
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