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Carlos
Gomes' Fosca
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Journin'
in Switzerland
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People
Benjamin
Matthews - Artistic
Director
Mr. Matthews is regarded as one of the foremost interpreters of
African-American religious folk music, work songs, field calls and American
creole songs of the twentieth century. His expertise in the performance of
this repertoire has endeared him to audiences worldwide. He is frequently
engaged across the United States and in many major capitals in
South
America
as a recitalist, lecturer and conductor of master classes.
Mr. Matthews received
his musical training at the Chicago Conservatory and his operatic training
under Boris Goldovsky. Operatic credits include performances with New York
City Opera, Opera Company of Brasilia, the Metropolitan Opera's
production of Gertrude Stein-Virgil Thompson's Four Saints in Three Acts, Graz Opera in Austria, Milwaukee-Florentine Opera
and Philadelphia Grand Opera. He has
performed a wide range of roles from Mephistopheles in Gounod's Faust, to Porgy in Porgy
and Bess and Prince Itelo in Leon Kirchner's Lily. He has appeared as soloist with major orchestras in
the United States, Mexico, Canada, Europe and South America including The
New York Philharmonic, Brooklyn Philharmonic, Minnesota Orchestra, Detroit
and Milwaukee Symphonies, Buffalo Philharmonic, Barbants Orchestra of
Holland, Orebo and Norrkopings Orchestras (Sweden), Sinfonica Municipal of
Sao Paulo and Rio de Janeiro, Santa Cecelia Orchestra of Rome and
L'Orchestre Symphonique de Quebec.
Mr. Matthews' concert
appearances as a recitalist include performances in the United States, Canada, the Virgin Islands, South America, Europe and the Pacific Rim. He is the principal founder
of Opera Ebony and has served as the Artistic Director since its inception
in 1973. Mr. Matthews' discography includes A
Spiritual Journey, an album of inspirational spirituals and hymns,
along with a companion recording, A Balm in Gilead, both on the Ebony Classic
Recording label. Other releases include the Gertrude
Stein-Virgil Thompson opera, Four Saints
in Three Acts on Nonesuch Digital, George Gershwin's Porgy and Bess with the Slovak Philharmonic released
on Opus Records and Opera Ebony's recording of Done
Crossed Every River.
Wayne Sanders - Music Director
Wayne Sanders is co-founder of Opera Ebony, Inc., and has served as the
company's Music Director since its inception in 1973. Under his direction,
the company has gained an international prominence, performing in the United States, Europe, South America, Canada and the Caribbean.
As vocal coach and accompanist,
Mr. Sanders has performed for televised Opera Ebony concerts worldwide and
appeared at some of the world’s most important music festivals
including the Spoleto Festival in Italy and the Savolinna Festival in
Finland. At leading venues such as The Kennedy Center (Washington D.C.) and Carnegie Hall (New York City), he has accompanied such superstars
as Jessye Norman, Florence Quivar, Kathleen Battle, George Shirley, William
Brown, Hilda Harris, Jorma Hynnenin, Benjamin Matthews and Jubilant Sykes.
For his contribution
to the arts and humanity, he has been awarded numerous honors within the United States and in Austria, Italy, Russia, Estonia and Germany. In Finland's largest newspaper,
Helsingin Sanomat, critic Olavi Kanko wrote, "He will be remembered as
one of the great figures in the history of vocal music." Many of his
students now perform with major opera companies and musical theaters
throughout the world. He currently teaches on the voice faculty at Sarah
Lawrence College in New York City.
Mr. Sanders is a
prominent figure in the preservation and presentation of new American opera
with special emphasis on works by women and people of color. He has
co-produced and served as musical director for several world premieres. A
brief listing includes, Perfect Harmony
by Heikki Sarmanto (Finlandia Records), The
Outcast by composer Noa Ain and The
Meetin' by Pamela Baskin-Watson. He is currently working on the new
opera-musical theatre work, Leo Edwards’ Harriet
Tubman, and Opera Ebony's new touring musical review, The Colors of Love.
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History