Nonesuch Releases Rhiannon Giddens’ Recording Of “Julie’s Aria” From Her New Opera OmarWhich Receives Its World Premiere Next Friday At Spoleto Festival USATrack Features Giddens Along With Bill Frisell And Francesco TurrisiLISTEN HERE / READ MORE IN NY TIMES FEATURE OUT TODAYOmar, the opera composed by Rhiannon Giddens and Michael Abels, makes its long-awaited world premiere next Friday, May 27 in Charleston, SC at the Spoleto Festival USA. In the lead-up to this first performance, Giddens has released her own recording of the song “Julie’s Aria” that is featured in the opera. Today The New York Times shared “Julie’s Aria” as part of a profile of Giddens, who also wrote the opera’s libretto. The recording was recently made by Giddens with guitarist Bill Frisell and her frequent collaborator Francesco Turrisi (Giddens does not perform in the production of Omar). Listen to “Julie’s Aria” here and read the article here: https://www.nytimes.com/2022/05/19/arts/music/rhiannon-giddens-first-opera-omar.htmlOmar is based on the life and autobiography of enslaved Muslim scholar Omar Ibn Said, who was forcefully brought to Charleston, SC from Africa in 1807.

Source: New York Times May 20, 2022 01:06 UTC