The Tulsa Opera has canceled a piece written for a concert on the city’s 1921 race massacre after the composer of one of four pieces for the event refused a request to remove a curse on America from the piece.
In social media postings, New York composer Daniel Roumain said Sunday he was commissioned to write for mezzo-soprano Denyce Graves one of four libretti for a Greenwood Overcomes concert scheduled for a 1 May performance by the Tulsa Opera.
Roumain balked, however, when Graves, who is Black, objected to the final line after the line “God Bless America” — "God Damn America” — in his “They Still Want To Kill Us” libretto and Opera officials wanted it changed.
“As a Black woman, I am a huge supporter of all Black Lives, Black expression and creativity." Graves said in a statement issued by the Opera. "I don’t have trouble with strong lyrics, but I felt that they did not line up with my personal values. I could not find an honest place to express the lyrics as they were presented.”
Tobias Picker, the Opera's creative director, “suggested I omit the word ‘Damn.’ I refused, explaining that is how I felt about this county," Roumains said of Tulsa County in a Facebook posting. "So, they fired me."
In a statement issued by an Opera spokeswoman, Picker said: “It is extremely disappointing that Mr Roumain has turned an artistic disagreement into a racial debate.
The Opera, “Denyce Graves and all of the other 22 Black composers and eight Black artists, as well as our concert co-presenter, the 1921 Tulsa Race Massacre Centennial Commission, are committed to the spirit of the Greenwood Overcomes concert,” Picker said.
Kelli Bruer, the Opera spokeswoman, said Roumain would be paid his $1,500 fee, but the Opera will not perform his piece. Roumain still owns the piece and can have it performed elsewhere, she said.
Catch all the Business News, Market News, Breaking News Events and Latest News Updates on Live Mint. Download The Mint News App to get Daily Market Updates.