Washington National Opera (WNO) has released a recording and short documentary film highlighting Blue, the critically acclaimed opera—named the “Best New Opera of 2020” (The Music Critics Association of North America)—by Tony Award–winning composer Jeanine Tesori and NAACP Theatre Award–winning librettist Tazewell Thompson.
The documentary, from award-winning filmmaker Najma Nuriddin—whose film Not in My Neighbourhood won Best Documentary at the American Black Film Festival— explores the creation of the thoughtful and heart-wrenching opera. Nuriddin’s documentary includes interviews with Tesori and Thompson, exclusive rehearsal clips, and behind-the-scenes footage. (Click to watch it below.)
The genesis of the recording was in response to the COVID-19 outbreak when all in-person gatherings were shuttered a few days ahead of the DC premiere of Blue at the Kennedy Center. In an effort to capture and share the vibrancy and energy of live performance, WNO in association with San Francisco Classical Recording Company, made a full orchestral studio recording of Blue.
The fully vaccinated cast, along with the WNO Orchestra, assembled for several days of rehearsal at WNO’s studios before moving to the stage of the Opera House at the Kennedy Center. Recorded live there under the leadership of Roderick Cox, the studio recording features Joshua Blue, Katerina Burton, Martin Luther Clark, Aaron Crouch, Gordon Hawkins, Briana Hunter, Kenneth Kellogg, Rehanna Thelwell, Christian Simmons, Ariana Wehr, and the WNO Orchestra (Listen to the Blue recording here or click on the album cover below.)
“For me and my team, working on this documentary film was an amazing entrance into the opera world,” said Nuriddin. “From a behind-the-scenes perspective, I was blown away and literally left in awe by the talent, the story, and the welcoming spirit of everyone involved in creating this moving piece of art. Blue has such an important message and I hope this short film aids in the many conversations we must have as a people to live in a more just and peaceful world.”
Commissioned by The Glimmerglass Festival four years ago, Blue is Thompson and Tesori’s inspired response to the senseless murder of Black people all across the nation and takes audiences on the “powerful” (New York Times) journey of a young Black couple navigating love and loss. In this story, set in Harlem, we see father (a police officer) and mother supported by a loving community of fellow law enforcement, churchgoers, and friends as they traverse the devastating reality of their son’s killed by a white fellow police officer in a production that includes what The Seattle Times called “a soaring score.”
Blue—with music by Jeanine Tesori and libretto by Tazewell Thompson—will make its long-awaited DC mainstage premiere from March 11 to March 25, 2023, in the Eisenhower Theater at Kennedy Center. In English with projected English titles, a Washington National Opera co-production with The Glimmerglass Festival and Lyric Opera of Chicago. The event is currently available as part of a 2022–23 WNO subscription.
Cast
The Father: Kenneth Kellogg
The Mother: Briana Hunter
The Son: Aaron Crouch
The Reverend: Gordon Hawkins
Girlfriend 1/Congregant 1/Nurse: Ariana Wehr
Girlfriend 2/Congregant 2: Katerina Burton
Girlfriend 3/Congregant 3: Rehanna Thelwell
Policeman 1/ Male Congregant 1: Joshua Blue
Policeman 2/Male Congregant 2: Martin Luther Clark
Policeman 3/Male Congregant 3: Christian Simmons
The Washington National Opera Orchestra
Conducted by Roderick Cox
Music Supervisor & Assistant Conductor: Kevin Miller
Cover Conductor: Ken Weiss
Assistant Conductor: Joel Ayau
Stage Manager: Sean Corcoran
Short documentary produced by Nsoroma Films
Director: Najma Nuriddin
Cinematographer: Kurt Otabenga Orderson
Editor: Resita Cox
Colorist: Natacha Ikoli
Trailer for the 2020 WNO production of Blue directed by Tazewell Thompson, which was canceled due to COVID:
