An opera concert hosted by The Spirituals Project, the annual marade and a Lamont Symphony Orchestra performance will be three of the events this weekend honoring the life of Martin Luther King, Jr. near what would be his 80th birthday.
The events, which remember King’s activism in the civil rights movement, take on heightened meaning as a precursor to the Jan. 20 inauguration of Barack Obama, the first African American president of the United States, according to Arthur Jones, founder and chair of The Spirituals Project and organizer of the MLK memorial Dream Concert.
The Dream Concert will feature opera singer Denyce Graves and the 70-voice multi-ethnic Spirituals Project choir on Friday at 7 p.m. at the Ellie Caulkins Opera House at the Denver Performing Arts Center.
Mezzo-soprano Graves, who played the title character in Bizet’s Carmen at its opening at the Opera House three years ago, will perform a solo recital of specially selected pieces for the occasion. The show will also feature a number of choral pieces based on sacred songs created and first sung by enslaved African Americans. Graves will also star as a choral soloist in the concert finale.
“The concert symbolizes what many of us believe is a transformational moment in our country’s history, when the fulfillment of Dr. King’s dream of racial justice and reconciliation seems possible,” said Jones, noting the proximity of the concert to Obama’s inauguration.
The performance is sponsored by the MDC/Richmond American Homes Foundation. Tickets are between $15 and $100 and can be purchased at King Soopers stores, TicketsWest.com or by calling 866-464-2626.
The Lamont Symphony Orchestra will also be performing Friday at 7:30 p.m. in Gates Hall at the Newman Center for Performing Arts. The concert, A Tribute to Black Pioneers in Music Performance, will feature Metropolitan Opera stars Leona Mitchell and George Shirley. The program’s finale will feature the world premiere of two pieces by African-American composer Ozie Cargile II, one of which is inspired by Obama and named after his book, “The Audacity of Hope.”
The concert is free, but tickets are required. Tickets can be picked up in advance at the Newman Center Box Office between 10 a.m. and 4 p.m. Monday through Friday, or after 6:30 p.m. Friday.
The 24th annual MLK marade, organized by the Dr. Martin Luther King, Jr. Colorado Holiday Commission, will start Monday at 10:45 a.m. from the I Have A Dream Memorial in City Park. The 5K march will end at the Civic Center.
Street-worthy floats will be allowed, but must be registered with Vern Howard at 720.971.1329. For a marade application, visit www.drmartinlkingjrchc.org/new/marade.html.
Other events sponsored by the Holiday Commission will run this week through Monday.
For a list of events celebrating Dr. Martin Luther King, Jr. in Denver, visit www.drmartinlkingjrchc.org.
