Frederick Douglass is an opera in three acts composed by Ulysses Kay to a libretto by Donald Dorr. Its story is a semi-fictionalized account of the final years in the life of Frederick Douglass after his marriage to his second wife, Helen Pitts Douglass. The opera premiered on April 12, 1991, at Newark Symphony Hall performed by the New Jersey State Opera in a production conducted by Alfredo Silipigni, directed by Louis Johnson and designed by Salvatore Tagliarino.
Background In 1978 it was announced that both Kay and Dorr received grants from the National Endowment for the Arts to work on the opera. Dorr and Kay worked on the opera beginning in 1979 and completed it in 1985.
Roles Role Voice type Premiere castApril 12, 1991(Cond. Alfredo Silipigni) Frederick Douglass bass Kevin Maynor Helen, (Helen Pitts Douglass), his wife soprano Klara Barlow Howard, Douglass's son tenor Gregory Rahming Aubrey, a young officer tenor Ronald NaldiSenator Norton baritoneMark DelavanBusby, a merchanttenorMark NicolsonDemler, a newsmantenorKirk RedmannSecretary Wellesbass-baritoneKenneth ChurchMajor Domobass-baritoneRichard McKeeMrs. Sly, a guestJennifer GucciMrs. Pry, a guestsopranoTracy MagliaroAgnes, a servantsopranoChristine D'AmicoTimothy, her lovertenorTony Buonauro
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