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Two major events are happening this weekend. To make sure you knew about them, I’m posting this first-ever Bonus Best Bets: November 14th– November 18th
THE FLYING ACE – Jacksonville Symphony – Jacksonville, FL – November 14th
The 1926 silent film, The Flying Ace, written and directed by Richard E. Norman, features an all-Black cast. Norman, who was white, was a filmmaker who made what were called race films for Black audiences.
The film stars J. Laurence Criner and Kathryn Boyd and was filmed in and around Jacksonville.
For this world premiere, composer Carlos Simon has created the main themes to accompany the film. Five other composers, Jongnic Bontemps, Kathryn Bostic, Nathalie Joachim, Allison Loggins-Hulls and Levi Taylor created the rest of the score for this 65-minute film inspired by Simon’s themes.
The Flying Ace was added to the Library of Congress national Film Registry in 2021 and is the only complete, surviving feature-length film produced by Norman Studios.
Courtney Lewis conducts.
For tickets and more information, please go HERE.
LINCOLN IN THE BARDO – Metropolitan Opera – Live Streaming on YouTube – November 14th
Audiences and critics have wholly embraced Missy Mazzoli and Royce Vavrek’s Lincoln in the Bardo. As a result, the final performance on November 14th at 8 PM ET will be livestreamed on the Metropolitan Opera’s YouTube channel for free.
It will remain available for viewing until midnight ET on November 18th.
The New York Times said, “it’s as funny, strange and big-hearted as the novel, with a lavishly inspired production by Lileana Blain-Cruz to match.”
Nate Chinen from The Gig on Substack said Lincoln in the Bardo, “is a gobsmacking new opera.”
It was a best bet when it first opened and I, for one, can’t wait to watch this opera.
This is a first for the Met and an opportunity not to be missed.
Please go HERE to go directly to the MET Opera YouTube channel for Lincoln in the Bardo.
If you’re in Jacksonville, or can get there, I wouldn’t miss The Flying Ace. Wherever you are, I hope you’ll take advantage of this great opportunity to see the first opera composed by a woman to premiere at the Metropolitan Opera. It’s apparently quite a good one!
Main Photo: Poster art for The Flying Ace (Courtesy Jacksonville Symphony)