Tulsa Opera Commemorates the Centennial of the Tulsa Race Massacre with “Greenwood Overcomes” Concert

On Saturday, May 1 at 7:30 PM CT and Sunday, May 2 at 2:30 PM CT at the Tulsa Performing Arts Center, Tulsa Opera presents a concert “Greenwood Overcomes” to commemorate the centennial of the Tulsa Race Massacre. The performance features songs and arias by living Black composers performed by leading Black artists.

The concert includes the world premieres of songs by five composers: David Bontemps, Anthony Davis, Stewart Goodyear, Nkeiru Okoye, and Daniel Bernard Roumain.

Featured vocalists include: Denyce Graves, Leah Hawkins, Leona Mitchell, Taylor Raven, Issachah Savage, Noah Stewart, Kevin Thompson, and Davóne Tines.

Tulsa Opera’s Artistic Director, Tobias Picker, says:

“The 1921 Tulsa Race Massacre gouged an ugly and enduring scar into the heart of Tulsa, Oklahoma, and America. The systemic attempt to erase the memory of the massacre and the devastation of the Greenwood district where the atrocities took place has deepened the wound over the ensuing decades. The racism that hid the massacre from public memory for much of the last century can also be found in the opera and classical music realms which have similarly obscured and omitted important contributions by Black composers. Greenwood Overcomes is Tulsa Opera’s humble step towards rectifying this by commissioning and performing works by living Black composers and celebrating the ever-growing presence of Black artists, including singers and designers, working in the world of opera. We are honored to be part of the citywide commemoration events and to use the powerful voice of music to contribute to the remembrance of victims and survivors with a concert that could never have taken place a hundred years ago, but which I hope will be commonplace one, ten, fifty, and one hundred years from now.”

To learn more and purchase tickets visit: https://tulsaopera.com/buy-tickets/