After 31 years of wowing audiences with her powerful performances, District native Denyce Graves retired from New York’s Metropolitan Opera on Jan. 24, in the role of Maria in Gershwin’s celebrated “Porgy and Bess,” an intentional farewell selection for the multi-Grammy-winning mezzo-soprano.
“The first real professional contact I received was in 1985 at the Tulsa Opera for ‘Porgy and Bess,’ so this last performance brought it full circle,” said Graves, a graduate of Duke Ellington School of the Arts in Northwest D.C.
Graves has not only performed with the Metropolitan Opera, but as a member of the U.S. Department of State U.S. Global Music Ambassadors with other musical artists including jazz legend Herbie Hancock, rapper Chuck D, and country singers Kane Brown, Lainey Wilson, and Jelly Roll.
Having spent 46 years on stage, the opera singer said she will stay busy leading The Denyce Graves Foundation, based in D.C. The vision for her foundation is to explore a more inclusive look at American vocal arts, including training and deeper engagements with students and young artists pursuing careers in classical vocal arts.
“I’ve had a very long and storied time in the profession,” said Graves.” Now, I’m working with the next generation of wonderful artists, and we are about to launch some new projects.”
A Different Role in Opera
Graves is also directing the opera “Treemonisha,” in collaboration with composer, producer, and recording artist Damien Sneed, scheduled for Mar. 7, 8, and 15 at the Washington National Opera’s (WNO) new home at Lisner Auditorium in Northwest D.C., on the campus of George Washington University.
Composed by American musician Scott Joplin, audiences will see a newly commissioned adaptation of “Treemonisha,” by Sneed and playwright and librettist Kyle Bass.
“Working with Denyce has been great because we have been looking at themes and the music, trying to figure out the best way to tell this story,” said Sneed, a Howard University alumnus. “With Kyle, we are reinvigorating, refreshing, and revitalizing this music for today with new lyrics and new content.
Set in 1884, this opera blends ragtime, Black folk-songs, spirituals, ballet, and traditional operatic elements. It’s a “coming of age” story about a young Black girl during post-Reconstruction, two decades after the Civil War. The title character believes education is the key to liberation, and after she is educated, she returns to her community, encouraging them to become educated.
No stranger to the WNO stage, the opera company is thrilled to have the native Washingtonian and opera legend direct “Treemonisha.”
“As we continue honoring the gracious diva that is Denyce Graves,” WNO wrote in a social media post, “we are so proud and excited to open our next acts together!”
For “Treemonisha” ticket information, go to the Washington National Opera at washnatopera.org