Voyagers, we’ve been fortunate to collab with @bmop on seven #opera releases on the #BMOPsound label. From a Fisherman to a Fox, from Joan of Arc to Malcolm X, from Queen Jane Grey to Dr. Oliver Sacks, including the latest — Dominick Argento’s The Voyage of Edgar Allan Poe. 🐦‍⬛

Stream, share, & subscribe / https://bandcamp.com/discover/oo-collab

#OdysseyOpera #OOPoe #OOFisherman #OOMrFox #OOTrial #OOMalcolmX #OOJaneGray #OOAwakenings #OOAsToldBy #meetopera

#ICYMI, this convo between #OdysseyOpera’s Artistic Director, Gil Rose, and GBH’s @gbhnews’s Arun Rath about Ulysses Kay’s final opera, Frederick Douglass. “…one of the things we seek to do is to redress that wrong and bring composers who are important American composers into the light.” • https://www.wgbh.org/music/2025-07-08/a-forgotten-opera-celebrating-an-abolitionist-leaders-life-is-brought-back-to-the-stage

#OODouglass #AsToldBy #OOAsToldBy #meetopera

<i>A forgotten opera celebrating an abolitionist leader's life is brought back to the stage </i>

Gil Rose talks all about bringing Ulysses Kay’s "Frederick Douglass" back to life along with the work of other Black composers.

GBH

Owen Johnson reviews for the Boston Musical Intelligencer, writing, “…the choir is well-prepared for the often-complex counterrhythms required of them. The balance between the singers and orchestra is perfect, and they are never subsumed by Kay’s dense orchestration… Ulysses Kay’s Frederick Douglass is a welcome revival… Through @bmop & #OdysseyOpera’s expert performance, Dorr’s libretto & Kay’s music reached new heights.” • https://www.classical-scene.com/2025/06/23/shining-douglass/

#OODouglass #AsToldBy #OOAsToldBy #meetopera

Shining a Light on Frederick Douglass - The Boston Musical Intelligencer

Ulysses Kay’s opera Fredrick Douglass painted a powerful portrait of a larger-than-life figure grappling with his own legacy in the Odyssey Opera-BMOP premiere at Jordan Hall on Friday.

The Boston Musical Intelligencer

Bravi tutti! Voyagers, thank you for attending Frederick Douglass last evening. It’s always a privilege to perform for you. Your support of #AsToldBy: History, Race, and Justice on the Opera Stage, for which we are a collaborating partner, is tremendously meaningful. We’re so glad you’re aboard for this journey. 🎶

#OODouglass #OOAsToldBy #meetopera

We can’t wait for all Voyagers to experience this amazing opera and the many talented musicians who have worked so hard to bring it from page to stage. Tonight! June 20 at 7:30 PM • https://odysseyopera.org/frederick-douglass/

#AsToldBy #OOAsToldBy #OODouglass #meetopera

Kay: Frederick Douglass – Odyssey Opera

Hear bass Kenneth Kellogg in GBH’s The Culture Show — then, come hear him *live* this Friday, June 20, when he sings the title role in Ulysses Kay’s Frederick Douglass. 😍 https://www.wgbh.org/podcasts/the-culture-show/june-16-2025-frederick-douglass-in-opera-jacobs-pillow-dance-festival-and-the-battle-of-bunker-hill-at-250

#OODouglass #OOAsToldBy #AsToldBy #meetopera

June 16, 2025 - Frederick Douglass in opera, Jacob's Pillow Dance Festival, and the Battle of Bunker Hill at 250

Frederick Douglass had a life that could be described as operatic. The late composer Ulysses Kay, in his last major work, saw that it was. The Boston Modern Orchestra Project, in partnership with Odyssey Opera, is presenting the New England premiere of “Frederick Douglass ” on June 20th at Jordan Hall. The piece centers on a fictionalized account of the final year of the renowned Black abolitionist and statesman. It’s conducted by Gil Rose, who is the founder and conductor of the Boston Modern Orchestra Project and founder and General-Artistic Director of Odyssey Opera. The lead vocalist is bassist Kenneth Kellogg as Douglass. They join The Culture Show at GBH’s Fraser Performance studio to talk about the work and to perform. To learn more about the opera go here.From there we head to the Berkshires for the 93rd annual Jacob’s Pillow Dance Festival, which runs from June 25 to August 24 in Becket, MA. Pamela Tatge, the Executive & Artistic Director of Jacob's Pillow, joins The Culture Show for an overview. To learn about their lineup go hereFinally we continue our countdown to 2026 with a look at the 250th anniversary of the Battle of Bunker Hill and the upcoming reenactment. Sheila Green, the MA 250 Coordinator for the Massachusetts Office of Travel and Tourism and Annie Harris, CEO of Essex National Heritage Commission join The Culture Show for an overview. The Battle of Bunker Hill Reenactment is June 21st at Stage Fort Park in Gloucester, MA. To learn more go here.

GBH

Voyagers will recall tenor Matthew Arnold from his recent performance as Sen. Fulton in the Gershwins’ Of Thee I Sing & Let ‘Em Eat Cake. Arnold returns to #OdysseyOpera to sing Busby in Ulysses Kay’s Frederick Douglass • https://odysseyopera.org/artist-page-matthew-arnold/

This opera in #AsToldBy: History, Race, & Justice on the Opera Stage, a collab w/ @bmop, is pay-what-you-want; sugg min gift $15/ticket • https://odysseyopera.org/frederick-douglass/

Frederick Douglass
June 20 • 7:30 PM ET
Jordan Hall

#OOAsToldBy #OODouglass #meetopera

Tenor Neal Ferreira is well-known to Voyagers from his many performances with #OdysseyOpera, including: Adamo’s Lysistrata; the Gershwins’ Of Thee I Sing & Let ‘Em Eat Cake; and Argento’s The Voyage of Edgar Allan Poe. Ferreira returns to sing Aubrey in Ulysses Kay’s Frederick Douglass • https://odysseyopera.org/artist-page-neal-ferreira-2/

This #AsToldBy opera, a collab with @bmop, is pay-what-you-want • https://odysseyopera.org/frederick-douglass/

Frederick Douglass
June 20 • 7:30 PM ET
Jordan Hall

#OOAsToldBy #OODouglass #meetopera

Bass-baritone Devon Russo returns to #OdysseyOpera and makes his principal artist debut with the company, singing Welles in Ulysses Kay’s final opera, Frederick Douglass • https://odysseyopera.org/artist-page-devon-russo/

Frederick Douglass, the next opera in the series #AsToldBy: History, Race, & Justice on the Opera Stage, is a pay-what-you-want event with a suggested minimum contribution of $15ticket • https://odysseyopera.org/frederick-douglass/

Frederick Douglass
June 20 • 7:30 PM ET
Jordan Hall

#OOAsToldBy #OODouglass #meetopera

Baritone John Allen Nelson returns to #OdysseyOpera, singing Norton in Ulysses Kay’s Frederick Douglass. Voyagers will recall his performance as Eduardo III, King of England, in our staging of Donizetti’s L’assedio di Calais • https://odysseyopera.org/artist-page-john-allen-nelson-2/

This opera in the series #AsToldBy: History, Race, & Justice on the Opera Stage is pay-what-you-want; sugg min donation $15/ticket • https://odysseyopera.org/frederick-douglass/

Frederick Douglass
June 20 • 7:30 PM ET
Jordan Hall

#OOAsToldBy #OODouglass #meetopera