Black Splendor: Soprano Ellaina Lewis (on-demand)
Free
Ellaina Lewis, soprano
Dave Ragland – I Believe
Soprano Ellaina Lewis, demonstrates an extensive range of vocal and dramatic ability. Originally from Washington, D.C., she now makes her home in Seattle. She is a popular artist on Northwest stages. In addition to Seattle Opera, where Ms. Lewis performed the role of Strawberry Woman in Porgy and Bess, are Puget Sound Opera, Tacoma Opera, Seattle Choral Company, Everett Symphony, Sammamish Symphony, Octava Chamber Orchestra, and the Northwest New Works Festival. Ms. Lewis has sung principal roles such as Violetta in Giuseppe Verdi’s La traviata, Amina in Vincenzo Bellini’s La sonnambula, Monica in Gian Carlo Menotti’s The Medium, Treemonisha in Scott Joplin’s Treemonisha, Erzulie in Stephen Flaherty’s Once on this Island, and Pamina in W.A. Mozart’s Die Zauberflote.
Concert engagements include repertoire ranging from Haydn's Creation and Mozart's Exsultate Jubilate to Heitor Villa-Lobos’ Bachianas Brasileiras No. 5. Ms. Lewis has had the pleasure on many occasions to blend her love of singing and her passion for dance. She has collaborated with S.D. Prism Dance Theater, contributing vocal improvisations as the dancers interpret the choreography of the company’s founder, Sonia Dawkins. Silk Road was a multimedia production by A.C. Petersen, inspired by the lives of immigrant women working in sweatshops. It featured contemporary dance, music, with Ellaina as vocal soloist, video, and field-recorded voices. Premier performances include the title role in Sally Hemings, an opera and film production by Garrett Fisher and the role of Simona in Night Flight, the operatic adaptation of the Saint-Exupery novel with Book-It Repertory Theatre.
About the series: Black Splendor is a 10-part weekly virtual series, part of Lakewold Garden's "Music from Home" concert series. Each episode showcases an artist performing a song of their choosing, followed by a question and answer portion. Led by Creative Director Joe Williams, Black Splendor marks an opportunity to show Black musicians beyond their expected roles.
The broadcast will become available at 2pm Pacific. Black Splendor videos will be uploaded to and viewable at their YouTube channel: https://www.youtube.com/channel/UC_aazWlIvCmB1X53KrK6KWA
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