Doug & Diane recently had the opportunity to chat with George Marriner Maull (Founder & Artistic Director of The Discovery Orchestra) and Vocalist Cheryl Warfield (Founder of Manhattan Opera Repertory Ensemble or MORE) about their upcoming concert, Discover Angelitos Negros (Little Black Angels). Maull and Warfield – along with Composer & Pianist Patricio Molina – will present this special Black History Month concert at 3pm on Sunday, February 23rd at Grace Episcopal Church in Newark, New Jersey.

During our conversation we touched upon the importance of bringing classical and operatic music into the spotlight and connecting new audiences to these genres through the innovative and immersive techniques spearheaded by their respective organizations. Maull’s and Warfield’s passion for music is contagious and their drive to make it accessible and more familiar is brilliant. We learned all about their musical backgrounds and experiences which have led them both to their careers.

Angelitos Negros is a concert series launched in 2021 by MORE Opera to collectively serve Black and Latino communities severely impacted by the pandemic. The program was based on a poignant moment in the 1948 Mexican film of the same name in which a young child asks why there are no paintings by the great masters of Black angels. An acclaimed second iteration of Angelitos Negros was presented in December 2023, with composer-pianist Patricio Molina as musical director. The upcoming concert will feature a rousing rendition of “Lift Every Voice and Sing,” the James Weldon Johnson and J. Rosamond Johnson song known today as the Black National Anthem, in honor of its 125th anniversary; and a Discovery Concert exploration of “Hay una Antilla en Medio del Mar Caribe,” the traditional Dominican poem set to music, arranged by Molina.

TDO is known for its teaching Discovery Concerts™ — musical performances featuring an interactive exploration segment that helps participants focus on specific details of the work — on stage and on the small screen. The Orchestra also presents community engagement programs in collaboration with its educational partners for underserved audiences in six New Jersey counties.

Discover Angelitos Negros is free with registration at https://discoveryorchestra.org/angelitos-negros/. Groups wishing to attend should contact TDO Executive Director Rick Kaller at rick@discoveryorchestra.org. The concert snow date is Sunday, March 2 (at 3 p.m.)

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