And in 2018, Brownlee premiered"Cycles of My Being," a song cycle about being a Black man in America composed by pianist-percussionist Tyshawn Sorey, with lyrics by poet Terrance Hayes.
"I felt that I built up a certain cachet -- I can talk about things that I really want to talk about," he said. "Most operas, 98%, even if they were conceived with the idea of it being Caucasian white European people in them, the stories don't have anything to do about the race," he told ABC News."And so if a person is equipped and has the talent and ability to sing these roles, I think it's the thing that should give them the job, and I always think that my voice is what opens the doors for me.
While more Black male singers are onstage since Shirley's debut, Brownlee suggested to ABC News that it's more often the lower-voiced baritones and basses -- singing"the villains, fairy godfather or some type of looming presence," rather than"loving, sympathetic characters" with romantic arcs.In this Nov. 4, 2019, file photo, Lawrence Brownlee performs at Opera Ball at the Bolshoi Theatre in Moscow.
Administrations and boards, he said, is where the industry needs to make actual, meaningful progress so a city's company is more representative of the city's racial makeup. Brownlee supports young people who want to be artistic administrators, stage directors, conductors and casting directors"because this is where I think we will make the best inroads to having better representation on the stages and then the pits [conducting].
The lamestream media and pushing gender or race. Such divisive and irresponsible people.
If they choose to participate in this sort of music they will be ostracized by the community for trying to act “white”.
Great pipes should have no gripes. This guy was born a star.
Hello,Jesus is the son of God he helped people doing his era now i want to share what God has given and blessed me with.I help people through there bills because I know the society at large needs help and that is what I’m making donations to people who needs financial support.
If I were to give you $10,000, what would you spend it on? Food? Clothes ? Your kids? Credit Card Debts? Student Loans? Family? Medical bills? Student Loans? Giving to charity? I'm gonna bless a few people who Like & Retweet. (Must be following me so I can DM you)
3 Mo Tenors was a PBS presentation which was excellent. They expressed similar thoughts.
No one cares
When God created black people, he gave them the gift of singing. When a black man decides to sing, the whole world stops and listens.
Um, maybe because black singers typically focus on Pop, R&B, Jazz & Hip Hop?
Stop
Maybe nobody else sings as well, oh... doesn’t matter anymore?
Oh yes...blacks are sooooo underrepresented in the music industry