Episode 26 | Exploring Black Operas with Naomi André

Black opera and its performers and composers have been on the rise in popularity for the past few years.

But Black opera has been a long-tradition in the art form. Dr. Naomi André, the David G. Frey Distinguished Professor of Music at UNC-Chapel Hill, speaks on the rising number of operatic works that tell Black stories as outlined in her most recent book, "Black Opera: History, Power, Engagement," published by the University of Illinois Press. Dr. André joins guest host Lexi Ligon Holloway, who works as the graduate assistant and social media coordinator for the series. Lexi is currently a Ph.D. student in Cultural Anthropology at Duke University. Her research involves racial and aesthetic hierarchies, identity formation, performance, and critical race theory.