On Saturday, Jan. 31, the Minnesota Opera presents the world premiere of My Name is Florence, an opera about Florence Beatrice Price, the prolific American composer who made history as the first Black woman to have a symphony performed by a major U.S. orchestra. The opera, which was created through the Minnesota Opera’s New Works Initiative, was inspired by writings and correspondence unearthed in the backyard of Price’s family home.
Composed by B.E. Boykin to a libretto by Harrison David Rivers, the opera presents vignettes from Price’s life that bring into focus the impact of family, legacy, and the transformative power of a seat at the piano. With warmth and humor, My Name is Florence explores the complexities of identity, generational connection, and ultimately, the power of music to transform. It is a celebration of Price’s enduring legacy in music and a reclamation of the space she occupies within the American musical canon.
Soprano Deborah Nansteel (who sings the role of Granny), Flora Hawk (who sings the role of Florence Beatrice Price), and Arianna Rodriguez (who sings the role of Lo-Lo) joined host Steve Staruch in Minnesota Public Radio’s Maud Moon Weyerhaeuser studio to talk about this exciting world premiere. Listen to their conversation about this exciting production now!
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