Aired on line on April 28, NYFOS @ Home culminates their wrapped gems of music with Define: Woman, a program originally intended to celebrate the anniversary of the 19th Amendment that granted women the right to vote. One of the most heartbreaking losses of March 2020 was this program, “Laura Karpman & Nora Kroll-Rosenbaum: And Still We Dream” and this brave new world’s artists create brave new forms like this presentation, optimized for the audience on-the-go.
Bradley Moore is the musical director and the programming arc of the works include spoken word as well as new music inspired by the words of historic woman and modern historic women. Lucia Bradford’s rendition of "Still I Rise," by Maya Angelou, inspires shivers of recognition and delight with her arch sense of humor as she reached inside to kindle the glow of the words. Laura Kaminsky and Leah Maddrie’s " \Ida Up Front" features Elaine Daiber, soprano, and Bradford, mezzo-soprano, with Moore on piano in an our-story lesson about the racism that existed in the suffrage movement. Ida B. Wells-Barnett, the activist journalist force of Nature is a s/hero for our time as the contrasts of their voices danced a pas de deux of harmony.
Aundi Moore first performs the Sojourner Truth’s actual speech "Ain’t I A Woman," then in her rich golden soprano, gives us "World Upside Down," by Nora Kroll-Rosenbaum and Lynne Procope, with Susan Ricci Rogel, pianist. The balance of the two works echoing one another is both haunting and inspiring. The glory of the repeated word “Freedom” has the longing of the world within it.
"WOMANSONG" is a celebration of the power, mystery and glory of women’s gift of creation by Kathryn Bostic. Glorious Elaine Daiber soars in this magnificent work with Moore on piano.
The final work, is "Define: Woman." The poem is by Kai-Lilly Karpman, read by Devony Smith and, after a brief pause, we are treated to the song by Laura Karpman/Kai-Lilly Karpman/Devony Smith, performed by Smith, soprano, Bradford, mezzo-soprano, and Aundi Moore, soprano, with Moore at the piano, which is a capstone on a brilliant program. The three voices combine into three Muses whose voices ascend in contemporary harmony and continue to live in memory. The cast of this work is far flung, from Vienna, Austria to New York’s sunny shores and beyond and, with the magic of Technology, Steven Blier assures us that these NYFOS @ Home performances will continue. World renowned talent for you, wherever you are – truly a gift for the ages.
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