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Posted on October 24th 2016
'Knife of Dawn' by Hannah Kendall
Some lucky music students attended a new one-man chamber opera by Hannah Kendall (pictured).
Knife of Dawn explores the life and mind of Guyanese poet and political activist Martin Carter as he boldly fights for his country’s independence.
In this, her operatic debut, Kendall takes her inspiration from one of the Caribbean’s most influential writers, setting Carter’s own lyrical and evocative poems, drawn together into a moving new libretto by Tessa McWatt.
We stayed for a Q&A with Hannah Kendall where she explained that she had produced and funded the project herself and that she wanted to create a piece of opera for an Afro-Caribbean performer. We discussed the presence of ethnic diversity in classical music and she hoped to inspire young musicians to explore and pursue composition. We’re sure she did!
Virginie Clarke, House Co-ordinator
Other Black History Month stories: Levi Roots visits to talk about William Blake; East Dulwich Picturehouse project; Steel Pan Band sensation; A Man of Good Hope at the Young Vic.