Civic Leaders, community activists, public servants, and members of the general public are earnestly invited to a working luncheon that will launch a project that will become a 2015 expression of the Spirit of Arlington.
Next school year, Opera NOVA will offer a theater production of an opera called Treemonisha to young students. Treemonisha was composed by Scott Joplin, the African American, “King of Rag Time”, whose composition Maple Leaf Rag is a favorite at every piano recital in the U.S. Joplin worked 15 years on this opera, finished in 1910 and then ignored for 65 years because it was “well known” that: “a Negro could not compose an opera, jazz and rag maybe, but not opera”.
Considered the first truly American Opera, Treemonisha remains little known outside of hearts in the African American community. Please join Opera NOVA to fill perhaps an obligation to Scott Joplin to bring this delightful folk opera to the students in the U.S. For lagniappe its underlying theme is that EDUCATION is the way to go!
Opera NOVA has scheduled a working luncheon at noon on April 15, 2015 at Busboy and Poets, Shirlington, a restaurant established as ‘” a melting pot of thoughts, artists, writers, activists and those in pursuit of social change. This eclectic space is a platform for community empowerment.” Please be the first to register for this working luncheon.
In 1962, civic activists recognized a cultural void in the growing Arlington County and established Opera Theatre of Northern Virginia which continues today as Opera NOVA. Today there is no cultural void but there may be little cultural heart. Worthiness of cultural performances now are based entirely on economics. To achieve our mission, Opera NOVA must turn to the community for help. We need to be endorsed as a worthy performing organization.
Lunch will cost $25. When you reserve call 703-536-7557 or mail checks made out to Opera NOVA to P.O. Box 7057, Arlington, VA 22207. We take credit card charges for VISA & Master Card by calling our office 703-536-7557.
