Name: Omar
Start: 2022-10-22T00:00:00.000Z
End: 2022-11-13T00:00:00.000Z
Location: LA Opera

Organization

Spoleto Festival USA

Conductor

Kazem Abdullah

Stage director

Kaneza Schaal

Set designer

Amy Rubin

Costume designer

April M. Hickman

Micheline Russell-Brown

Video designer

Joshua Higgason

Singer

Tenor

Jamez McCorkle

Omar Ibn Said

Jacqueline Echols

Julie Laquita

Bass-baritone

Daniel Okulitch

John Owen

Baritone

Norman Garrett

Omar's Brother

Barry Banks

Auctioneer

Briana Hunter

Katie Ellen

Lighting designer

Pablo Santiago

Chorus master

Jeremy Frank

Choreographer

Kiara Benn

Assistant choreographer

Yusuf Nasir

Christopher Myers

Mezzo-soprano

Amanda Lynn Bottoms

Omar's Mother

Soprano

Deepa Johnny

Little Daughter

Ashley Faatoalia

Amadou

Cedric Berry

Olufemi

Patrick Blackwell

Suleiman

Alan Williams

Jermaine McGhee

Principal dancer

LA Opera

English

Omar

Los Angeles

United States

Dorothy Chandler Pavilion

Omar Giddens

Public

Private

Approved

Accordionist

Instrumentalist

Archlutenist

Baroque Flutist

Baroque Oboist

Baroque Trumpetist

Bassist

Bassoonist

Cellist

Clarinetist

Contrabassist

Cornettist

Flutist

Guitarist

Harper

Harpsichordist

Hornist

Lutenist

Mandoline Player

Musette de cour Player

Oboist

Organist

Percussionist

Pianist

Recorder Player

Saxophonist

Tenor Violinist

Timpani

Trombonist

Trumpeter

Tuba Player

Vibraphonist

Viola Pomposa Player

Viola da gamba

Viola d’amore Player

Violinist

Violino Piccolo Player

Violist

Actor

Broadcasting

Choir

Chorus Director

Composer

Dancer

Dramaturge

Executive producer

Extra

Hairstylist

Illustrator

Librettist

Makeup artist

Orchestra

Orchestra Operations

Other

Photographer

Poet

Repetiteur

Sound designer

Stage Manager

Teacher

Translator

Vocal coach

Wig & Makeup Designer

Writer

Writing and performance

Bass

Contralto

Countertenor

Alto

Child vocalist

Continuo

Silent

Spoken

What was it like for Rhiannon Giddens to compose an opera as an opera singer herself? Hear from her and her co-composer, Michael Abels, about the unique musicality they each brought to their highly-anticipated work, "Omar."

Go to LAOpera.org/Subscribe for tickets to see this incredible piece live and in-person with us next season.

In 1807, a 37-year-old scholar living in West Africa was captured and forced aboard a slave ship bound for Charleston, South Carolina. Omar Ibn Said's life and Muslim faith are remembered and retold in this inspirational West Coast premiere inspired by his remarkable 1831 autobiography (the only known surviving American slave narrative written in Arabic).

Set in the shifting darkness of memory and imagination, Omar follows his compelling journey from a peaceful life in his homeland to enslavement in a violent, foreign world. Lost in the wilderness of his thoughts and his stolen life, he's haunted by memories of his family and the people he encounters along the way. Through it all, he somehow remains true to himself and his faith, against all odds. The luminous score—composed by Rhiannon Giddens and Michael Abels—incorporates distinctive West African traditions with traditional opera instrumentation.

Tenor Jamez McCorkle makes his company debut in the title role, with bass-baritone Daniel Okulitch in a double role as two very different slave masters. Norman Garrett makes his company debut as Omar's brother, with Barry Banks as the auctioneer and Jacqueline Echols as Julie, an enslaved woman who gives Omar the key to a better life.

Omar by Giddens, Wed 09 Nov 2022, From (2022/2022), Directed by Kaneza Schaal,, Conductor Kazem Abdullah, LA Opera, Los Angeles, United States

Performance credits (Cast & Crew )

Cast

Crew

Co-Producer

Programme, About & Synopsis

Videos

Photos

Further reading

Performance Dates & Venues

Venues