Organization

Set designer

Luther Lewis III

Stage director

Pianist

Nate Ben-Horin

Singer

Marcus Jefferson

Prince

Hannah Marie Bullock

Ola /Garner/ Moremi

Artega Wright

Spurton / Nat Turner

Skye Marie Johnson

Melody Caldwell / Ruth

Robert Kerr

Jefferson Caldwell / Slave Catcher

Eric McKeever

Henry "Box" Brown

Aryssa Leigh Burrs

Ramona

Justin T. Swain

Ulysses / Davids

Lighting designer

Maxx Finn

Conductor

Antoine T. Clark

Costume designer

Esther Abena Sands

Chorus master

Larry Griffin

Adia Evans

Vanqui

Opera Columbus

English

Vanqui -  (The Prisoner of Freedom)

United States

Vanqui Burrs

Public

The Prisoner of Freedom

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

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

Choreographer

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

Video designer

Vocal coach

Wig & Makeup Designer

Writer

Writing and performance

Bass

Bass-baritone

Countertenor

Soprano

Mezzo-soprano

Contralto

Baritone

Tenor

Alto

Child vocalist

Continuo

Silent

Spoken

Vanqui is a tale of death and resurrection through the eyes of the heroine, Vanqui, a 19th-century enslaved woman. The original music of Leslie Savoy Burrs and the libretto by John A. Williams frames a uniquely American experience in a compelling, multi-dimensional work of art. This opera portrays the story of two Africans, Vanqui and Prince. Enslaved in America, the married couple is torn apart to later be cruelly murdered. They resurrect as spirits who ride the wind searching for each other and for the Baobab tree and during their journey, they encounter famous freedom fighters including Henry “Box” Brown and Nat Turner. Reunited in the end, Vanqui and Prince symbolize the triumph of enslaved people over an inhumane system and the ultimate triumph of the human spirit.

The Prisoner of Freedom by Burrs, From (2022/2022), Directed by Luther Lewis III,, Conductor Antoine T. Clark

Performance credits (Cast & Crew )

Cast

Crew

Programme, About & Synopsis

Photos

Further reading

Performance Dates & Venues

Venues