Music at Carnegie Hall Sylvia Olden Lee Tribute

   What a concert on June 29, Tribute to Sylvia Olden Lee at Carnegie Hall.  There were many notables in attendance including Minister Louis Farrakhan, whom Sylvia supported in returning to his classical violin studies and performance. Written tributes in the program ranged from Jessye Norman to Bobby McFerrin. A proclamation from the office of the Mayor of New York Bill de Blasio and First Lady Chirlane McCray declared it Sylvia Olden Lee Day.  This was a fitting touch for a beautiful musical evening.

Sylvia was an accomplished pianist and voice coach who was the first African American employed as a professional at the NY Metropolitan Opera. This three-hour concert had the hall nearly full with 2000 people, including many high school youth. 

     On Thursday, June 29, the Foundation for the Revival of Classical Culture put on “Tribute to Sylvia Olden Lee” at Carnegie Hall. 

     Acapella spirituals by Elvira Green and Sheila Harris Jackson opened as they came walking on stage.  Then the Schiller Institute chorus followed with soloist Gregory Hopkins in “Lord, I Don’t Feel No-ways Tired,” followed by “Go Down Moses” and “Soon I Will Be Done.” The chorus had a surprising bell-like tone due to the use of the lower tuning of A=432 and great training.

     Opera followed with Indira Mahajan, soprano singing “Ritorna vincitor!” from the opera Aida. What really was a knockout were the scenes from the Verdi opera Don Carlos, with the 79-year-old baritone Simon Estes giving an incredible performance first as Don Carlos; and then as King Phillip, along with Kevin Short as the Grand Inquisitor.  Then, Rosa D’Imperio sang the heartbreaking aria from Don Carlos “Toi qui sus le neant.”  (You who know the nothingness…), English translations were provided on the overhead display.

     After the intermission, Robert Sims performed the iconic Schubert song “Who is Sylvia?” accompanied by Jeremy Jordan, who then played the Impromptu Op. 90 No. 3 in G-flat major by Schubert.

     More spirituals followed with Osceola Davis singing “Guide My Feet,” and Everett Suttle and Frank Mathis singing from the Roland Hayes spiritual song cycle “The Life of Christ.” The dramatic finale had the audience joining in, conducted by Roland Carter, in his arrangement of "Lift Every Voice and Sing.”