This episode explores two powerful new works that bring history to life through theater and opera. First, Tristan André talks about They Do Not Know Harlem, a deeply personal multimedia piece inspired by James Baldwin. André reflects on how Baldwin’s legacy as a Black queer artist shaped his journey and how the work serves as a love letter to marginalized communities. Then, Lauren chats with acclaimed composer Michael Abels, best known for scoring Jordan Peele’s films Get Out and Nope, about his new opera Omar, which tells the story of Omar Ibn Said, a Muslim scholar enslaved in the U.S. Abels shares insights into the process of composing opera versus film scores, the importance of diversifying the operatic canon, and why Omar is a quintessentially American story.
Tristan André is an actor, playwright, and activist whose work blends performance and social justice to amplify Black and queer voices. His play They Do Not Know Harlem explores identity, resilience, and the ongoing fight for liberation.
Michael Abels is a composer known for his genre-defying music, spanning classical, hip-hop, folk, and film scores. His recent opera Omar was co-written with Rhiannon Giddens and has been hailed as a groundbreaking piece in contemporary American opera.
