The Cincinnati Opera has announced its plans to present an Afrofuturist-themed production titled 'Lalovavi' in 2025, marking the first of three commissions from the company to all-Black creative teams. The opera, composed by Kevin Day with a libretto by Tifara Brown and directed by Kimille Howard, will premiere on June 19, 2025, at Cincinnati Music Hall.
'Lalovavi,' meaning 'love' in the Tut language created by enslaved Black Americans, is a three-act work set in the year 2119. The idea for the opera stemmed from a conversation in 2019 when a noted bass opera singer expressed the need for operas reflecting Black American culture.
The Black Opera Project was initiated by the Cincinnati Opera's artistic director, who aimed to create a production showcasing Black joy with a Black composer, librettist, and director. The project received a $1.3 million grant from the Andrew W. Mellon Foundation, with $750,000 allocated for three Black operas.
Composer Kevin Day, known for his contemporary classical and jazz influences, collaborated with librettist Tifara Brown to bring 'Lalovavi' to life. The opera's storyline, set in the future and incorporating elements of Afrofuturism, follows the protagonist Persephone on a quest for immortality and self-discovery.
The company's second opera in the project will focus on the life of civil rights icon U.S. Rep. John Lewis, with plans for a debut in 2026. The Cincinnati Opera aims to offer audiences a fresh and diverse experience through these new productions, departing from traditional narratives that may not fully represent the Black American experience.
With a commitment to showcasing Black culture and talent on stage, the Cincinnati Opera's Black Opera Project is set to bring innovative and thought-provoking works to audiences in the coming years.
