AMISTAD, an opera by Anthony Davis

Harlem, NY – Harlem Opera Theater is thrilled to announce a preview performance of the powerful and historically resonant opera “Amistad” by Pulitzer Prize-winning composer Anthony Davis. This extraordinary collaboration between Harlem Opera Theater and Connecticut Lyric Opera will be held at 7:00 PM on Friday, June 13, 2025 at the historic Church of the Intercession in Harlem. The event marks a significant moment for both the Harlem community and opera lovers alike, offering a compelling and timely exploration of racial justice and the triumph of the human spirit.

This special preview showcases the evocative story of the 1839 Amistad Uprising, a historic slave rebellion that led to a landmark U.S. Supreme Court decision affirming the rights of enslaved individuals. Through Anthony Davis’s masterful composition and Thulani Davis’s powerful libretto, “Amistad” intertwines historical narrative with themes of dehumanization, resistance, and justice, which continue to resonate today. The opera was originally commissioned by Lyric Opera of Chicago and has garnered critical acclaim for its relevance and emotional depth.