Pittsburgh Opera's free February livestreams offer timely themes

Pittsburgh Opera will offer two timely programs during February.

Six resident artists will perform in “Songs from the Heart: A Valentine from Pittsburgh Opera,” streaming free at 5:30 p.m. Feb. 14 on the opera’s YouTube channel and Facebook page.

Making for an even sweeter experience, viewers can order a five-piece package of small-batch Milk Salted Caramels from Edward Marc Chocolatier, the program sponsor. Patrons also can send loved ones a non-personalized, pre-recorded Valentine’s Video-Gram.

Streaming at 7 p.m. Feb. 26 on the opera’s YouTube channel, “I, Too, Am America,” will feature pianist Glenn Lewis and baritone Yazid Gray performing works by 20th-century African American composers William Grant Still and Florence Price.

Though not originally intended as a Black History Month offering, the free concert speaks to “the discussion of race and race relations in this moment in American history,” said Glenn, who is also the opera’s head of music.

“Songs from the Heart” will be a mix of musical theater and opera, said resident artist stage director Kaley Smith. That includes solo pieces, duets from “Figaro” and “The Elixir of Love,” and a trio from “A Gentleman’s Guide to Love and Murder.”

“It’s all about love — and a tiny bit of murder,” Smith said. “We’ll have some pizzazz to it and make it as fun as possible.”

Pianist James Lesniak will accompany the vocalists.

In creating the performing environment, Smith said, she went for the look of a sound stage from a vintage television variety show.

For those wishing to personalize their concert experience, customized Video-Grams with a personal video greeting from a Pittsburgh Opera Resident Artist must be ordered by Feb. 7. All Video-Gram orders with Milk Salted Caramels must be placed by Feb. 9 to guarantee Valentine’s Day weekend delivery.

On-screen dedications during the “Songs from the Heart” concert must be ordered by Feb. 10. Prerecorded Video-Grams, with a personalized Valentine email message, must be ordered by Feb. 11.

Broader scope

Lewis said the Feb. 26 program evolved from time he spent during the original pandemic shutdown learning Price’s repertoire.

“I was thinking of broadening the scope of American composers beyond Samuel Barber, George Gershwin and Aaron Copland,” he said. “So much of what we consider American music comes from African American music — blues, jazz, rock and roll, gospel.”

Both Price and Grant Still took traditional forms and made them their own, he said.

“They’re not unknown, but they’re less familiar,” Lewis said. “They’re not just a passing interest or a niche market. These pieces deserve to be heard more.”

Grant Still is often referred to as the Dean of African American composers. Price was the first African American woman to have one of her compositions played by a major orchestra, when the Chicago Symphony Orchestra performed her first symphony in 1933.

The program will open with Grant Still’s “Three Visions,” a solo piano piece, and “Songs of Separation,” a vocal five-song cycle. Price’s Piano Sonata in E Minor and other songs complete the bill.

Listeners will have “a goosebump reaction” listening to Gray’s vocals, Lewis added. ”He’s a top-notch artist with a tremendous expressive range, beautiful tone range and incredible versatility.”

Those interested in receiving email reminders for the concerts can register on the opera website. Information also is available there on ordering the chocolates and personalized Valentine’s greetings.

Details: pittsburghopera.org