Concert offers ‘healing’ with Black spirituals

After the Black Lives Matter protests last year, Emily Isaacson, artistic director of Classical Uprising, and internationally known countertenor Reginald Mobley wanted to find a music program that would promote healing and “create a safe space for dialogue,” she said. (Portland Press Herald)

Isaacson and Mobley decided that a re-imagined “Amazing Grace: The American Spiritual,” a multimedia concert that traces the history of African-American spirituals from Pre-Emancipation to the present day, would create that space.

The free show, which will be streamed live online Feb. 6, was originally performed by the Oratorio Chorale in February 2017, but has been reworked to reflect the state of today’s racial unrest and inequities, Isaacson said.

To complement the concert, Classical Uprising have set up a special site with anti-racism education opportunities, including artist talks and lists of recommended books, music, movies and podcasts, as well as information about important sites in Maine’s Black history, including and ways to get involved locally. Find out more here.

‘AMAZING GRACE: THE AMERICAN SPIRITUAL’

What: Multimedia concert tracing the history of Black spirituals from Pre-Emancipation folk singing to the Black Lives Matter movement,  featuring Oratorio Chorale and renowned activist-musicians Reginald Mobley, Jonathan Woody and JanaeSound.

When: Live, 7 p.m. Saturday, Feb. 6; after Feb. 6, on-demand

Where: youtube.com/watch?v=cAk1cNYI-TU&feature=emb_title

Admission: Free

For more information: www.classicaluprising.org/amazing-grace