FIVE, an opera about the Central Park Five Overture and Opening aria by the Masque
By Anthony Davis
Watch from 1’22” – 5’22”
This is the opening of the opera FIVE by Anthony Davis with libretto by Richard Wesley. The piece was presented at NJPAC in Newark, New Jersey on November 12, 2016. The opera tells the story of the Central Park Five who were falsely convicted in the notorious rape case of the Central Park jogger. The character, The Masque, enters in the guise of a reporter who describes Harlem. I chose this excerpt to demonstrate the relationship of my work to the African American tradition and showcase my work with Earl Howard.