FEEL THE SPIRIT Williamsburg NY 2020 Brittany Robinson, Justin Austin, Lucia Bradford, Edwin Cotton

• Work Title: Courtney’s Stars of Tomorrow: Feel the Spirit  
• Composer: various  
• Libretto: various  
• Venue & Opera Company: 5th House in Williamsburg, NY, USA  
• Recorded: 2020
• Type: Concert Live
• Singers: Brittany Robinson, Justin Austin, Lucia Bradford, Edwin Cotton
• Conductor:   
• Orchestra: James Davis, PIANO  
• Stage Director:   
• Costume Designer:   

Information about the Recording

• Published by: IDAGIO  
• Date Published: 2020  
• Format: Streaming
• Quality Video: 4 Audio:4
• Subtitles: nosubs  
• Video Recording from: IDAGIO     FULL VIDEO
•  
• STREAM IT from IDAGIO

ADDITIONAL INFORMATION ON THIS PERFORMANCE

Feel the Spirit is a series dedicated to the study, preservation, and performance of the Negro Spiritual.

The first concert of this two-part concert series features baritone Justin Austin and soprano Brittany Robinson. Justin Austin, who has been praised by ‘Opera News’ as “a gentle actor and elegant musician,” and ‘The Wall Street Journal’ for his “mellifluous baritone,” will sing spirituals by H.T. Burleigh and Courtney Carey, including the world premiere of Carey’s spiritual arrangements, “Didn’t My Lord Deliver Daniel?” and “In Bright Mansions Above”. Brittany Robinson, hailed by the ‘South Florida Classical’ for her “luminous tones” and “lush voice,” will sing spirituals by Hall Johnson, Hale Smith, Robert Morris, Tim Amukele and Margaret Bonds.

The second concert of this two-part concert series features mezzo-soprano Lucia Bradford and tenor Edwin Cotton. Lucia Bradford, who has been praised by ‘Opera News’ for her “rich, burnished tone and fearsome low notes,” will sing traditional spiritual arrangements by Lena McLin and J. Rosamond Johnson, as well as an original setting entitled ‘Lord, I’ll Go’, by Jacqueline Hairston. Bradford will share the evening with tenor Edwin Cotton who rounds out the program with arrangements by the “father of the Concert Spiritual” H.T. Burleigh, as well as spirituals by William Grant Still and Wendell Whalum.

Courtney’s Stars of Tomorrow is an arts conduit committed to promoting and presenting classical musicians of the highest calibre and is a vehicle to feature them in concert, recital, and opera. Additionally, Courtney’s Stars of Tomorrow targets a multi-generational, ethnically diverse audience of both classical music lovers and those who have never been exposed to the medium.

This concert is presented as part of the Arts@Future series in the IDAGIO Global Concert Hall, curated by the Hampsong Foundation. Feel the Spirit is made possible with public funds from Creative Engagement and UMEZ and administered by LMCC. Further support is provided by Columbia Community Service.

First Concert:

1. 1. Oh, Didn’t It Rain – arr. by H.T. Burleigh
2. 2. Oh, Rocks Don’t Fall on Me – arr. by H.T. Burleigh
3. 3. My God is So High – arr. by Hall Johnson
4. 4. Jesus Lay Your Head in the Window – arr. by Hale Smith
5. 5. Fix Me, Jesus – arr. by Uzee Brown, Jr.
6. 6. My Lord What a Morning – arr. by H.T. Burleigh
7. 7. Every Time I Feel the Spirit – arr. by Robert Morris
8. 8. I Want Jesus To Walk With Me – traditional spiritual
9. 9. Stand the Storm – arr. by Tim Amukele
10. 10. Didn’t My Lord Deliver Daniel? – arr. by Courtney Carey *premiere performance
11. 11. Were You There? – arr. H.T. Burleigh
12. 12. In Bright Mansions Above – arr. by Courtney Carey *premiere performance
13. 13. Lord, How Come Me Here? – traditional spiritual
14. 14. De Blin’ Man Stood on de Road an’ Cried – arr. by Courtney Carey
15. 15. He’s Got the Whole World in His Hands – arr. by Margaret Bonds

Second Concert:

1. 1. O, de Angels Done Bowed Down – arr. by Lena McLin
2. 2. Here’s One – arr. by William Grant Still
3. 3. There’s a Man Going Roun’ Taking Names – Traditional Spiritual
4. 4. I’m Troubled in Mind – arr. by J. Rosamond Johnson
5. 5. Go Down Moses – arr. by H.T. Burleigh
6. 6. Wade in the Water – arr. by H.T. Burleigh
7. 7. Lord, I’ll Go – arr. by Jacqueline Hairston
8. 8. God is a God – arr. by Wendell P. Whalum
9. 9. I Got to Lie Down – arr. by Hall Johnson
10. 10. Soon- ah Will Be Done – traditional spiritual
11. 11. Steal Away – Traditional Spiritual
12. 12. Ride the Chariot – arr. by Betty Jackson King
13. 13. I Don’t Feel Noways Tired – arr. by Jacqueline Hairston
14. 14. The Battle of Jericho – arr. by Margaret Bonds