X, The Life and Times of Malcolm X


X, The Life and Times of Malcolm X is an opera with music by Anthony Davis and libretto by Thulani Davis based on the life of the civil rights leader Malcolm X.

Performance history

The opera premiered in a full production at the American Music Theater Festival in Philadelphia, PA on October 9, 1985 and was subsequently revised and expanded for a production at the New York City Opera on September 28, 1986. The latter was listed as the world premiere in accordance with an agreement made between then-NYCO artistic director Beverly Sills, and AMTF directors Eric Salzman and Marjorie Samoff. The Oakland Opera Theater performed the work in June 2006. New York City Opera presented an abridged concert version on May 12, 2010 at the Schomburg Center for Research in Black Culture.

Roles

Gramavision: Orchestra of St. Lukes, William Henry Curry, conductor