Arts institutions must be held accountable for the promises that they make in conjunction with DEI initiatives, and in the world of opera, the Black Opera Alliance has answered the call. World-renowned mezzo-soprano, Raehann Bryce-Davis joins Garrett to talk about the goals of BOA, the backstage life of a Black opera singer, and more! Scott highlights a national equity initiative in public radio, and the guys honor the dynamic lives of Ryuichi Sakamoto, Nichelle Nichols, and Dr. Martin Luther King Jr.

This opus of TRILLOQUY is made possible, in part, by Opera Philadelphia.

Playlist:

Adolphus Hailstork - "3 Spirituals for Orchestra"

Adolphus Hailstork - "Fanfare on Amazing Grace"

perf. Jean Noel Rohe - "Sorry Seems To Be The Hardest Word" (https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=j_QYM_Ci8rM)

Nichelle Nichols - "Dark Side of the Moon" (https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=fsERcThiIgM)

Rick and Morty, Kotomi, Ryan Elder - "Don't Look Back"

Ryuichi Sakamoto - "Merry Christmas Mr. Lawrence"

Paul Moravec - "Sanctuary Road"

More:

Raehann Bryce-Davis: http://www.raehann.com

Black Opera Alliance: https://blackoperaalliance.org

Hailstork at Inauguration/Africlassical: https://africlassical.blogspot.com/2021/01/the-presidents-own-united-states-marine.html

Sanctuary Road: https://www.npr.org/sections/deceptivecadence/2020/01/20/793966514/underground-railroad-a-conductor-and-passengers-documented-in-music

Don’t Ask What Martin Luther King Jr. Would Do Today and Then Ignore His Real Message: https://www.vox.com/2021/1/18/22233296/martin-luther-king-jr-whitewashed-legacy-and-message

A Vision and Plan for the Transformation of Public Media: https://celesteheadlee.medium.com/an-anti-racist-future-a-vision-and-plan-for-the-transformation-of-public-media-224149ab37e6

Downbeat, Nichelle Nichols "Truck Turner: Sluts for Sale": https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=j_QYM_Ci8rM