Dra Mu Il Trovatore by Giuseppe Verdi
Item
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Title
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Dra Mu Il Trovatore by Giuseppe Verdi
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Description
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Dra Mu program for Il Trovatore by Giuseppe Verdi
The Dra-Mu Opera Company, "Dra-Mu", was a significant Black opera company in Philadelphia, active during the mid-20th century. Co-founded by Raymond L. Smith and Henri Elkan (Van Atta 1980), the company provided a platform for Black artists to perform operatic works at a time when opportunities in mainstream opera were limited due to racial discrimination.
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Although the Company achieved notable success, its impact was largely regional, and many talented artists built careers performing for local audiences without gaining national recognition. Information about them often exists only in local print sources, making it less accessible online. Below, the highlighted cast and crew are those who earned reputations in Philadelphia and beyond.
Cast:
Barbara Ann Webb - Lenora
Lois Raye - Azucena
Katherine Church - Inez
Joseph Lipscomb - Manrico
Calvin Barlow - Count Di Luna
William A. Smith - Ferrando
Walter Graham - Ruiz
James A. Moore - An Old Gypsy
Sebastian Hunter - A Messenger
Crew:
Henri Elkan - Conductor
Russell Johnson - Assistant Conductor
Max de Schaunsee - Guest Stage Director
Janivive Byrd - Pianiste
Based in Chicago, Lois Raye (1927 - 2010) was a lyric contralto whose repertoire incorporated genres from spirituals to opera and Yiddish songs. A winner of the Marian Anderson award, critics say, "She has a remarkable range and a voice of velvety texture, and her sympathetic interpretation of each number constitutes a rare treat” (Lois Raye Profile, n.d.).
Barbara Ann Webb-Spriggs (1930–2007) was born in Texas and studied at the Philadelphia Academy of Vocal Arts. She performed widely, including two leading roles in Gershwin’s Porgy & Bess on Broadway (Barbara Ann Webb 2022). Moving to New York in 1954, she raised two sons and devoted five decades to her church’s music ministry, earning admiration for her artistry and generosity. She returned to Texas in 2004, where she spent her final years (Houston Chronicle 2007).
Sebastian H. Hunter (1904–1966) was born in Media, PA, married to Mildred L., and worked as a laboratory technician (Pennsylvania Historical and Museum Commission, n.d.). His other known musical performance was as a tenor in a 1939 Christmas cantata, World’s True Light, alongside Claude Moat at Lima Union A.M.E. Church in Lima, PA (Delaware County Daily 1939).
Henri Elkan (d. 1980) - A Belgian, was the Dra-Mu's conductor (Philadelphia Inquirer 1955). He came to the states to play viola with the Philadelphia Orchestra, left to conduct the Philadelphia Ballet Company as well as guest maestro in various symphonies throughout the United States (Philadelphia Inquirer 1957). Mr. Elkan also conducted performances such as Gounod's Faust in English at Drexel University, showcasing the company's commitment to bringing classical operatic works to diverse audiences.
Baron Jean Maximillian “Max” Mayer de Schauensee (1899–1982) was an internationally respected opera authority and longtime music editor of the Philadelphia Evening Bulletin. Born in Rome to a Swiss noble family, he devoted his Philadelphian life to promoting classical music and the vocal arts through reviews, lectures, and writings, earning recognition as one of opera’s most knowledgeable connoisseurs (Philadelphia Inquirer 1982).
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Lois Raye recording - My Man’s Gone Now
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Lois Raye - Professional headshot
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Rights
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This work is not in copyright, but commercial uses of this digital representation are limited. For more information, contact blockson@temple.edu and see http://rightsstatements.org/page/NoC-NC/1.0/
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Format
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Text
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Language
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eng
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Spatial Coverage
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Philadelphia, PA
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Contributor
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Temple University Libraries, Charles L. Blockson Afro-American Collection
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Identifier
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Dra Mu Opera Company Phila. Branch of National Association Of... Folder 13 The Dra Mu Opera Company Presents Il Trovatore by Giuseppe Verdi
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Date Created
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1950
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Is Part Of
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Dra Mu Opera Company Philadelphia Branch
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Subject
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Black people
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Operas
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Conductors (music)
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Concert programs
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Performance artists
