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Title
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Dra Mu Opera Company Presents Henri Elkan, conductor presents Aida
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Description
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Concert program for the Dra Mu Opera Company.
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, “Henri Elkan, Music Publisher, Conductor: Obituary.”), 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.
Henri Elkan (1897-1980) - A Belgian, was the Dra-Mu's conductor. 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 (Bach Cantatas Website, “Henri Elkan (Arranger).”). 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.
Nadia Chilkovsky Nahumck (1908 - 2006) - was a pioneering modern-dance educator. She founded the Philadelphia Dance Academy in 1944, leading it for 30 years and welcoming Black students. A disciple of Isadora Duncan and student of Martha Graham, she also taught at Curtis, Temple, and Swarthmore, wrote books, choreographed more than 70 dances, and developed a federally funded school curriculum. Born in Kiev and raised in Philadelphia, she remained active into her 90s (Wikipedia, “Nadia Chilkovsky Nahumck.”).
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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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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 10 The Dra Mu Company Presents Aida
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Date Created
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1949
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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
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Bibliographic Citation
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Van Atta, Burr. “Henri Elkan, Music Publisher, Conductor: Obituary.” Philadelphia Inquirer (Philadelphia, PA), June 13, 1980. https://www.newspapers.com/image/171847375/.
Bach Cantatas Website. “Henri Elkan (Arranger).” Accessed January 13, 2026. https://www.bach-cantatas.com/Lib/Elkan-Henri.htm.
Wikipedia. “Nadia Chilkovsky Nahumck.” January 27, 2026. https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Nadia_Chilkovsky_Nahumck.
