Community Corner
Duke Ellington's only Opera
Duke Ellington's Only Opera
Jerry Adomian
The Long Beach Opera (LBO) held an educational salon in the Westside home of Rosalie Kornblau for the many LBO Patrons in this area. The subject was Duke Ellington's "Queenie Pie", the first opera in the LBO's 2014 series.
Who knew the "Duke" wrote an opera? Originally written in the 1970's for Lena Horne. It's a horns-blazing marriage of jazz and opera, and insight into the intraracial politics of Harlem in the 1920's and 1930's. The high energy of the first act will make you want to jump on the stage and dance.
There are two remaining performances of Queenie Pie at the Warner Grand Theatre in San Pedro on Sat, 2/1 at 8pm, and Sun, 2/1 at 2pm