African Queens: Dave Ragland (b. 1978), Precatio; Carlos Simon (b.1986), Behold, The Queen; Dave Ragland, The Queen of Sheba; Jessie Nzinga Montgomery (b.1981), The Song of Nzingah; Fred Onovwerosuoke (b.1960), Luwah (Bitter Tears); Shawn Okpebholo (b.1981), A Letter From Queen Ufua, Fred Onovwerosuoke, Duniya (Mystic Universe); Jasmine Arielle Barnes (b.1991), I Am Not Your God; Will Liverman (b.1988), A Prayer; Joel Thompson (b.1988), Queen Nanny’s Lullabye; Damien Geter (1980), Amanirenas. Karen Slack, soprano–John R. Stratton Visitor in Music, and Kevin Miller, piano; Walter Hall, Toronto, March 20, 2025.
Soprano Karen Slack and pianist Kevin Miller’s recital: African Queen, at the Walter Hall was a true exultation and celebration of Black womanhood and leadership. Focusing on the history and legacy of seven African queen figures, Slack curated the program exclusively from young living composers, including eight commissions written for her — an astounding feat to organize, and to internalize.
Wielding a deep, heartfelt conviction for this program, Slack was an amazing storyteller, with excellent partnership from pianist Kevin Miller.
Starting from near darkness, Miller set the mood from the piano as Slack simply began to speak- “…of homage to unlocking of stories, of longing to tell new stories.” Her illustrations of the queens throughout the program as “mother of magic and truth,” full of courage and vulnerable love, were carefully grouped, taking the pin-drop quiet audience into the lives of these queens through vibrant new works with much variety in style and harmonic language, in that distinctive American songbook style.
Opening the program with the ancient text of Solomon: Nigra sum, et formosa (“I am Black and beautiful”), Slack started the evening with a quiet invocation within Miller’s sensitive soundscape, before accelerating with gusto, as she called for Aminata, to “lead your women to peaceful war”. Slack moved seamlessly from speech to singing, riding high on Miller’s fast, energetic groove, then sinking low into the depth of one’s heart, along with the beautiful resonance and calmness from the piano. Her impressive vocal range — both high and low — was full of quicksilver colour changes, with ease and generosity.
At the height of her power, Slack’s voice, with impeccable diction, took us from song to another. Such superb musicianship takes us away from observing — often obsessing — about the mechanics of the singing, of transforming from one song through to another. As we live in a society where dissociation of things, and consumption in small random chunks have become the norm, Slack’s delivery of these stories, the weaving together of so many emotions, from joy to wrath, and the indescribable messiness of life, is truly special.
African Queens
All works were beautifully crafted, with three outstanding works in particular. The first of the three, Jessie Montgomery’s The Song of Nzingha, where Queen Nzingha’s struggle between the two gods — of Christianity, and the traditional Kongolese beliefs — burned from the sparse ember speckle through a Messiaen-esque growth, where Slack’s finely tuned pacing through this inhumanely long build up brought a truly dramatic and climactic end.
A Letter From Queen Ufua, by Shawn Okpebholo, closing the first half, was quite special. Starting from the ancient blessing from the queen to her progenies with a timeless starry piano soundscape, the magic took us to sphere of joy, alive with Miller’s rhythmic and soaring piano playing, carrying Slack’s incredible word painting with all things between the uncertainty of life and the conviction that we seek:
You are beauty
Your are life and
We are light
(by poet Tsitsi Ella Jaji)
The closing work, Amanirenas by Damien Geter, was substantial in its length and dramatic depth. Despite the overall demand of the program, both Slack and Miller had plenty of fire left in them; once again, seamlessly fusing speaking narrative and full-out operatic singing, Slack’s delivery of powerful high notes and incredibly long phrases kept the evening a high-octane affair right to the end.
Final Thoughts
Slack sang a compelling, technically and musically superb recital this evening, and Miller’s fantastic musicianship and partnership filled this evening with beauty and grace. However, the most exceptional point is Slack’s intelligence, passion and leadership that fueled her to the conception and execution of such an enormous project.
Her creation of the African Queens, and her embodiment of the stories — as if she’s just pulling out these legends from her heart as a natural flow from the dreams of generations long ago — to us, in 21st century Toronto, through new living voices, is exceptional.
It is very exciting to see where she might lead us through her lifetime, and beyond.
Are you looking to promote an event? Have a news tip? Need to know the best events happening this weekend? Send us a note.
#LUDWIGVAN
Get the daily arts news straight to your inbox.
Sign up for the Ludwig Van Toronto e-Blast! — local classical music and opera news straight to your inbox HERE.
- CRITIC’S PICKS | Classical Music Events You Absolutely Need To See This Week: April 21 – 27 - April 21, 2025
- CRITIC’S PICKS | Classical Music Events You Absolutely Need To See This Week: April 14 – 20 - April 14, 2025
- CRITIC’S PICKS | Classical Music Events You Absolutely Need To See This Week: April 7 – 13 - April 7, 2025
