Music from the Underground Railroad Kathleen Battle, Joel Martin, & the Oakwood Aeolians

If you’re going to take a step back in time and explore the deep, meaningful musical traditions of enslaved Africans in America, there are no better guides than superstar soprano Kathleen Battle and jazz pianist Joel Martin For this remarkable evening, Battle will take a break from the European vocal tradition she commands so brilliantly to lend her pure soprano voice to the interpretation of soul-stirring Negro spirituals. Along with Joel Martin and the Oakwood Aeolians Choir from Huntsville Alabama, Battle will awe and inspire the audience with favorite spirituals including “Go Down, Moses” and “Swing Low, Sweet Chariot.” She will blend her flawless voice with those of the skilled choir on such numbers as “Fix Me, Jesus” and “Balm in Gilead.” And she will treat the audience to the purity of her vocals on an a cappella rendering of “Were You There?” You will experience her voice in all its glory, and explore the music that was birthed by the suffering and the hope of salvation of people longing for freedom. A fixture on the stages of the world’s leading opera houses, this is the first time the five-time Grammy-winning soprano will perform in Birmingham. Do not miss this amazing opportunity to embark on this moving musical journey led by a voice The Washington Postcalled “… without qualification, one of the very few most beautiful in the world.”