The Seattle Opera Guild’s event featuring the opera X: The Life and Times of Malcolm X was far more than a traditional preview. It was a whole-hearted celebration of Black art and culture.

Held at the Columbia Tower Club and starting right as the sunset over downtown Seattle and the mountains shone the last glow of winter light (hence the event’s name: Sunset Song), Guild members and friends were treated to a full evening of art, music, a fascinating lecture on this new-to-Seattle opera, and plenty of delicious food and drink.

Those attending the party could inspect paintings by local Black artists Myron Curry and George Jennings, who stood by their art to chat with those interested in learning more about the art and the artists.

A musical program featuring the work of Black composers from the late nineteenth to the twenty-first century was given by the talented singer (and former winner of the Guild’s Singer Development Awards) Ibidunni Ojikutu. Ibi, as she’s known to her friends and fans, chose a program featuring all Black composers after a powerful “O patria mia” from Aida to open the program. Even that was in honor of the magnificent Black opera star Leontyne Price, one of the most admired Aidas of her time. Ibi sang a selection of art songs by Florence Price, Hale Smith and Robert Morris, and ended with two of Undine Moore Smith’s powerful and moving songs inflected by traditional spirituals.

Alex Minami, Associate Director of Community Engagement at Seattle Opera, provided a lecture that was sweeping in its coverage of all the elements that helped those in attendance better understand Malcolm X’s biography, learn about those who created the opera, and become a bit familiar with the music. As someone who had never heard this opera and was a bit worried about how well I’d be able to grasp it when I attended the performance, I can vouch for the amazing job Alex did in helping prepare me to see and hear the opera on stage.

This event was certainly another reason to be grateful for the Seattle Opera Guild and its mission to promote and share our love for opera! And now we can look forward to a preview of Barber of Seville on Saturday, April 27. Save that date!