Cincinnati Opera Launches $6M Black Opera Project with 'Lalovavi'

Cincinnati Opera has launched the Black Opera Project, a $6 million initiative to produce three new operas over three seasons, each telling Black American stories of resilience and joy. The project is the first of its kind in the opera world, created entirely by Black writers and composers. The inaugural work, 'Lalovavi,' premiered as part of this initiative. The project aims to increase opportunities for cast members and artistic teams of color, addressing long-standing diversity gaps in opera. The funding was supported by a $1.3 million gift announced in 2022.