X The Life and Times of Malcolm X is the Feb. 3, 2024, Met Opera Saturday Matinee Broadcast

Summary: Anthony Davis's X: The Life and Times of Malcolm X airs Feb. 3, 2024, as ninth of the 2023-2024 season's 21 Saturday matinee opera broadcasts.

Kazem Abdullah conducts all eight performances of the Metropolitan Opera premiere of Anthony Davis's new production of X: The Life and Times of Malcolm X; photo by Marty Sohl / Met Opera: The Metropolitan Opera, via Facebook Oct. 27, 2023

Anthony Davis's X: The Life and Times of Malcolm X is the Feb. 3, 2024, Met Opera Saturday broadcast, airing at 1:00 p.m. Eastern Time as the ninth of the 2023-2024 season's lineup of 21 Saturday matinee radio broadcasts.

X: The Life and Times of Malcolm X by American composer and pianist Anthony Davis (born February 20, 1951) received eight performances in the 2023-2024 season. The opera's Metropolitan Opera premiere took place Friday, Nov. 3, 2023, at 7:00 p.m. Eastern Time. The second through eighth, closing performances were held Tuesday, Nov. 7, at 7:30 p.m.; Saturday, Nov. 11, at 8:00 p.m.; Tuesday, Nov. 14, at 7:30 p.m.; Saturday matinee, Nov. 18, at 1:00 p.m.; Friday, Nov. 24, at 8:00 p.m.; Tuesday, Nov. 28, at 7:30 p.m.; and Saturday, Dec. 2, at 8:00 p.m. The Feb. 3, 2024, Saturday matinee radio broadcast airs the opera's fifth performance, which took place Saturday, Nov. 18.

Kazem Abdullah (born July 4, 1979) conducted all eight performances. The American conductor had made his Met Opera debut Wednesday, Jan. 28, 2009, in the opera company's 92nd performance of Orfeo ed Euridice by German classical composer Christoph von Gluck (July 2, 1714-Nov. 15, 1787). His conductorship adds a third opera to his Met Opera portfolio.

Will Liverman (born May 10, 1988) appeared in all eight performances in the title role of assassinated American civil rights leader Malcolm X (born Malcolm Little; May 19, 1925-Feb. 21, 1965). The American operatic baritone had made his Met Opera debut Friday, Oct. 19, 2018, as Malcom Fleet in the Metropolitan Opera premiere of Marnie by American contemporary classical music composer Nico Asher Muhly (born Aug. 26, 1981). His appearances in X: The Life and Times of Malcolm X added a fifth opera to his Met Opera portfolio.

Leah Hawkins appeared in all eight performances in two roles as Louise Little, Malcolm X's mother, and as Betty, Malcolm X's wife. The American soprano had made her Met Opera debut Friday, Nov. 23, 2018, as an Alms Collector in the opera company's 75th performance of Suor Angelica by Italian opera composer Giacomo Puccini (Dec. 22, 1858-Nov. 29, 1924). Her appearances as Louise/Betty added a sixth opera to her Met Opera portfolio.

Raehann Bryce-Davis (born May 17, 1986) appeared in all eight performances as Ella, Malcolm X's older half-sister. The American mezzo-soprano had made her Met Opera debut Monday, May 30, 2022, as Baba the Turk in the opera company's 27th performance of The Rake's Progress by Russian-born composer, conductor and pianist Igor Stravinsky (June 17, 1882-April 6, 1971). Her appearances as Ella added a second opera to her Met Opera portfolio.

Victor Ryan Robertson appeared in all eight performances in two roles as Elijah Muhammad, leader of the Nation of Islam, and as Street, Malcolm X's metaphysical guide to nightlife hustling in Boston. The American tenor had made his Met Opera debut Thursday, Dec. 14, 2017, as Raoul de St. Brioche in the opera company's 41st performance of The Merry Widow by Austro-Hungarian composer Franz Lehár (April 30, 1870-Oct. 24, 1948). His appearances in X: The Life and Times of Malcolm X added a second opera to his Met Opera portfolio.

Michael Sumuel appeared in all performances as Reginald, Malcolm X's brother. The American bass-baritone had made his Met Opera debut Friday, Dec. 17, 2021, as the King in the opera company's ninth performance of Cendrillon by French Romantic Era composer Jules Massenet (May 12, 1842-Aug. 13, 1912).

Robert O'Hara (born 1970) directed the 2023-2024 season's Metropolitan Opera premiere of X: The Life and Times of Malcolm X. The opera's premiere marked the American director and playwright's Met Opera debut.

Robert O'Hara's production team comprised Clint Ramos, set designer; Dede Ayite, costume designer; Alex Jainchill, lighting designer; Yee Eun Nam, projection designer; Mia Neal, wig designer; and Rickey Tripp, choreographer. The production team's designers and choreographer all made their Met Opera debuts in the opera's Metropolitan Opera premiere on Friday, Nov. 3, 2023.

The 2023-2024 season's 10th Saturday matinee broadcast is themed for Wednesday, Feb. 14, Valentine's Day. The program, "Valentines From the Met: Great Love Duets," features "Romantic moments in memorable performances from the Met's radio archives." The valentine broadcast airs Feb. 10 at 1:00 p.m.

Verdi's Un Ballo in Maschera airs at 1:00 p.m. on the following Saturday, Feb. 17, as the 2023-2024 season's 11th Saturday matinee broadcast. The Feb. 17 broadcast replays a performance from autumn 2023.

"X: The Life and Times of Malcolm X" was composed by Anthony Davis (born Feb. 20, 1951), with the libretto written by his cousin, Thulani (Barbara Neal Davis; born July 19, 1949) and based upon the story by Anthony's brother, Christopher: (left to right) Anthony, Christopher and Thulani: The Metropolitan Opera, via Facebook Nov. 2, 2023

Acknowledgment

My special thanks to talented artists and photographers/concerned organizations who make their fine images available on the internet.

Image credits:

Kazem Abdullah conducts all eight performances of the Metropolitan Opera premiere of Anthony Davis's new production of X: The Life and Times of Malcolm X; photo by Marty Sohl / Met Opera: The Metropolitan Opera, via Facebook Oct. 27, 2023, @ https://www.facebook.com/MetOpera/posts/pfbid02ESahTNFrbqXRNKhpUBAmUfcrypXA4VGkm4L625NVk5zm3e9qfSvwMkvNtN3SNEoFl

"X: The Life and Times of Malcolm X" was composed by Anthony Davis (born Feb. 20, 1951), with the libretto written by his cousin, Thulani (Barbara Neal Davis; born July 19, 1949) and based upon the story by Anthony's brother, Christopher: (left to right) Anthony, Christopher and Thulani: The Metropolitan Opera, via Facebook Nov. 2, 2023, @ https://www.facebook.com/MetOpera/posts/pfbid037A3eUneZUHxRigBevvKstShuAjt6wfjMBxiWVpp2GCG64P31z8oZtoSMpNBcpVhEll

For further information:

"Debut: Kazem Abdullah." MetOpera Database > [Met Performance] CID: 352831 Orfeo ed Euridice Metropolitan Opera House, Wed, January 28, 2009 Broadcast. Debut: Kazem Abdullah. Orfeo ed Euridice (92) Christoph Willibald Gluck / Ranieri de' Calzabigi.
Available @ https://archives.metopera.org/MetOperaSearch/record.jsp?dockey=0384187

"Debut: Kazem Abdullah." MetOpera Database > [Met Performance] CID: 352831 Orfeo ed Euridice {92} Metropolitan Opera House: 01/28/2009.
Available @ http://archives.metoperafamily.org/archives/scripts/cgiip.exe/WService=BibSpeed/fullcit.w?xCID=352831

"Debut : Michael Sumuel, Michael Anchel, Jonah Hoskins." MetOpera Database > [Met Performance] CID: 357532 Cendrillon Metropolitan Opera House, Fri, December 17, 2021. Debut: Michael Sumuel, Michael Anchel, Jonah Hoskins. Cendrillon (9) Jules Massenet / Henri Cain.
Available @ https://archives.metopera.org/MetOperaSearch/record.jsp?dockey=0386899

"Debut: Raehann Bryce-Davis." MetOpera Database > [Met Performance] CID: 357662 The Rake's Progress Metropolitan Opera House, Mon, May 30, 2022 Broadcast. Debut: Raehann Bryce-Davis. The Rake's Progress (27) Igor Stravinsky / Chester Kallmann/W.H. Auden.
Available @ https://archives.metopera.org/MetOperaSearch/record.jsp?dockey=0387047

"Debut: Robert Spanno, Will Liverman, Marie Te Hapuku, Stacey Tappan, Gabriel Gurevich, Peabody Southwell, Arianne Phillips, Lynee Page." MetOpera Database > [Met Performance] CID: 357019 United States Premiere, New Production Marnie Metropolitan Opera House, Fri, October 19, 2018 Broadcast. Debut: Robert Spanno, Will Liverman, Marie Te Hapuku, Stacey Tappan, Gabriel Gurevich, Peabody Southwell, Arianne Phillips, Lynee Page. Marnie (1) Nico Muhly / Nicholas Wright.
Available @ https://archives.metopera.org/MetOperaSearch/record.jsp?dockey=0386480

"Debut: Ward Stare, Victor Ryan Robertson, Elizabeth Brooks, Amanda Kloots, Anne Horak." MetOpera Database > [Met Performance] CID: 356822 The Merry Widow Metropolitan Opera House, Thu, December 14, 2017 Broadcast. Debut: Ward Stare, Victor Ryan Robertson, Elizabeth Brooks, Amanda Kloots, Anne Horak. In English. The Merry Widow (41) Franz Lehár / Viktor Léon/Leo Stein.
Available @ https://archives.metopera.org/MetOperaSearch/record.jsp?dockey=0386300

"Debuts: Brian Michael Moore, YI Li, Jessica Faselt, Sharon Azrieli, Leah Hawkins, Kristina Mkhitaryan." MetOpera Database > [Met Performance] CID: 357063 Il Trittico {75} Il Tabarro {81} Suor Angelica {75} Gianni Schicchi {139} Metropolitan Opera House: 11/23/2018.
Available @ http://archives.metoperafamily.org/archives/scripts/cgiip.exe/WService=BibSpeed/fullcit.w?xCID=357063

"Debuts: Matthew Anchel, Jonah Hoskins, Michael Sumuel." MetOpera Database > [Met Performance] CID: 357532 Cendrillon {9} Metropolitan Opera House: 12/17/2021. (Debuts: Matthew Anchel, Jonah Hoskins, Michael Sumuel Broadcast/Streamed). December 17, 2021. Abridged version in English.
Available @ http://archives.metoperafamily.org/archives/scripts/cgiip.exe/WService=BibSpeed/fullcit.w?xCID=357532

“Debuts: Robert Spano, Marie Te Hapuku, Stacey Tappan, Peabody Southwell, Gabriel Gurevich, Adrienne Phillips, Lynne Page, Will Liverman.” MetOpera Database > [Met Performance] CID: 357028 Marnie {1} Metropolitan Opera House: 10/19/2018.
Available @ http://archives.metoperafamily.org/archives/scripts/cgiip.exe/WService=BibSpeed/fullcit.w?xCID=357038

Marriner, Derdriu. "Met Opera Calendars 2023-2024 Season Operas Sep. 26 Through June 8." Earth and Space News. Monday, Sep. 18, 2023.
Available @ https://earth-and-space-news.blogspot.com/2023/09/met-opera-calendars-2023-2024-season.html

Marriner, Derdriu. "Met Opera Newly Stages Carmen and La Forza del Destino in 2023-2024." Earth and Space News. Monday, Sep. 11, 2023.
Available @ https://earth-and-space-news.blogspot.com/2023/09/met-opera-newly-stages-carmen-and-la.html

Marriner, Derdriu. "The Metropolitan Opera Performs 18 Operas in the 2023-2024 Season." Earth and Space News. Monday, Aug. 21, 2023.
Available @ https://earth-and-space-news.blogspot.com/2023/08/the-metropolitan-opera-performs-18.html

Marriner, Derdriu. "Metropolitan Opera Revives 12 Productions in 2023-2024 Season." Earth and Space News. Monday, Aug. 28, 2023.
Available @ https://earth-and-space-news.blogspot.com/2023/08/metropolitan-opera-revives-12.html

Marriner, Derdriu. "Saturday Matinee Broadcasts Include Six Special Programs in 2023-2024." Earth and Space News. Monday, Nov. 27, 2023.
Available @ https://earth-and-space-news.blogspot.com/2023/11/saturday-matinee-broadcasts-include-six.html

The Metropolitan Opera. "Maestro Kazem Abdullah has been rehearsing the MET Orchestra Musicians ahead of the Met premiere Anthony Davis and librettist Thulani Davis’s X: The Life and Times of Malcolm X. Do you have your tickets yet? Baritone Will Liverman leads an exceptional cast of breakout artists and young Met stars in Robert O’Hara’s new production. On stage November 3–December 2. In cinemas November 18. Book your tickets: bit.ly/3JCSWGp Find your cinema: bit.ly/3SeUV8X Photos by Marty Sohl / Met Opera." Facebook. Oct. 27, 2023.
Available via Facebook @ https://www.facebook.com/MetOpera/posts/pfbid02ESahTNFrbqXRNKhpUBAmUfcrypXA4VGkm4L625NVk5zm3e9qfSvwMkvNtN3SNEoFl

The Metropolitan Opera. "Meet the family that turned Malcolm X’s life into an opera. The New York Times recently sat down with Anthony, Christopher, and Thulani Davis to talk about their collaboration on X: The Life and Times of Malcolm X. Read the full story: bit.ly/3sfOWWC On stage November 3–December 2. In cinemas November 18. Book your tickets: bit.ly/3JCSWGp Find your cinema: bit.ly/3SeUV8X." Facebook. Nov. 2, 2023.
Available via Facebook @ https://www.facebook.com/MetOpera/posts/pfbid037A3eUneZUHxRigBevvKstShuAjt6wfjMBxiWVpp2GCG64P31z8oZtoSMpNBcpVhEl

The Metropolitan Opera. "The Metropolitan Opera announces its 2023–24 season, with the most new works in the company’s modern history." The Metropolitan Opera > About > Press Releases. Feb. 22, 2023.
Available @ https://www.metopera.org/about/press-releases/the-metropolitan-opera-announces-its-202324-season-with-the-most-new-works-in-the-companys-modern-history/

"Metropolitan Opera Premiere: X: The Life and Times of Malcolm X." MetOpera Database > [Met Performance] CID: 387331 Metropolitan Opera Premiere X: The Life and Times of Malcolm X Metropolitan Opera House, Fri, November 3, 2023 Broadcast. Debut: Tracy Cox, Robert O’Hara, Clint Ramos, Dede Ayite, Alex Jainchill, Yee Eun Nam, Mia Neal, Rickey Tripp, Mia Neal, Rickey Tripp. In English. X: The Life and Times of Malcolm X (1) Anthony Davis / Thulani Davis.
Available @ https://archives.metopera.org/MetOperaSearch/record.jsp?dockey=0387331