Lawrence Brownlee in concert at Ford Recital Hall
If you go
Who: Lawrence Brownlee and Damien Sneed
Where: Ford Family Recital Hall, 260 W. Federal St., Youngstown
When: 6 p.m. April 19
Tickets: 330-744-0264
Staff report
YOUNGSTOWN
Lawrence Brownlee will return to his hometown for an April 19 concert at Ford Family Recital Hall.
The opera star who grew up on the East Side will perform “Spiritual Sketches,” a program of spirituals from his recent album.
Brownlee will be accompanied by pianist Damien Sneed. The duo recorded the album of the same name last year, and it has been met with critical acclaim. Brownlee has been performing the songs in special nonopera concerts as part of his tour schedule.
The concert starts at 6 p.m. Tickets are $40 for general admission seats, with a VIP package available for $60 that includes a post-show reception with Brownlee. The concert is being presented by the Youngstown chapters of Delta Sigma Theta Sorority and Kappa Alpha Psi Fraternity.
“Spiritual Sketches” was released as part of the Lincoln Center’s American Songbook Series. Its songs are a re-imagining of — and a love letter to — the musical tradition in which Brownlee was raised.
Brownlee is the most in- demand American tenor in the world in the bel canto repertoire. His schedule routinely takes him across the globe and to every major opera hall.
He last appeared in Youngstown in November 2012 in Opera Western Reserve’s production of “The Barber of Seville” at Stambaugh Auditorium.
In February, he performed in concert at E.J. Thomas Hall in Akron.
Brownlee will be back in the region a third time in May to sing the role of Tonio in Pittsburgh Opera’s production of Donizetti’s “The Daughter of the Regiment.” Go to Pittsburghopera.com for times and tickets.
In a February interview with The Vindicator, Brownlee explained his passion for the spirituals.
“As an African-American, it is important to continue the great legacy of negro spirituals,” he said.
“These are songs I grew up with because church and religion are a big part of who I am. My good friend and composer Damien Sneed picked and arranged these pieces for me, and they have been received very well. We released them last year, and there is quite a demand for us to record more.”