National Negro Opera Company
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The National Negro Opera Company (1941–1962) was the first African-American opera company in the United States.
Organized in Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania under the direction of Mary Cardwell Dawson, the company was resident in a Queen Anne-style house at 7101 Apple Street in the city's Homewood neighborhood.
Dawson launched NNOC in 1941 with a performance at Pittsburgh's Syria Mosque. The star was Julia Rhea, and other members included Minto Cato, Carol Brice, Robert McFerrin, and Lillian Evanti. During its 21-year run NNOC also mounted productions in Washington D.C., New York City, and Chicago.
The company disbanded in 1962 upon Dawson's death.
[edit] References
- Altman, Susan (1997). Encyclopedia African-American Heritage. New York: Facts on File. ISBN 0-8160-3289-0.
- Diana Nelson Jones (2007). Pittsburgh Post-Gazette: Preservationists aim to save Pittsburgh landmark. Retrieved May 3, 2007.
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