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Paris Opera Explores Baker's Complex History
8 Sep
Summary
- Tyshawn Sorey's new piece deconstructs simplistic views of Josephine Baker.
- Josephine Baker is honored in France for activism and WWII Resistance work.
- The piece, 'Perle Noire,' is an impressionistic and experimental reflection on Baker.
Tyshawn Sorey's new composition, "Perle Noire: Meditations for Joséphine," is set to premiere at the Paris Opera's Palais Garnier, running through September 19. The work aims to move beyond superficial interpretations of Josephine Baker's life.
In France, Baker is recognized not only as a Jazz Age icon but also for her significant role in the Resistance during World War II and her lifelong antiracist activism. Her induction into the Panthéon in 2021 underscored her status as a French national hero.
Collaborating with soprano Julia Bullock and director Peter Sellars, Sorey's piece, which debuted in 2016 as "Josephine Baker: A Portrait," offers an impressionistic and experimental approach. It seeks to deconstruct essentialized views of Baker, focusing on an emotional depth that resonates with her multifaceted life.
The performance heads to London's Barbican on October 20, continuing its exploration of Baker's enduring and complex legacy.
