Charlie Parker’s “YARDBIRD” To Have New York Premiere At The Apollo Theater April 1st & 3rd

“YARDBIRD”, Charlie Parker’s last composition written shortly before his death, will be the first opera ever to be performed at the Apollo Theater and the first time Opera Philadelphia has performed in New York City. Lawrence Brownlee stars as the legendary saxophonist—a role crafted around the effortless, improvisational style that makes him one of music’s most sought after tenors. Soprano Angela Brown mesmerizes as his mother, Addie Parker, and baritone Will Liverman portrays jazz icon Dizzy Gillespie. Set in the famed NYC jazz club Birdland, the opera is as uncompromising in its artistic vision as the “Yardbird” himself.

Photo is of Charlie Parker at Birdland in the 1940s.