Opera chorus to sing 'Porgy' numbers
By ERNIE SUGGS
The Atlanta Journal-Constitution
Published on: 12/08/05
With a house full of displaced family members from New Orleans, all stressed out about the possibility of losing everything because of Hurricane Katrina, Matielyn J. Williams sought solace in "Summertime."
Williams spent the fall rehearsing for and appearing in the chorus of the Atlanta Opera's production of Gershwin's 1935 classic, "Porgy and Bess," which had a two-day run in November at the Boisfeuillet Jones Atlanta Civic Center.
"I loved going to rehearsal. The only thing I really looked forward to was being around them and that energy," Williams said. "I didn't have anything else to look forward to. The music was the best part of the day."
For all that the music gave Williams at the time, this weekend it will give her even more. About a dozen members of the "Porgy and Bess" chorus, in conjunction with the Spelman College Department of Music, will put on "A Holiday Concert for Victims of Hurricane Katrina" this weekend at Sisters Chapel.
The two shows, Saturday and Sunday, will raise money for Williams and fellow opera member Tyrone Chambers and their relatives, all of whom were affected by Hurricane Katrina.
"We are reaching out to the people in our community," said Minka Wiltz, one of the organizers of the event and a member of the Atlanta Opera. "We are doing it so that we can bring more awareness to this issue."
Wiltz said the concerts would include solos and duets from "Porgy and Bess," including two renditions of the classic "Summertime."
Opera, jazz, gospel and holiday music also will be performed.
"It is very kind of them to give their time and talents to me, Tyrone and our families," Williams said.
A native of New Orleans, Williams has lived in Atlanta for 10 years and has been a member of the Atlanta Opera for three seasons. Except for her mother and brother, all the other members of her family remained in New Orleans, living in the 9th Ward.
When Hurricane Katrina struck, five family members — including her 90-year-old grandmother and a disabled aunt — moved into the Duluth home she shared with her mother.
"It was so sudden and took us all by surprise," said Williams, adding that the family has been depending on government assistance. "But the more pressing issue was the operational cost of going from a house of two to a house of seven overnight. We didn't expect that, but it worked out."
The concerts will be at 2 p.m. Saturday and 3 p.m. Sunday at Sisters Chapel on the Spelman College campus. Suggested donation is $10. For more information, call 404- 270-5501.
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Friday, December 9th 2005 at 10:03AM
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