BY HILLARY VIDERS
SPECIAL TO NORTHERN VALLEY PRESS
ENGLEWOOD, N.J.—On Feb. 23, the Englewood Public Library hosted the Allegro Singers, featuring Grammy Award-nominated opera star Monique McDonald.
The performance, honoring Black History Month, was titled “500 Years of African-American History in Song.”
The program was free to the public, and by 7 p.m., dozens of music lovers had poured into the library’s main level.
For the next 90 minutes, McDonald, a world-renowned soprano, was accompanied by baritone Jonathan Green, Inna Leytush on piano, and narrator Melissa Harvey.
The group transfixed the audience with a musical journey through 500 years of African-American history, with selections of arias and duets from famous operas such as “La Forza del Destino” and “Aida” by Verdi, and Rossini’s “The Barber of Seville.”
The concert also included popular music, such as “Summer Time” from George Gershwin’s “Porgy and Bess”; “Can’t Help Lovin’ Dat Man” from Jerome Kern’s “Show Boat”; the beloved classic “Somewhere over the Rainbow” from “The Wizard of Oz”; as well as traditional spirituals and more.
McDonald’s dynamic stage presence and stunning vocal gifts have established her as one of the most beloved sopranos of our time. Touring throughout the world, her powerful voice resounds without the use of a microphone, even in the largest venues.
“I’ve trained myself to sing over a 100 piece orchestra!” she said.
McDonald’s moving performances have captivated audiences and critics alike, drawing praise from numerous publications such as The New York Times, The LA Times, and Opera News.
She is known as one of the prominent Verdi Sopranos of her generation. On the concert platform, she has appeared as soloist at Carnegie Hall, The Kennedy Center, Library of Congress, and numerous additional prestigious venues.
Here in the Northern Valley area, McDonald enjoys singing with the Allegro Singers at libraries and senior centers.
“I appreciate the mission of this organization, which is to bring music, especially classical music, to places where people don’t normally get to hear it. Many people cannot afford expensive tickets to the Metropolitan Opera or Broadway shows.”
Both McDonald and Green come from musical families and started singing as toddlers.
“I’ve been singing since I could talk!” McDonald admitted. “My mother, Betti, a professional singer, was my voice teacher all my life, until she passed away three years ago. Growing up in Miami, my grandfather was a preacher and my grandmother played the piano, so I would sing hymns.”
Green relates that his grandmother started to bring him to church when he was 2 years old, where he sang along with the congregation. When he was 8 years old, Green joined the Chicago Children’s Choir.
“I was in the choir for 10 years and toured all over the world, including South Africa!”
McDonald thoroughly enjoyed entertaining the Englewood residents.
“Regardless of the size of the venue, my mindset is to bring joy and love to the people that I’m singing for. That’s true whether I’m singing for one person or thousands of people,” she said.
Green agrees that regardless of the venue, “Whenever I sing I feel like I have the opportunity to change someone’s life. Music has the ability to make someone happy, to make someone cry.”
There have, indeed, been performances by these virtuosos that elicited tears.
McDonald recalls a moving experience that took place in Durham, N.C.
“When I was first starting out professionally, I was singing for tips in the Macaroni Grill Restaurant in Durham. There was a large party, and as I went from table to table singing ‘Summertime’ a waitress came over to me and said, ‘Table 10 wants you. Please come.’ I went over to that table and everyone was crying. The mother at that table told me that her son was deaf and that he was tested at the Duke Medical Center to see if he could get a cochlear implant. They had been told, ‘No, it is hopeless, because the boy doesn’t meet the criteria.’ But that night, her son was able to hear me sing, and it encouraged the family to go back and get him fitted for an [outside] implant.”
Since that event, there have been many more meaningful rewards throughout McDonald’s career.
Speaking to this Northern Valley Press journalist before the concert at the Englewood Library began, McDonald said, “We are proud to dedicate tonight’s performance to Black History month. Black history is American history, and music is one of the most effective ways to tell it. Singing to each other was a vital way for our black ancestry to endure their hardships and injustices.”
At the conclusion of the concert, the Allegro Singers received multiple standing ovations. One guest, Maren Friedman, exclaimed, “Fantastic, just fantastic!”
Elizabeth Kessler added, “Absolutely beautiful voices!”
This concert was organized by the Englewood Library’s Programming Director David Schwalbe, who has worked at the library for the last 27 years. Schwalbe works year-round to bring outstanding performers, speakers and special events to the library.
For questions and information about upcoming programs and events at the Englewood Public Library, go to the library website: www.englewoodlibrary.org or email programming@englewood.bccls.org.