Cynthia Clarey had a 35-year profession as a global operatic soprano and mezzo soprano. She is well-known for singing the lead function in Georges Bizet’s Carmen. In her globe-trotting profession, Clarey has carried out as Carmen with opera firms in Madrid, Toronto, Houston, Paris, Barcelona, Tokyo, Berlin and different cities. Clarey’s profession launched after she accomplished her research at Howard College in Washington, D.C., and at The Juilliard College in New York.
Clarey advised the RoundTable, “I was quite busy, and then menopause hit. My vocal range dropped by an octave, and I could no longer perform my repertoire.”
Confronted with a significant surprising profession change, Clarey determined to relocate. She had been supplied a place as a vocal teacher at Roosevelt College in Chicago and moved in 2008. Clarey rapidly linked with skilled singers within the Chicago space. A type of professionals was Beckie Menzie, a widely known Chicago cabaret vocalist and pianist. Menzie identified that Clarey’s new, deep contralto voice is completely suited to cabaret singing. After attending a number of open mics, Clarey started a brand new chapter of her inventive journey as a cabaret singer.
Clarey was one of many few Black singers in opera. She can be one of many few Black cabaret singers. She has written and carried out a one-person present that displays her historical past as a trailblazer and her views on the present social and political setting. The present, Bridge Over Muddied Waters, will likely be carried out as a part of Chicago Cabaret Week on the Second Church of Christ Scientist on Could 11.
First Chicago Cabaret Week occasion to be held outdoors Chicago
In 2022, Steven Rogers purchased the Second Church of Christ, Scientist property to proper a historic mistaken. In 2023, he determined to transform the church’s 235-seat auditorium at 2715 Hurd Ave. into a music and humanities venue that he would provide rent-free to Black musicians and artists. The venue has hosted a number of profitable occasions, together with concert events by jazz guitarist Donovan Mixon and the Fisk College Choir. Rogers has additionally offered the venue to Black Ladies of Evanston and different organizations.
Rogers heard about Chicago Cabaret Week and contacted Claudia Hommel. She is the manager director of Working in Live performance, a nonprofit performing arts incubator that runs Chicago Cabaret Week. Rogers supplied Second Church of Christ, Scientist as a venue for Black cabaret artists who want a spot to carry out throughout the week (Could 10-19). His provide was accepted, and Cynthia Clarey was chosen because the performer.
Bridge Over Muddied Waters
Clarey started writing Bridge Over Muddied Waters about seven years in the past in response to the actions of President Trump and his supporters. She stated, “I wanted to say something about the political environment. Our country has been muddied by hate, fear and division. I said to a friend ‘How do we build a bridge over this?’ That’s where the title of the show came from.”
Clarey assumed that the present wouldn’t be in demand after Donald Trump misplaced the 2020 election, however the setting that spawned Bridge Over Muddied Waters has continued and the present continues to be related. Along with its deal with present occasions, the present displays her life expertise as a Black performer on the planet of opera, which is dominated by white musicians.
Clarey has included a broad vary of music in this system, together with spirituals, parodies and songs by Marvin Gaye, Sam Cooke and Donny Hathaway. She has included a few of her personal items, together with an authentic rap. Bridge Over Muddied Waters acquired the Chicago Cabaret Performers Advocacy Award attributable to its clever tune choice and Clarey’s private tales. She will likely be supported by Beckie Menzie on piano and Irwin Berkowitz on drums.
Clarey hopes that this present will assist folks come collectively. She stated, “We need more contact with people that don’t look like us.”
Bridge Over Muddied Waters, Cynthia Clarey, 7 p.m. on Could 11 at Second Church of Christ, Scientist, 2715 Hurd Ave.
“Well bless their hearts.”
