ROME (AP) — Soprano Angel Blue says she won’t perform in an opera in Italy this month because blackface was used in the staging of a different work this summer on the same stage.
The U.S. singer posted a note on her angeljoyblue Instagram page saying she will be bowing out of “La Traviata” at Verona’s Arena this month because the theater recently mounted another Giuseppe Verdi opera, “Aida,” that had performers in blackface.
She blasted such use of “archaic” theatrical practices as “offensive, humiliating, and outright racist.”
Angel Blue, however, was still listed Saturday on the Arena’s website as singing the role of Violetta in “La Traviata” on July 22 and 30.
The theater said it was hoping that Blue, who is Black, would accept an invitation to meet with Arena officials in a “dialogue” over the issue. The Arena, in a statement Friday, said it had “no reason nor intent whatsoever to offend and disturb anyone’s sensibility.”
For decades, U.S. civil rights organizations for decades have publicly condemned blackface — in which white performers blacken their faces — as dehumanizing Blacks by introducing and reinforcing racial stereotypes.
The Arena this summer has mounted performances of “Aida” based on a 2002 staging of the opera classic by Italian director Franco Zeffirelli who died in 2019. That staging uses blackface.
Literally cultural imperialism.
Good, plenty of talented soprani in Europe.
Who cares?
American
LoL
Slow news day?
The only skin quality that’s superior is thick skin, and it’s not genetic either.
So, what is the blackface for? I ask because a lot of countries have a history of non black people covering their face in black for different reasons. I know nothing about any of this btw. This could just be an Italian culture thing, but if they’re doing it with the purpose of mocking dark skinned individuals, I understand her reaction.
I know this can be difficult to understand for an American, but different countries have different cultural sensitivities, and what it can be offensive in America can be considered totally innocent in Europe
I bet it’s a bullshit article. She’s a freaking *professional opera singer* that is working in Italy, she isn’t stupid. She’s probably having a cultural shock of some kind that has little to do with the things the article implies. Shit, the opera is still hoping she will be singing her part…
But maybe I’m wrong, everything is possible nowadays.
Some american don’t understand that US culture is not the world culture and in other countries a lot of people simply don’t have idea how offensive the blackface could be for afroamerican community, because (SPOILER)
12 comments
1
ROME (AP) — Soprano Angel Blue says she won’t perform in an opera in Italy this month because blackface was used in the staging of a different work this summer on the same stage.
The U.S. singer posted a note on her angeljoyblue Instagram page saying she will be bowing out of “La Traviata” at Verona’s Arena this month because the theater recently mounted another Giuseppe Verdi opera, “Aida,” that had performers in blackface.
She blasted such use of “archaic” theatrical practices as “offensive, humiliating, and outright racist.”
Angel Blue, however, was still listed Saturday on the Arena’s website as singing the role of Violetta in “La Traviata” on July 22 and 30.
The theater said it was hoping that Blue, who is Black, would accept an invitation to meet with Arena officials in a “dialogue” over the issue. The Arena, in a statement Friday, said it had “no reason nor intent whatsoever to offend and disturb anyone’s sensibility.”
For decades, U.S. civil rights organizations for decades have publicly condemned blackface — in which white performers blacken their faces — as dehumanizing Blacks by introducing and reinforcing racial stereotypes.
The Arena this summer has mounted performances of “Aida” based on a 2002 staging of the opera classic by Italian director Franco Zeffirelli who died in 2019. That staging uses blackface.
Literally cultural imperialism.
Good, plenty of talented soprani in Europe.
Who cares?
American
LoL
Slow news day?
The only skin quality that’s superior is thick skin, and it’s not genetic either.
So, what is the blackface for? I ask because a lot of countries have a history of non black people covering their face in black for different reasons. I know nothing about any of this btw. This could just be an Italian culture thing, but if they’re doing it with the purpose of mocking dark skinned individuals, I understand her reaction.
I know this can be difficult to understand for an American, but different countries have different cultural sensitivities, and what it can be offensive in America can be considered totally innocent in Europe
I bet it’s a bullshit article. She’s a freaking *professional opera singer* that is working in Italy, she isn’t stupid. She’s probably having a cultural shock of some kind that has little to do with the things the article implies. Shit, the opera is still hoping she will be singing her part…
But maybe I’m wrong, everything is possible nowadays.
Some american don’t understand that US culture is not the world culture and in other countries a lot of people simply don’t have idea how offensive the blackface could be for afroamerican community, because (SPOILER)
USA is not at the centre of the world
Americans. LMAO.