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[[bold]]History of the National Negro Opera Company[[/bold]] The National Negro Opera Company was organized and founded in Pittsburgh by MARY CARDWELL DAWSON in 1941. It was incorporated in the state of ILLINOIS in 1942 for the expressed purpose of affording for the Negro artist the opportunity for the fullest expression in cultural development. Its specific interest concerns the Negro singer and musician. Its aim is to open wide the door. The repetoire of the National Negro Opera Company currently contains four operas, namely: Aida and La Traviata by Verdi, Faust by Gounod, Carmen by Bizet, The Ordering of Moses by R. Nathaniel Dett arranged in Operatic form by MARY CARDWELL DAWSON. Many distinctive opera performances have been presented: in Pittsburgh at the Syria Mosque; in Chicago at the Civic Opera House; in Chicago's Coliseum; at Madison Square Garden, New York and at the Watergate, Washington, D. C.; the National Guard Armory, Washington, D. C.; in New York at the Golden Gate, Chicago at the 8th Street Theatre and Pittsburgh, Syria Mosque. Mme. Dawson managed and staged and directed the National Negro Opera Company Stars in two spectacular performances in Carnegie Hall, Town Hall, New York, namely: A MUSICAL FESTIVAL and an Afternoon of Stars. Most recent production, "Faust," Griffith Stadium, August 15, 1952. Civic Opera House, "Faust," Chicago, March 29; 178th Street Armory. Chicago, "Aida." Sponsored by National Baptist Convention. 1953 will mark the 7th Annual Music Festival sponsored by the Foundation. The National Negro Opera Company has always worked inter-racial intercultural having engaged members from the best local symphonic orchestras. In Pittsburgh, engaged 42 members of Pittsburgh Symphony, in Chicago, used 44 members of Civic Opera House Symphony, New York 44 pieces of the Philharmonic Orchestra, Washington 44 members of the National Symphony, stage directors and managers. Engaged conductors from the Metropolitan Opera Co., and Studios and Civic Opera Co. In many productions engaged singers and choristers from Chicago Civic Opera Co., and the Metropolitan Opera Company. In other words, the NATIONAL NEGRO OPERA CO. has given big business to members of our race and the other race in every production engaging from 75 to 100 experts at union scale wages as: conductors, stage directors, stage managers, electricians, carpenters, make-up men, symphony players, scenery and costume, props, sound systems, painters, beauticians, etc. The National Negro Opera Company through Mme. Mary Cardwell Dawson's intrepid leadership, has given these Stars their first opportunity in Grand Opera--with the exception of those names carrying a star: Hundreds of singers and dancers throughout the country have been given this same opportunity. WASHINGTON: Lillian Evanti Ruth Logan Chauncey Brown Viola Manzilla William Robinson Horace Wilson Lindley Modaci Mansfield Neal Alma Montgomery Bertha Bragg Adrian Marshall Bernice Hammond Lewis David Leer Mildred Austin Starling Hatchett *Muriel Rahn BALTIMORE: Aaron Powell CHICAGO: *La Julia Rhea *William Franklin Jackson Smith Napoleon Reed Shelby Nichols Thelma Wade Brown La June Fisher Omega King Maurice Cooper Robert McFerrin Dr. A. S. Offord Theodore Charles Stone PITTSBURGH: Hull Brooks Joseph Lipscomb Gertrude Johnson Reginald Burrus Lawrence Peeler, Symphony NEW YORK: Minto Cato Bettye Voorhees Wilson Wodbeck Ann Garnett Lisle Greenidge Edward Boatner Roy O'Loughlin Ralph Herbert, Metropolitan Opera Carl Diton Gertrude Martin, Violinist, Symphony DETROIT: Nellie Dodson Plant
