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Robert McFerrin

Episode 4 of 5

Opera singer Peter Brathwaite invites us in to the trailblazing, luminous voice of baritone Robert McFerrin, in a personal exploration of what makes it - and him - so special.

Opera singer Peter Brathwaite shares his passion for five very different singers whose voices, artistry and lives inspire and move him, and whose stories he needs to tell.

If you're asked to think of a groundbreaking singer called McFerrin, it's likely that Bobby springs to mind. But this undisputed vocal genius is in fact following in the footsteps of his father, Robert McFerrin Snr: the first ever African American man to sing at the Metropolitan Opera in New York.

For Peter, Robert McFerrin's beautiful baritone voice, and his experiences singing on the global opera stage, resonate down generations of black men singing in opera. He both acts as a role model and offers insight into the cyclical nature of conversations about race and representation in classical music.

Available now

14 minutes

Last on

Thu 16 Feb 2023 22:45

Music Played

  • Bobby McFerrin

    Don't Worry, Be Happy

  • Giuseppe Verdi

    Pari siamo! (Rigoletto)

    Singer: Robert McFerrin. Orchestra: Metropolitan Opera Orchestra. Conductor: Fausto Cleva.
  • Trad.

    Let Us Break Bread Together

    Music Arranger: William Lawrence. Singer: Robert McFerrin. Performer: General Johnson.

Broadcasts

  • Thu 13 May 2021 22:45
  • Thu 16 Feb 2023 22:45

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