Several days after the November 20th premiere, the Purchase of Manhattan still reverberates within Indian Country. Check out this latest review from Indian Country Today, "Purchase of Manhattan: Opera Tells History of Lenape and Dutch" including a couple clips from the concert opera!
"...The concert opera shows the differences between how the Indians and the Dutch saw the land. 'My mother’s bones rest in this mound,' sings Stephen Powell, the baritone who represented the Lenape people. 'I see handsome profits from this ground!' sings John Bellemer, Wampanoag, the tenor who plays Minuit...
'What did we bring to purchase this island?' Minuit asks. 'Many strings of beads, which they greatly prize. They sweat to make the beads, but we make them so easily,' replies the Dutch chorus. 'Sixty guilders worth of trinkets,' suggests Minuit. The opera makes it clear that the Indians thought the Dutch were offering their friendship, and that they had no idea what Minuit was trying to get them to sign, or why?..." (Leann Root, ICT, Nov 26, 2014)
Read the full review HERE!
"...The concert opera shows the differences between how the Indians and the Dutch saw the land. 'My mother’s bones rest in this mound,' sings Stephen Powell, the baritone who represented the Lenape people. 'I see handsome profits from this ground!' sings John Bellemer, Wampanoag, the tenor who plays Minuit...
'What did we bring to purchase this island?' Minuit asks. 'Many strings of beads, which they greatly prize. They sweat to make the beads, but we make them so easily,' replies the Dutch chorus. 'Sixty guilders worth of trinkets,' suggests Minuit. The opera makes it clear that the Indians thought the Dutch were offering their friendship, and that they had no idea what Minuit was trying to get them to sign, or why?..." (Leann Root, ICT, Nov 26, 2014)
Read the full review HERE!
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