Groundbreaking opera singer Robert McFerrin has died of a heart attack in his home in St. Louis. McFerrin, father of Grammy-winning vocalist Bobby McFerrin, was the first black man to sing at the Metropolitan Opera, and provided the singing voice for Sidney Poitier in the 1959 film version of Gershwin’s “Porgy & Bess.”
Tag: 11.27.06
How The Arts Aid Rehabilitation
“Despite plenty of anecdotal evidence that arts projects can help prevent reoffending, the government has been reluctant to put money into investigating their long-term benefits. The response to any rise in violent youth crime has been to call for tougher sentences and more punitive regimes. But that is changing.”
A Big Role For Theatre
“We are living through yet another period of strife prompted by certainties and doubts about religion. As a result, debate about the justification of religious commitment is increasing in volume and heat. Theatre is uniquely placed to explore such questions, as it can show audiences what such differences of opinion mean in the context of human lives.”