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Opera commissions Parker's life story
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By JONATHAN FRAYSURE Staff Writer
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CINCINNATI -- Abolitionist and Underground Railroad conductor John P. Parker, whose historic home is located in Ripley, Ohio, has had his life story commissioned by the Cincinnati Opera.
Currently, the working title of the opera is "Freedom is Calling." It is to be based on Parker's autobiography, His Promised Land, which was written in the 1880s, but wasn't discovered until 1996, the year it was also published.
According to this memoir, Parker was born in Norfolk, Va., in 1827, and was sold into slavery at the age of 8. He was purchased by a Mobile, Ala., doctor, and was illegally taught to read and write. Eventually, he would be apprenticed as an iron molder, and would be transferred to New Orleans, where he worked for two years at minimal wage.
Parker would buy his own freedom in 1845 for $1,800, and would move to Ripley five years later. Here, he would worked by day as an inventor -- he was issued at least two patents -- as well as the owner and founder of Ripley Foundry and Machine Company, an iron casting business
At night, Parker would sacrifice his life to help fugitive slaves escape to freedom through the Underground Railroad. By his own count, he aided more than 400 slaves, but some estimates put that number well over 1,000.
Freedom is Calling will premiere on Cincinnati Opera's main stage in October 2007, as a special fall production. It will be one act, about 60 minutes in length, and will be a fully-staged production featuring seven principal characters, a small chorus and a chamber-sized orchestra. The project will feature the collaborative work of composer Adolphus Hailstork, in his Cincinnati opera debut, and David Gonzalez, the opera's librettist, or the person responsible for writing the words that will be set to the music.
The Cincinnati Opera has secured a $250,000 grant from the Cinergy Foundation for the project. Much of this grant -- $175,000 worth -- will provide title sponsorship support for the opera. The remaining amount will go towards supporting other productions during the 2004-2008 seasons.
The John P. Parker Historical Society was founded in 1996, while The Parker House, located at 330 N. State St. in Ripley, was designated a National Historic Landmark in 1997. For more information on each, visit www.johnparkerhouse.org.
Contact Jonathan Fraysure at jonathan.fraysure@lee.net, or call 564-9091, ext. 276.
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