‘Libba Cotten: Here This Day’

A fully-staged premiere of a Society for New Music’s commissioned opera with a 10-piece chamber ensemble and music by Mark Olivieri and libretto by Kyle Bass will premiere Oct. 17 at Tucker Missionary Baptist Church.

Born in the segregated south, Libba Cotten was a singer/songwriter whose “Freight Train,” written when she was 11, is still performed by internationally-renowned artists today. Married at 15, Libba was “discovered” at age 60 by the folk music world. She spent the last 20 years of her life in Syracuse, during which time she toured nationally and performed regularly at the now STEAM at Dr. King Elementary School. She was declared the first “living treasure” of Syracuse and won a Grammy at 93.

Tickets for this special opera performance are $20 regular, $15 seniors/students and free for ages 18 and younger.