Experience the powerful and gripping narrative of "Blind Injustice" by Scott Davenport Richards, a live recording that captures the intensity and depth of its world premiere at Cincinnati Opera. This compelling opera, conducted by Maestro John Morris Russell, brings to life the true stories of six innocent individuals who were wrongfully convicted and later exonerated by the Ohio Innocence Project. With a libretto by David Cote and direction by Robin Guarino, "Blind Injustice" is a masterful blend of jazz, opera, and musical theater, showcasing the unique creative vision of composer Scott Davenport Richards.
The album features a stellar cast of soloists, the MasterVoices chorus, and the Cincinnati Symphony Orchestra, all under the baton of Ted Sperling. With a runtime of 1 hour and 21 minutes, the double-CD set includes 31 tracks that weave together a tapestry of injustice, resilience, and redemption. From the poignant "Prologue" to the triumphant "Exonerated," each scene is a testament to the power of music to illuminate the human experience.
"Blind Injustice" is not just an album; it's a profound exploration of the flaws in the justice system and the enduring spirit of those who fight for truth and justice. The opera's powerful libretto, inspired by Mark Godsey's book "Blind Injustice," delves into the personal stories of those wrongfully imprisoned, offering a stark reminder of the need for reform and the importance of advocacy. This live recording is a testament to the collaborative efforts of Cincinnati Opera, the Ohio Innocence Project, and the Young Professionals Choral Collective, making it a significant contribution to the world of opera and social justice.
Blind Injustice, Scene 1: Prologue - LiveScott Davenport Richards, Young Professionals Choral Collective, Cincinnati Opera Chorus, Cincinnati Symphony Orchestra, John Morris Russell
Blind Injustice, Scene 2: What Makes a Person - LiveScott Davenport Richards, Joseph Lattanzi, Young Professionals Choral Collective, Cincinnati Opera Chorus, Cincinnati Symphony Orchestra, John Morris Russell
Blind Injustice, Scene 3: I Used to Be That Guy - LiveScott Davenport Richards, Samuel Levine, Cincinnati Symphony Orchestra, John Morris Russell
Blind Injustice, Scene 4: Getting the Job Done - LiveScott Davenport Richards, Joseph Lattanzi, Deborah Nansteel, Morgan Smith, Joseph Parrish, Young Professionals Choral Collective, Cincinnati Opera Chorus, Cincinnati Symphony Orchestra, John Morris Russell
Blind Injustice, Scene 5: Find the Fault - LiveScott Davenport Richards, Victoria Okafor, Samuel Levine, Cincinnati Symphony Orchestra, John Morris Russell
Blind Injustice, Scene 6: For Three Years, I'd Drive Up I-75 - LiveScott Davenport Richards, Victoria Okafor, Cincinnati Symphony Orchestra, John Morris Russell
Blind Injustice, Scene 7: Nancy's Story - LiveScott Davenport Richards, Victoria Okafor, Maria Miller, Deborah Nansteel, Morgan Smith, Joseph Parrish, Joseph Lattanzi, Cincinnati Symphony Orchestra, John Morris Russell
Blind Injustice, Scene 8: Scene of the Crime - LiveScott Davenport Richards, Terrence Chin-Loy, Sankara Harouna, Miles Wilson-Toliver, Victoria Okafor, Cincinnati Symphony Orchestra, John Morris Russell
Blind Injustice, Scene 9: Hold On, Hold On - LiveScott Davenport Richards, Joseph Lattanzi, Samuel Levine, Victoria Okafor
Blind Injustice, Scene 10: The Wonder of Forensics - LiveScott Davenport Richards, Joseph Lattanzi, Victoria Okafor, Deborah Nansteel, Morgan Smith, Joseph Parrish, Young Professionals Choral Collective, Cincinnati Opera Chorus, Cincinnati Symphony Orchestra, John Morris Russell
Blind Injustice, Scene 11: Judith Johnson - LiveScott Davenport Richards, Joseph Lattanzi, Young Professionals Choral Collective, Cincinnati Opera Chorus, Cincinnati Symphony Orchestra, John Morris Russell
Blind Injustice, Scene 12: Clarence's Story - LiveScott Davenport Richards, Joseph Lattanzi, Victoria Okafor, Thomas J. Capobianco, Morgan Smith, Shannon Cochran, Will Reed, Young Professionals Choral Collective, Cincinnati Opera Chorus, Cincinnati Symphony Orchestra, John Morris Russell
Blind Injustice, Scene 13: Meet Rickey Jackson - LiveScott Davenport Richards, Samuel Levine, Eric Shane Heatley, Deborah Nansteel, Morgan Smith, Joseph Parrish, Joseph Lattanzi, Cincinnati Symphony Orchestra, John Morris Russell
Blind Injustice, Scene 14: All These Parents Are Coming Forward - LiveScott Davenport Richards, Samuel Levine, Victoria Okafor, Maria Miller, Cincinnati Symphony Orchestra, John Morris Russell
Blind Injustice, Scene 15: What the Children Said - LiveScott Davenport Richards, Victoria Okafor, Deborah Nansteel, Megan Slack, Young Professionals Choral Collective, Cincinnati Opera Chorus, Cincinnati Symphony Orchestra, John Morris Russell
Blind Injustice, Scene 16: Guilty - LiveScott Davenport Richards, Maria Miller, Eric Shane Heatley, Terrence Chin-Loy, Sankara Harouna, Miles Wilson-Toliver, Thomas J. Capobianco, Young Professionals Choral Collective, Cincinnati Opera Chorus, Cincinnati Symphony Orchestra, John Morris Russell
Blind Injustice, Scene 17: Clarence in Hell - LiveScott Davenport Richards, Thomas J. Capobianco, Morgan Smith, Joseph Parrish, Victoria Okafor, Young Professionals Choral Collective, Cincinnati Opera Chorus, Cincinnati Symphony Orchestra, John Morris Russell
Blind Injustice, Scene 18: The Hole - LiveScott Davenport Richards, Terrence Chin-Loy, Cincinnati Symphony Orchestra, John Morris Russell
Blind Injustice, Scene 19: The Shame of Lorain - LiveScott Davenport Richards, Samuel Levine, Victoria Okafor, Maria Miller, Young Professionals Choral Collective, Cincinnati Opera Chorus, Cincinnati Symphony Orchestra, John Morris Russell
Blind Injustice, Scene 20: Eugene Is Free - LiveScott Davenport Richards, Joseph Lattanzi, Samuel Levine, Victoria Okafor, Miles Wilson-Toliver, Deborah Nansteel, Morgan Smith, Joseph Parrish, Young Professionals Choral Collective, Cincinnati Opera Chorus, Cincinnati Symphony Orchestra, John Morris Russell
Blind Injustice, Scene 21: Cuyahoga - LiveScott Davenport Richards, Sankara Harouna, Terrence Chin-Loy, Miles Wilson-Toliver, Victoria Okafor, Cincinnati Symphony Orchestra, John Morris Russell
Blind Injustice, Scene 22: Visiting Day - LiveScott Davenport Richards, Sankara Harouna, Deborah Nansteel, Cincinnati Symphony Orchestra, John Morris Russell
Blind Injustice, Scene 23: Coping - LiveScott Davenport Richards, Maria Miller, Terrence Chin-Loy, Thomas J. Capobianco, Sankara Harouna, Miles Wilson-Toliver, Cincinnati Symphony Orchestra, John Morris Russell
Blind Injustice, Scene 24: Reading Circle - LiveScott Davenport Richards, Eric Shane Heatley, Thomas J. Capobianco, Terrence Chin-Loy, Miles Wilson-Toliver, Sankara Harouna, Morgan Smith, Joseph Parrish, Cincinnati Symphony Orchestra, John Morris Russell
Blind Injustice, Scene 25: You Got to Act As If - LiveScott Davenport Richards, Sankara Harouna, Eric Shane Heatley, Maria Miller, Thomas J. Capobianco, Miles Wilson-Toliver, Terrence Chin-Loy, Victoria Okafor, Joseph Parrish, Joseph Lattanzi, Samuel Levine, Young Professionals Choral Collective, Cincinnati Opera Chorus, Cincinnati Symphony Orchestra, John Morris Russell
Blind Injustice, Scene 26: Cracks in the Case - LiveScott Davenport Richards, Joseph Lattanzi, Samuel Levine, Victoria Okafor, Deborah Nansteel, Joseph Parrish, William Boatwright, Young Professionals Choral Collective, Cincinnati Opera Chorus, Cincinnati Symphony Orchestra, John Morris Russell
Blind Injustice, Scene 27: Earl Mann - LiveScott Davenport Richards, Samuel Levine, Joseph Lattanzi, Thomas J. Capobianco, Morgan Smith, Joseph Parrish, Shannon Cochran, Young Professionals Choral Collective, Cincinnati Opera Chorus, Cincinnati Symphony Orchestra, John Morris Russell
Blind Injustice, Scene 28: Blind - LiveScott Davenport Richards, Terrence Chin-Loy, Joseph Lattanzi, Sankara Harouna, Miles Wilson-Toliver, Samuel Levine, Young Professionals Choral Collective, Cincinnati Opera Chorus, Cincinnati Symphony Orchestra, John Morris Russell
Blind Injustice, Scene 29: Defense vs. Prosecution - LiveScott Davenport Richards, Joseph Lattanzi, Samuel Levine, Victoria Okafor, Maria Miller, Eric Shane Heatley, Terrence Chin-Loy, Sankara Harouna, Miles Wilson-Toliver, Thomas J. Capobianco, Young Professionals Choral Collective, Cincinnati Opera Chorus, Cincinnati Symphony Orchestra, John Morris Russell
Blind Injustice, Scene 30: Exonerated - LiveScott Davenport Richards, Thomas J. Capobianco, Terrence Chin-Loy, Samuel Levine, Miles Wilson-Toliver, Maria Miller, Eric Shane Heatley, Young Professionals Choral Collective, Cincinnati Opera Chorus, Cincinnati Symphony Orchestra, John Morris Russell
Blind Injustice, Scene 31: What Makes a Person Free - LiveScott Davenport Richards, Joseph Lattanzi, Samuel Levine, Victoria Okafor, Maria Miller, Terrence Chin-Loy, Sankara Harouna, Miles Wilson-Toliver, Thomas J. Capobianco, Eric Shane Heatley, Deborah Nansteel, Morgan Smith, Joseph Parrish, William Boatwright, Young Professionals Choral Collective, Cincinnati Opera Chorus, Cincinnati Symphony Orchestra, John Morris Russell