Harry Lawrence Freeman Born: 9 October 1875, Cleveland, OH Died: 21 March 1954, New York, NY

(U.S. Opera Home Page)

• The Martyr, opera in two acts. Libretto by the composer. (Sep. 1893, Freeman Grand Opera Company, Deutsches Theater, Denver, CO; cast given in Hipsher)
• Nada, opera in three acts. Libretto by the composer. (1898) [unperformed]
• Zuluki. [rev. of Nada] (1898)
• An African Kraal, opera in one act. Libretto by the composer (1903) [unperformed]
• The Octoroon, opera in four acts with prologue. Libretto by the composer. (1904) [unperformed]
• Valdo, opera in one act with intermezzo. Libretto by the composer. (May 1906, Freeman Grand Opera Company, Weisgerber's Hall, Cleveland, OH; cast given in Hipsher)
• The Tryst, opera in one act. Libretto by the composer. (May 1911; Freeman Operatic Duo, Cresccent Theater, NY. Wampum: Carlotta Freeman; Lone Star: Hugo Williams)
• The Prophecy, opera in one act. Libretto by the composer. (1911) [unperformed]
• Voodoo, opera in three acts. Libretto by the composer. (composed c. 1914) [premiere 1928?]
• The Plantation, opera in three (four?) acts. Libretto by the composer (1915) [unperformed]
• Athalia, opera in three acts with prologue. Libretto by the composer. (1916) [unperformed]
• Vendetta, opera in three acts. Libretto by the composer. (12 Nov. 1923; Negro Grand Opera Company, Inc., Lafayette Theater, NY; cast in Hipsher)
• American Romance, jazz opera. (1927)
• The Flapper, jazz grand opera in four acts. Libretto by the composer. (10 Sep. 1928; NY, 52nd St. Theater; Lolo, the Voodoo Queen: Carlotta Freeman; Cleota: Doris Trotman; Mando: Ray Yates; cond. comp.)
• Leah Kleschna. Libretto by the composer, after the play of C. M. S. McClellan. (1931) [unperformed?]
• Nada, the Lily (1944)
• Allah (1947)
• The Zulu King (1934)
• The Slave (1932)
• Chaka [inc.?]
• The Ghost Wolves [inc.?]
• The Storm Witch [inc.?]
• Uzziah (1931)

Harry Lawrence Freeman was one of the first important Black composers for the operatic stage, and his first work, The Martyr, was the first opera ever produced by all-Black forces. Athough he was more successful in his lifetime than many of his contempraries, his work has since faded into obscurity. In addition to composing and conducting, he was an impressario and a teacher, teaching at Wilberforce University in Chicago and the Salem School of Music, and founding the Freeman School of Music and the Freeman School of Grand Operas. Many of his works were premiered by companies he founded, and starred his wife, Carlotta.

Freeman's three operas, Nada the Lily, Allah, and The Zulu King, formed a trilogy of Zulu history called Zululand, after the Zulu history novels of H. Rider Haggard. (Haggard's books are entitled Nada the Lily, Marie, Child of Storm, and Finished.) It is likely that Chaka, The Ghost Wolves, and The Storm Witch (all given in Hipsher but not in other sources) are early or inaccurate titles for these four operas. New Grove gives the total number of his operas at 14.

In addition to his operas, Freeman composed many works for other genres, including his symphonic poem, "The Slave", for orchestra and chorus. Contemporary reviews are often examples of the racist code used by the newspapers of the time; for example, one review of Voodoo was headlined: "'Voodoo,' Bizarre Work of Basic Music, In Premiere", and called the opera "a thing so hideously bizarre that it was beautiful." Anyone with more information on Freeman, including information on a radio broadcast of "Voodoo" on WGBS Chicago on May 20, 1948, please contact me.