The gripping story of abolition activist Octavius Catto is produced in this intriguing ragtime opera composed by pianist Uri Caine. Vocalist Barbara Walker teams with the Philadelphia Choral Ensemble and the Catto Freedom Orchestra along with Caine’s team of Mike Boone/b and Clarence Penn/dr to give a fascinating rendition of the events leading up to and following the murder of the famed Philadelphian.
The music itself has hints of Puccini in the orchestral movements such as the “Prologue” while most of the time there are mixes of Bartokian strings with Caine’s Joplinesque phrasings and pre-ragtime horns and beats. Walker’s voice is rich on “No East No West” and the choir is urgent on “The Philadelphia Streetcar Protests” and “Change.” The ghastly death is captured well on the dramatic “Murder” and earthy voicings of “The Lament of Caroline Le Count.” The entire piece is not that long, but it’s creative, gripping and poignant. Would love to see it performed on stage.