According to The BelleReport.com

Gospel and opera to unify community

(In picture: Maestro Brian Salesky, Jeanie Turner Melton)

What do you get when you combine the glorious sounds of gospel and the magnificence of opera?  

Multiple standing ovations by the crowd of over 1,000 marked last year’s inaugural Knoxville Opera Goes to Church.

A Celebration of Talent!  The 2nd Annual event will blend church choristers and soloists from the East and West sides of town together with Knoxville Opera artists in a unique presentation of gospel and opera.

The free-admission concert, one of the company’s yearly 100 education/outreach activities, will take place on October 24, 2010 at 4:30 p.m. at the Greater Warner Tabernacle A.M.E. Zion Church(3800 Martin Luther King, Jr. Avenue).

Jeanie Turner Melton, Music Director of Mt. Olive Baptist Church, along with Knoxville Opera Maestro Brian Salesky, will conduct the 50-voice Knoxville Opera Gospel Choir.  

“Last year’s concert was an inspirational experience for performers and audience alike.  Once again, we’ve prepared a program sure to give them something to cheer about,” said Melton.

Highlighting the list of soloists are Knoxville Opera artists Michael A. Rodgers and Jesse Stock, WBIR’s LaSaundra Brown, Evelyn Jack, Lar’Juanette Williams, Robert Arks, and UT Opera Theatre’s Denisha Ballew and Erik Lickiss.

“I am proud to be a part of the respectful way that Knoxville Opera has brought the community together through this mixing of cultures and talent,” said Michael Rodgers.

Among the program’s selections will be Praise Ye the Lord, My Soul Has Been Anchored, Ev’ry Time I Feel the Spirit, The Best is Yet to Come, and excerpts from Porgy and Bess, Hairspray, and Knoxville Opera’s 2011 productions of Manon and I Puritani.  

Admission is free and early arrival is highly recommended.