And scores of important singers have been discovered by the London competition over the years. Among past winners who have gone on to major international careers are Renée Fleming, James Morris, Dawn Upshaw, Richard Stilwell, Neil Shicoff, Kathleen...

“Frederick Douglass, the great 19th century orator, writer and former slave, once wrote of the music he regularly heard emerging from the fields and houses where he and other slaves toiled, “I have sometimes thought that the mere hearing of those songs would...

Those words were recited Saturday at UCLA during soprano Kathleen Battle’s “Underground Railroad” program of African American spirituals, in which she offered convincing proof of Douglass’ theory, with inspired assistance from pianist Cyrus Chestnut...

Pianist Cyrus Chestnut commanded considerable attention and received a strong standing ovation after a solo performance of 'Glory, Glory Hallelujah.' The Albert McNeil Singers achieved a dynamic balance with Miss Battle who did not speak to the...

Kathleen Battle, renowned concert singer, included the spiritual in her Christmas Concert at Carnegie Hall, after having received arrangements for soloist by Jacqueline Hairston, cousin of late conductor, arranger, Jester Hairston. The song is another...