Eighth Blackbird: Chicago Artists Workshop Series Begins Oct. 20

GRAMMY Award-winning tenor and Chicago's own Karim Sulayman opens the new virtual concert series “Eighth Blackbird Presents: The Chicago Artists Workshop” (CAW), 7 p.m. Tuesday, Oct. 20. Sulayman will be joined by Eighth Blackbird’s Lisa Kaplan and Matthew Duvall in a program titled "Rebuilding | Crossing Bridges,” inspired by our shared experience of navigating uncertainty when our lives become uprooted. The concert will be performed that evening at Eighth Blackbird's studios, located at 4045 N. Rockwell and streamed live. This concert, as others in the CAW series,are made possible in part with support from the National Endowment for the Arts.

Oct. 20 concert will feature a collection of songs written during World War II by French composer Francis Poulenc. Curated by Sulayman, the five disparate works include “Nous Voulons Une Petite Soeur” from “Quatre Chansons Pour Enfants,” “Lune d'avril” from “La Courte Paille,” “Bleuet” (poem by Apollinaire), and “C.” and “Fêtes Galantes” from “Deux Poèmes de Louis Aragon.” Together they create a narrative arcing the trajectory of a life from young to old, from innocence claimed by war to reconciliation and consolation. Sulayman observes: “This set is conceived as a sort of mini-cycle in which we track Poulenc’s view of youth and innocence through his commentaries on war and the damages left in its wake."

The program also features “Li Beirut," written by Fairouz in 1984 after the devastating civil war of 1975-1990. It will be performed by Sulayman in Arabic. Echoes of this history resonate with Sulayman on a very personal level in the aftermath of the 2020 Beirut port bombing. His 100-year old grandmother experienced the explosive impact of blown out windows, while other family members suffered life-threatening injuries. Through the song, released during the height of the war, Fairouz reflects on the casualties of corrupt leadership ultimately being herself, her city, her people, and her country.

The program will also feature the solo “Piano Piece No. 4” by the ardently political composer Frederick Rzewski will be performed by Lisa Kaplan; and Stacy Garrop’s “My Dearest Ruth,” a musical setting of the final love letter from Martin Ginsburg to his wife, the opera-loving Supreme Court Justice Ruth Bader Ginsburg.

Sulayman has garnered international attention as a sophisticated and versatile artist, consistently praised for his sensitive and intelligent musicianship, riveting stage presence, and beautiful voice. A 2019 GRAMMY Award-winner, his performing career has included roles at many noted theater, concert halls and opera houses around the world. In 2016, Sulayman created a social experiment/performance art piece called “I Trust You,” designed to build bridges in a divided political climate. A video version of this experiment went viral on the internet, and was honored as a prizewinner in the My Hero Film Festival (2017). Sulayman has been invited to give talks and hold open forums with student and adult groups about inclusion, empathy, healing from racism, and activism through the arts.

Lisa Kaplan (Eighth Blackbird Pianist and Executive Director) and Matthew Duvall (Percussionist and Eighth Blackbird Artistic Director) met and began making music together in curriculum ensembles at Oberlin College in 1992, driven by a compatible fascination with rigorous challenges and unexpected outcomes. Together with their ensemble mates, they created Eighth Blackbird, a four-time GRAMMY Award-winning sextet that commissions and champions the creation of new works, mentors emerging artists through the Blackbird Creative Lab and extensive residencies, and expands the boundaries of the concert experience focusing on the principles of collaboration and inclusivity.

For tickets to the Oct. 20 7 p.m. concert "Rebuilding | Crossing Bridges,” visit eighthblackbird.org. Recommended ticket price is $20, but options include choosing a price as well as the opportunity to contribute as a supporter. For tickets and more information visit eighthblackbird.org.