Event Details

This unique concert presentation of Fire Shut Up in My Bones brings Terence Blanchard and his band, The E-Collective, together with the double GRAMMY-winning Turtle Island Quartet, visual artist Andrew F. Scott, and special guest vocalists Justin Austin (baritone) and Adrienne Danrich (soprano), for an unforgettable evening. With Scott’s immersive projections, the concert offers audiences a rare glimpse into Blanchard’s creative vision, the opera’s narrative themes, and the universal search for meaning, identity, and connection.

This monumental work, based on the memoir by New York Times columnist Charles M. Blow, tells the story of a young man’s journey to find his identity amidst trauma, adversity, and inner conflict. Set in the rural South, the opera follows Charles as he navigates complex themes of family, masculinity, and self-acceptance. Blanchard’s powerful score, which fuses jazz, blues, and classical elements, captures the emotional weight and raw humanity of Blow’s experiences. This historic work—The Metropolitan Opera’s first by an African American composer—has been hailed as a cultural watershed moment, inviting new audiences into the world of opera with its relatable themes and groundbreaking storytelling. Event time 7pm.