“The moment you come to the Declaration of Independence, that every man has a right to life and liberty, an inalienable right, this case is decided. I ask nothing more on behalf of these unfortunate men, than this Declaration.” — John Quincy Adams, 1841 Amistad Case
On Sunday, August 11, The Westport Library is partnering with Southern Connecticut’s Rotary District 7980 and the Connecticut Lyric Opera to present Opus for Peace, an event series being launched with an abridged and narrated performance of Anthony Davis's powerful opera Amistad.
The performance runs 2-4 pm in the Library’s Trefz Forum. Tickets for this event are free. Register to attend here.
Sponsored by local Rotary clubs, including Mystic, Westport, Westport Sunrise, and District 7980, the Opus for Peace initiative aims to create an environment where dialogue, empathy, and artistic expression converge to uphold efforts toward peace and fostering a culture of unity and reconciliation that extends far beyond the Rotary community.
“Amistad” is the Spanish word for “friendship.” Dennis Wong, Rotarian peacebuilder of the Westport Sunrise Rotary Club, cited this as the inspiration for the Opus for Peace production of Amistad. One question fuels every decision behind the Rotary’s principles: “Will it build goodwill and better friendships?”
“We believe live performances are entertaining and fun ways to bring people together,” Wong said of the collaboration behind the production. “This partnership between The Westport Library and Rotarians achieves our shared purpose of serving our community.”
As an active member of the Rotary for almost 20 years, Wong hopes that this event, in conjunction with the rest of the Opus for Peace series, will build connections and inspire conviviality in everyone involved.
Based on the saga of the 1839 slave revolt aboard the Spanish ship La Amistad, Davis’s opera first took the stage at Chicago’s Lyric Opera in 1997. It incorporates elements of African mythology and musical genres including jazz, blues, and skat as a linguistic storytelling device to recount a pivotal fight for life and liberty. Amistad’s themes of social and racial justice still resonate deeply today, preserving a vital narrative that connects history with modernity — particularly in Connecticut, where much of the Amistad court case took place.
This abridged Amistad production is a collaboration with Harlem Opera Theater and Discovering Amistad. The production is part of a larger series of events spanning southern Connecticut throughout the year. It will culminate in a full production of Amistad to be performed across the state in May 2025.
