WFDD Triad Arts Archive: Dr. Robert Ward (Part 1)

Triad Arts with David Ford

Listen to the program as broadcast on March 14, 2012

Dr. Robert Ward (Part 1)

March 14, 2012

Of the many famous American novels and plays that have been converted into operas, today's TAUC guest tops the list: American composer, and Durham, North Carolina resident Robert Ward. The ninety-four year old composer and educator has written eight operas, and in 1962 his opera The Crucible, based on the renowned play of the same name by Arthur Miller, won both the Pulitzer Prize and the New York Music Critics Circle Citation. The Crucible weaves a tale of lust, pride, revenge, and power against a backdrop of the Salem witch trials of the late 17th century. Miller’s powerful play was written as an allegory for 1950s McCarthyism of which he himself was a victim. It remains extremely relevant today, and it’s coming to the Triad courtesy of Piedmont Opera in collaboration with the A. J. Fletcher Opera Institute of the University of North Carolina School of the Arts. Their production runs Friday, March 16 through the 20th at the Stevens Center in Winston-Salem.

Last year Robert Ward was the recipient of the National Endowment for the Arts Opera Honors. He was presented the award by current UNCSA Chancellor John Mauceri. Robert Ward himself was the Chancellor of the then North Carolina School of the Arts from 1967 until 1975. He stopped by WFDD last week to talk with TAUC host David Ford.