“A key part of the Western musical tradition, opera is an art form that’s, unsurprisingly, associated mainly with white artists and white audiences. But, as with so many aspects of culture and society, opera’s history has its share of vital black performers, patrons, and parallels. With this in mind, the Phoenicia International Festival of the Voice, which celebrates the power of the human voice in music, is honoring African American artists and African-related themes as part of its milestone 10th season this year. … We spoke with the festival’s general director, Maria Todaro about this year’s programming.” – Chronogram (Kingston, NY)