American composer William Grant Still (1895-1978), pictured in 1949. He was the first African-American composer to have a symphony performed by a leading orchestra (his Symphony No. 1 "Afro-American" in 1931), the first to have an opera produced by a major opera company (Troubled Island in 1949), and the first to have an opera performed on television (A Bayou Legend broadcast in 1981).
This is the English translation of the Picture of the day description page from 9 February 2016.
American composer William Grant Still (1895-1978), pictured in 1949. He was the first African-American composer to have a symphony performed by a leading orchestra (his Symphony No. 1 "Afro-American" in 1931), the first to have an opera produced by a major opera company (Troubled Island in 1949), and the first to have an opera performed on television (A Bayou Legend broadcast in 1981).
