Connecticut Lyric Opera has been awarded a $35,000 grant from the National Endowment for the Arts to present Anthony Davis's opera "Amistad."

The opera tells the story of the 1839 Amistad Uprising, in which a group of enslaved Africans revolted against their captors on a Spanish slave ship and were eventually granted freedom after a high-profile legal battle. The project will be brought to life in collaboration with Discovering Amistad and the Harlem Opera Theater.

"The power of music to tell stories, spark conversations, and foster understanding is unequalled," said John Waller, CLO’s President of the Board and initiator of this project. "We are deeply honored to receive this support from the NEA which allows us to share the resonant themes of 'Amistad' with a much wider audience. We are excited to partner with Discovering Amistad and Harlem Opera Theater to return this compelling opera to the stage, and this important project underscores our commitment to advancing dialogue around social justice through the medium of opera."

Thanks in part to the grant, CLO will perform “Amistad” in New London and elsewhere in fall 2024. With Discovering Amistad, CLO will present abridged performances on or around the replica ship Amistad in spring/summer 2024.