Opera News Critic’s Choice: “deeply affecting and innovatively conceived”

“The Most Relevant, Hauntingly Evocative New Chamber Opera in Years” (Lucid Culture/New York Music Daily)

"Kander and Gumbel's greatest achievement is to pierce the noise and frenzy of the 24/7 news cycle
and shed light on what it is to be Black in twenty-first century America."  (seenandheard-international.com)

“45-minute searing sung drama” (Washington Post)

“Unmissable” (The New York Observer).

dwb (driving while black)

Now out on Albany Records,
the original cast album!

kander-album-dwb-cover-art-web

Stream it on Spotify or your favorite digital platform.


In 2019, two concert performances in Kansas City earned it
Best of Kansas City: Theater Award, 2019
(The Pitch: Kansas City’s Arts and Culture Newspaper)

“In pinpointing and relating the terror racial biases and injustices cause, Kander and Gumbel
created one of the most singularly devastating theatrical moments of the last year.”

 
driving.while.black.susan.kander
 
 

Recordings

Susan Kander: Hermestänze

dwb (driving while black)

Music by Susan Kander, libretto by Roberta Gumbel
Albany Records [TROY1858]
Original Cast Recording: Roberta Gumbel, soprano, and New Morse Code : Hannah Collins, cello, and Michael Compitello, percussion
Purchase on Albany Records
More: dwb (driving while black)

Susan Kander: Hermestänze

Susan Kander: Hermestänze

MSR Classics [MS 1578]
Performed by: Jacob Ashworth, violin & viola; Lee Dionne, piano; Jessica Petrus, soprano.
Purchase on Amazon
More: Hermestänze

cd424

Bassoon Transcended

World Premiere Recordings [MS 1439]
Works on this album by Susan Kander: The Lunch Counter: A Musical Play in 7 Movements
Purchase On: Amazon | Excerpts available at: Amazon

Overheard

Overheard

MSR Classics [MS 1403]
Works on this album by Susan Kander: Postcards from America for oboe and piano
Purchase On: Amazon

Susan Kander: Five Movements for my Father

Susan Kander: Five Movements for my Father

Loose Cans Music [5050]
Performed by: Keith Phares, baritone; Roberta Gumbel, soprano; Suzanne Ornstein, violin; Lino Gomez, clarinet/sax;
Eric Bartlett, cello; Thomas Schmidt, piano.

Purchase On: Amazon | CD Baby | Subito Music
More: Five Movements for My Father | Pas de Deux for Clarinet, Cello and Chimes | A Cycle of Songs

imaginary_symphony

Imaginary Symphony and Other Tales, Music of Anthony Piccolo

Navona Records NV5904
Works on this album by Susan Kander: Original Text for Fever Time
Purchase On: Amazon