Back in 1957 the Welsh branch of the National Union of Miners invited Paul Robeson to sing at the Miner's Eisteddfodd at Porthcawl. However the US government had withdrawn Robeson's passport on account of his political activities, and he couldn't attend. However thanks to the recent installation of a transatlantic telephone cable he was able to sing by a phone link to an audience of 5000 miners, and to listen to the Treorchy Male Voice Choir sing for him. It was an intensely moving experience for all the participants and the Welsh NUM issued a record of the concert which captured some of the excitement of that moment. Robeson had had a very strong connection with South Wales since his role in the 1940 Ealing film The Proud Valley and he had supported unemployed miners in the 1930's.
Sain records have now released a CD of the Transatlantic Exchange concert along with another 20 songs from Robeson.
The Proud Valley doesn't seem to be available in the UK on DVD or video, but customers in North America can buy a boxed set of Paul Robeson's films from Criterion which looks well worth viewing.
Showing posts with label Paul Robeson. Show all posts
Showing posts with label Paul Robeson. Show all posts
Sunday, March 16, 2008
Monday, July 16, 2007
Paul Robeson in Liverpool
Liverpool John Moores University has announced that the new series of Roscoe Lectures will begin with a lecture by the son of the famous singer, actor, and activist Paul Robeson.
"The next series will be launched on 3 October 2007 with a lecture by civil rights activist Paul Robeson Jnr, the only child of the legendary singer, actor and activist Paul Robeson. The lecture entitled 'My Father and Pioneering the Civil Rights Agenda in the US' will take place in St George's Hall, starting at 5pm.
Tickets for all Roscoe Lectures are free and are available by contacting Barbara Mace on 0151 231 3852 or emailing b.mace@ljmu.ac.uk."
Paul Robeson sang to a crowd of 10,00 in Liverpool in 1949, and there must be many people still around who can remember this. I wonder what they all felt as they heard him sing in the bomb sites of the post-war city. The city had also been the scene of some vicious racist attacks the previous year, and I imagine that Robeson's magnificent presence restored confidence to the black community.
"The next series will be launched on 3 October 2007 with a lecture by civil rights activist Paul Robeson Jnr, the only child of the legendary singer, actor and activist Paul Robeson. The lecture entitled 'My Father and Pioneering the Civil Rights Agenda in the US' will take place in St George's Hall, starting at 5pm.
Tickets for all Roscoe Lectures are free and are available by contacting Barbara Mace on 0151 231 3852 or emailing b.mace@ljmu.ac.uk."
Paul Robeson sang to a crowd of 10,00 in Liverpool in 1949, and there must be many people still around who can remember this. I wonder what they all felt as they heard him sing in the bomb sites of the post-war city. The city had also been the scene of some vicious racist attacks the previous year, and I imagine that Robeson's magnificent presence restored confidence to the black community.
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