Z Space: Salt & Spirit: An Operatic Experience Rooted in Gullah-Geechee Spirituals
November 14-21, 2026
Z Space’s Steindler Stage
Opening Opera Parallèle’s 17th season, Salt & Spirit is a powerful world premiere inspired by the enduring musical traditions of the Gullah-Geechee people of the Carolinas. Rooted in a rare collection of nineteenth-century spirituals and reimagined through a vibrant contemporary score that blends classical, jazz, and traditional influences into an unforgettable theatrical experience.
Co-created by acclaimed tenor Victor Ryan Robertson and Opera Parallèle Creative Director Brian Staufenbiel, Salt & Spirit celebrates a culture whose songs preserve memory, identity, and hope across generations. More than a performance, it is an act of remembrance—revealing how music can safeguard history, strengthen community, and carry stories that refuse to be forgotten.
Rich with soaring voices, evocative imagery, and spoken word, Salt & Spirit honors the resilience of the Gullah-Geechee people while inviting audiences to reflect on the legacies we inherit and the stories we choose to pass forward.
Show Schedule
Saturday, November 14: 7:30pm
Sunday, November 15: 3pm
Thursday November 19: 7:30pm
Saturday, November 21: 7:30pm