Composer and violinist Daniel Bernard Roumain returns to Emory's Schwartz Center for Performing Arts for the world premiere of "Anacaona, The Golden Flower Songs" on Friday, March 20, at 8 p.m.

Roumain's composition, an oratorio and monodrama, features arrangement for chamber orchestra and Haitian vocalist Emeline Michel, with libretto by Edwidge Danticat. It celebrates the life of Anacaona, a revered figure in Haitian history.

"As a Haitian-American composer, I am excited by the notion of storytelling from a perspective informed by my own Haitian culture and heritage, and how Haitian people have their own history — one that spans back many centuries — and, as has always been the case, involves strong, powerful women, at its core," Roumain says.

"Anacaona, The Golden Flower Songs" was commissioned by Emory University through its partnership with the Atlanta Symphony Orchestra and the Georgia Humanities Council in The Creation Stories project, a grant from the Andrew W. Mellon Foundation.

A talkback and public reception with the Roumain, Michel and Danticat will immediately follow the performance. Tickets are $45; $36 for discount categories and $10 for Emory students. For tickets and more information, visit www.arts.emory.edu.

Daniel Roumain's acclaimed career as a composer and a performer have spanned two decades, and have included collaborations with Philip Glass, Bill T. Jones, Savion Glover, Lady Gaga and others.


The Creation Stories project explores the timeless questions of origin, creation and intent that have served as a catalyst for human thought and creativity since time immemorial. It seeks to discover what we, as 21st-century learners, might gain from an exploration of creation narratives across time and cultures.