olaf growald
Afton Battle wants to break the notion that opera’s all “top hats, tails, and tuxedos.”
Instead, Fort Worth Opera’s new general director is looking to make opera more inclusive, bringing performances everywhere from the Northside to atypical venues like The Post at River East, where dynamic sopranos can perform on the same stage as fedora-wearing guitarists — and folks perhaps unlikely to visit Bass Performance Hall can enjoy classical music in a more accessible atmosphere.
“People look at the art form and think it is something in one way, and they don’t feel welcome — I don’t want that,” Battle says. “I want any and everyone to come to the opera, whether we’re in Bass Hall, the Rose Marine [Theater], the Ridglea [Theater], Will Rogers [Memorial Center], or a church … Wherever we are, I want everyone to feel comfortable to come and come as they are.”
Battle herself is a performer. Growing up between Lubbock, El Paso, and Amarillo, Battle had always sung in church (her father was a pastor) and wasn’t exposed to classical music until after she performed in a Miss Juneteenth pageant, when then-president of the Amarillo Opera Mila Gibson approached her, offering voice lessons. It was a performance of Giuseppe Verdi’s “La Traviata” — the first live opera she’d ever seen — that inspired Battle to pursue classical music more seriously. She’d later earn her bachelor’s degree from the University of Houston and master’s from Westminster Choir College in New Jersey.
Though she initially set off on a career path in performance, the 2008 recession and struggle to find jobs in the arts led Battle to discover her knack for administration. An opportunity to work for the office of advancement at Columbia University allowed Battle to hone in on her skills in grant writing and research. Later in life, she’d find herself working her way up through various arts and consulting organizations before landing in Fort Worth last September.
Now Battle is preparing to usher in a new era for Fort Worth Opera as the organization prepares to launch a full-length season. No longer will the opera follow a festival format as in years past; instead, performances will take place throughout the year both at Bass Hall — and a few other venues people probably wouldn’t expect.
“We’ve been in quiet-ish hibernation,” Battle says. “Folks will be surprised to see what we have coming down the pipe.”
Special thanks to the following: Hair by Aminata Hair Braiding: New York City. Makeup by Angela Colbert: Fort Worth, Texas. Wardrobe provided by Allan Virgo: New York City.
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Afton’s “bestie better than the restie,” whom she’s known for 13 years.
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“I take my dogs and vogue very seriously,” Afton says.
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With three of her closest friends, all born and raised in Texas.
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Afton’s grandmother, Elise Phillips: “My true best friend, supporter, and confidant.”
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Afton’s not a fan of cold weather, but she did enjoy a recent trip to Iceland.
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A true carnivore, Afton can’t resist a good plate of meat.
