Abstract
Sanctuary Road is inspired by the writings of William Still, conductor for the Underground Railroad, and chronicles the courage and tenacity of slaves escaping to freedom in the mid-1800s through Philadelphia. In a country still grappling with the evil legacy of slavery—brought to a head this summer with the Black Lives Matter movement—we echo Gramophone magazine’s sentiments when it said, “The relevance of Sanctuary Road in our present century cannot be overstated.” We also know this is one reason for the work’s popular success; before the pandemic hit, Sanctuary Road was well on its way to becoming the most produced oratorio in the contemporary repertoire.