Master Fard

An American Opera in Four Acts, Synopsis and Libretto

By: David Lampel

Narrated by: David Lampel

Master Fard is the libretto for a four-act opera based on the life and influence of W. Fard Muhammad, who by looking at his likeness would hardly appear to have been the founding force behind one of the most controversial movements in 20th-century American life.

The origin of the story begins in 1971 at the height of the Vietnam War and the civil rights movement when a group of activists broke into an FBI office in Media, PA. At first, the significance of their findings was overshadowed by the more famous Pentagon papers a few weeks later. Among the papers, these burglars discovered was the an outline of a program going back to the origin of the FBI and its founding director, J. Edgar Hoover. The papers documented Hoover’s 50-year obsession with finding and destroying a "Black Messiah". What Hoover in his evil genius never considered was if there was a "Black Messiah" out there, he might not be Black. Master Fard: The Opera is the story of Hoover's hunt, which left a trail of assassination and destruction.

The Nation of Islam, or Black Muslims, as they were called, spawned a host of interesting personalities such as Elijah Muhammad, Muhammad Ali, Louis Farrakhan, and Malcolm X, who are all featured characters, along with Clarence Darrow, Henry Ford, Marlon Brando, and the chief protagonist, J. Edgar Hoover.

About the Opera

The orbiting spaceship, the mythology, tales of a great civilization living deep in the core of the Earth, the killings, the hatred, and jealousy that flow from the story suggested an operatic stage on which to do this work. The reflection of these ancient themes were used by Richard Wagner in Das Rhinegold, for example to illuminate modern events, hence the choice of opera.

About the Author

David Lampel, the author, operates a group of TV and radio stations. He has won Emmys, Grammy awards, and the Peabody prize for radio. During his 30+ years as a community-based journalist covering Harlem, New York, Lampel experienced many of these events firsthand, especially those depicted in acts three and four, and brings a lot of his own personal recollections into the people places and things described.

©2012 David Lampel (P)2022 David Lampel

Brilliant Storytelling

From the narration, to the score, to the careful weaving of narrative elements, this under-told story will make you question what you thought you knew about an era-shaping chapter in the American story. It's a must-hear for students of contemporary history.

The Lessons of History....

Informative and evocative of an era filled with unrest and tumult in the U.S., “Master Fard” by David Lampel is a powerful and sobering look at the abuses of governmental power that is as relevant today as it was in the time periods it recalls. A mix of fantastical and factual elements, the libretto seamlessly blends narrative and actual audio clips to paint a powerful picture of the rise of the leaders of the Nation of Islam and the enduring strength of Black nationalist ideals.