Richetta Manager, opera singer turned jazz, soul and gospel vocalist, will perform Dec. 4 in Topeka

Topeka was her home, but all of Europe is her stage.

Richetta Manager, a 1971 graduate of Topeka High School, has made Germany her base for the past 40 years. From there, she became an opera star before reinventing herself a decade ago as a jazz, soul and gospel vocalist.

Manager has found Europe to be fertile ground for her new style.

“Opera speaks to a select group. Not everyone likes classical music," she said. "But almost always, we find a larger audience that likes one of the genres that I sing. I enjoy reaching out to my audiences, and this is a better way of bringing people to me, and me going out to reach people.”

Manager will perform Dec. 4 as part of her alma mater’s year-long celebration of its 150th anniversary. The THS Black and Gold Gala will also include a dinner reminiscent of late 1800s fare.

“I feel really, really honored to be part of the gala,” Manager said. “I feel honored every time I come to perform in Topeka. This is my home. It will always be my home. I still have a lot of friends here, and I treasure that.”

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Singing career began with Washburn University training

After earning a degree in applied voice from Washburn University, Manager received additional training at the University of Kansas before landing a job with the Chicago Symphony Chorus in the late 1970s.

That breakthrough allowed her to perform in major venues around the U.S., with some of the leading conductors and classical performers in the country.

Manager used that opportunity as a springboard to audition for jobs in Europe. In 1982, she joined the Gelsenkirchen Opera in Germany and started performing classical music with various European groups.

A decade ago, Manager made a decision about her career.

“The pressures of being an opera singer — particularly an older one — are so demanding," Manager said. "I felt I wanted to leave the opera world while I was still remembered as a good singer. I didn’t want to wait, as happens sometimes, that singers continue to sing beyond the time span that they should.

“Opera is not a normal way of singing. It’s something that you train for, a bit like being a professional athlete. There comes a time in your life that muscles aren’t totally trainable.

“So there came a point when I had to say ‘I’ve had a wonderful career. I’ve sung all of these fantastic roles. And now it’s time to stop.’"

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Richetta Manager reinvents herself

Manager didn’t have to look hard to find a new outlet for her talents.

“When that time comes, you either do something different altogether," she said, "or like myself as an Afro-American, having the background of jazz, gospel and soul, why not make use of it?”

Though Manager will always consider Topeka her hometown, she has thoroughly embraced Germany as her new home.

Over the years, Manager learned the German language, married German citizen Peter Korbach and had a son.

“Professionally it’s been the place for me,” Manager said. “I’m married, and my direct family is now there. I have developed many friends there. Everything has just taken place there for me.”

Gala celebrating 150 years of Topeka High School

Tickets for the meal are $60 and include a ticket to Manager’s performance. Concert-only tickets are $10 and may be purchased in advance or at the door. The meal begins at 6 p.m., with the concert at 8 p.m.

Proceeds from the gala will go toward a spring celebration of the school’s anniversary.

A 2003 inductee to the Topeka High School Hall of Fame, Manager has given numerous performances in her hometown over the years. But performing at her alma mater is something she relishes.

“We’re super lucky to have Richetta perform,” said event chair Sheila Krohe. “She’s performed all over the world, and she brings a unique flair to Topeka. We’ve been able to make it a fun holiday event incorporating Richetta’s traditional musical styles with a dinner with a historical theme.

"The inspiration is the types of foods students would have eaten at a holiday celebration in 1871 — things like watercress salad, figgy pudding. Things a lot of people have not had.”

Co-producing Manager’s performance will be Tony Jones, operator of Topeka’s J-Note Studio. Local musicians performing with Manager will include Sharisse Verser, Jonathan Andrews, Allena Leah Ross, Anica Thompson, Howard Bradley and Marcell Stewart, several of whom graduated from Topeka High.

“This band is a group of fantastic musicians from the Topeka area,” Manager said. “We’re looking forward to it very much.”

This article originally appeared on Topeka Capital-Journal: Richetta Manager will perform Dec. 4 for Topeka High School 150th gala