A Concert of Commemoration, Honoring the 10th Anniversary of 9/11
Avery Fisher Hall
Narrated by Jessye Norman
Jenkins: The Armed Man: A Mass for Peace
Jenkins: For the Fallen: In Memoriam Alfryn Jenkins (US Premiere)
Jessye Norman, Narrator
Erika Powell, Soprano
Charlotte Daw Paulsen, Mezzo-Soprano
Brian Cheney, Tenor
Bradley Ellingboe, Bass-baritone
Featuring "The Really Big Chorus" (UK)
René Clausen, Composer/Conductor
Clausen: Memorial
Barber: Adagio for Strings
Featuring Distinguished Concerts Orchestra International and Distinguished Concerts Singers International
Distinguished Concerts Singers International: Bedford Presbyterian Senior Choir (NH), The Concert Singers (CA), Concordia College Alumni Choir (MN), George Fox University's Concert Choir (OR), Gwinnett Symphony Chorus (GA), Manassas Chorale (VA), The Master Chorale of Fargo-Moorhead (ND), Prescott Master Singers (AZ), Windsong Southland Chorale (Ontario, CA)
Today is a heavy, heavy day, in both mind and heart.
My husband and I are invited to the concert at the Lincoln Center by a dear friend. It has been 10 long years since the attack took place in the most unimaginably busy city-New York. The old scar is still bleeding and every year we are reminded just how very vulnerable we really are. It is so hard for every American to re-live the most terrifying moments in the history of his nation, but somehow we need to remember, as it is the only way to move and be strong. We find our friend by the fountain, chat a bit while waiting for the others. The choral members flew in from England are scattered around the fountain, dressed in distinguish black. The sky is gray, miserable clouds would seal up the atmosphere tight, extending well beyond the skyline. Everything seems strange. The crowd closes in, we walk into the Avery Fisher Hall to find our seats. Ms. Norman is tonight's narrator. I have been very curios about her, having heard and seem so much of her as an opera singer and a terrific model for young, talented black women. Finally I get my wish granted! I would love to hear her "Dido's Lament", but she is the narrator tonight.
The performance is in two chapters. S.Barber's "Adagio for Stings" is absolutely stunning, eerie, but stunning. The first chapter re-visualizes the attack of the twin towers. It begins with light, happy music that displays a sunny, worry-free morning on the September 11th. Suddenly the mood changes and breaks away from the pleasantness, then it's followed with dramatic change of color and tempo, revisiting the brutal attack scenes. The drum is so intense and mind shaking that I am nearly coming to a heart attack whenever strikes. The second chapter is filled with collection of prayers, Hebrew, Greek, Latin and Arabic...Steve's favorite part is the French marching music "The Armed Man", mine is the Arabic prayer, too bad it's a recording and not live.
The music is powerful, during the entire chapter 1, there is one scene that keeps coming back to my mind as the drums get heavier and heavier, a photo most of the Americans have seen, of a man leaps and jumps out of one the attacked buildings, alone and hopeless. I can not get it out of my head, it's painful to try to imagine what must be going through his mind at that very final moment of his life. He is watched by millions, yet he is alone by himself... I grab my husband's hand, hold it as tight as I can as if he is going to fly away if I didn't. He turns and smiles back. We know we have each other, and that is the most precious treasure anyone can find.
My husband and I are invited to the concert at the Lincoln Center by a dear friend. It has been 10 long years since the attack took place in the most unimaginably busy city-New York. The old scar is still bleeding and every year we are reminded just how very vulnerable we really are. It is so hard for every American to re-live the most terrifying moments in the history of his nation, but somehow we need to remember, as it is the only way to move and be strong. We find our friend by the fountain, chat a bit while waiting for the others. The choral members flew in from England are scattered around the fountain, dressed in distinguish black. The sky is gray, miserable clouds would seal up the atmosphere tight, extending well beyond the skyline. Everything seems strange. The crowd closes in, we walk into the Avery Fisher Hall to find our seats. Ms. Norman is tonight's narrator. I have been very curios about her, having heard and seem so much of her as an opera singer and a terrific model for young, talented black women. Finally I get my wish granted! I would love to hear her "Dido's Lament", but she is the narrator tonight.
The performance is in two chapters. S.Barber's "Adagio for Stings" is absolutely stunning, eerie, but stunning. The first chapter re-visualizes the attack of the twin towers. It begins with light, happy music that displays a sunny, worry-free morning on the September 11th. Suddenly the mood changes and breaks away from the pleasantness, then it's followed with dramatic change of color and tempo, revisiting the brutal attack scenes. The drum is so intense and mind shaking that I am nearly coming to a heart attack whenever strikes. The second chapter is filled with collection of prayers, Hebrew, Greek, Latin and Arabic...Steve's favorite part is the French marching music "The Armed Man", mine is the Arabic prayer, too bad it's a recording and not live.
The music is powerful, during the entire chapter 1, there is one scene that keeps coming back to my mind as the drums get heavier and heavier, a photo most of the Americans have seen, of a man leaps and jumps out of one the attacked buildings, alone and hopeless. I can not get it out of my head, it's painful to try to imagine what must be going through his mind at that very final moment of his life. He is watched by millions, yet he is alone by himself... I grab my husband's hand, hold it as tight as I can as if he is going to fly away if I didn't. He turns and smiles back. We know we have each other, and that is the most precious treasure anyone can find.
I want to thank all our soldiers, troops and people who have been sacrificing their life in order to protect ours. I am proud to be part of you and that pledge, to always love and honor this beautiful nation brought closer by that fateful day.
09.11.2001
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