The Cathedral Choral Society, J. Reilly Lewis, Music Director, Announces Its Presentation of When Lilacs Last in The Door-yard Bloom'd - Paul Hindemith

The Cathedral Choral Society, J. Reilly Lewis, Music Director, Announces Its Presentation of When Lilacs Last in The Door-yard Bloom'd - Paul Hindemith

Sunday, March 8, 2009 at 4:00 p.m. at Washington National Cathedral

An official event of the Abraham Lincoln Bicentennial Commission

WASHINGTON, Feb. 25 /PRNewswire-USNewswire/ -- The following is being issued by the Cathedral Choral Society:

(Photo: http://www.newscom.com/cgi-bin/prnh/20090225/DC75467)

J. Reilly Lewis, conductor
Sam Waterston, narrator
Marietta Simpson, mezzo-soprano
Christopheren Nomura, baritone

The Cathedral Choral Society is proud to be recognized as an official event of the Lincoln Bicentennial celebrations with this performance of Hindemith's rarely heard work When Lilacs Last in the Door-yard Bloom'd, alongside the American classic The Battle Hymn of the Republic and the American premiere of Charles Villiers Stanford's Elegiac Ode. The Choral Society is also delighted to welcome Oscar-nominated and Emmy-winning actor Sam Waterston as narrator for Aaron Copland's Lincoln Portrait and Lincoln's Second Inaugural Address.

The words of When Lilacs Last in the Door-yard Bloom'd were written to commemorate Lincoln's death -- the music to mark FDR's. Walt Whitman, the great American poet, and Paul Hindemith, a self-exiled German composer, collaborated posthumously to create an American masterpiece with the freshness of a European perspective. It is Hindemith's tribute not only to two presidents he admired but to the whole democratic ideal.

The free pre-concert discussion for this concert will be at 2:30 pm and will be led by Dr. Bruce D. McClung, associate professor of musicology at College-Conservatory of Music, University of Cincinnati, with opening remarks by Dr. Eileen R. Mackevich, executive director of the Abraham Lincoln Bicentennial Commission.

New this season, the Cathedral Choral Society offers a unique Arts Enrichment Workshop for children in grades 3 - 6 during its subscription concerts. For just $25, children enjoy fun and educational musical activities, hear a small portion of the concert itself, and also learn about the music being performed while their parents enjoy the concert in the Cathedral -- a perfect alternative to babysitting. Space is limited and pre-registration is required. For more information, please contact Daniel Ozment, Director of External Programs, at dozment@cathedral.org.

Tickets $20 - $80

Contact: Alison Combes (202) 537-5524
acombes@cathedral.org

Photo: http://www.newscom.com/cgi-bin/prnh/20090225/DC75467
PRN Photo Desk, photodesk@prnewswire.com
Source: Cathedral Choral Society

CONTACT: Alison Combes of Cathedral Choral Society, +1-202-537-5524,
acombes@cathedral.org

Web Site: http://www.cathedralchoralsociety.org/

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