October 30, 2020 - Virtual Concert Series Newsletter

October 30: This week's Friday Letter comes one day before Halloween, two days before All Saints’ Sunday, and four days before a momentous national election. We selected music with these events in mind. First on today’s concert Voces8 sing the haunting “Pie Jesu” from the requiem. Next on today’s concert is “The Eternal Gates” by Howard Helvey. What comes next is pure vocal splendor. First, you hear Jessye Norman singing “Amazing Grace” at the Kennedy Center for an event honoring Sidney Poitier. You see President Clinton in the appreciative audience. Next, you see Jessye Norman in a powerful performance of the “Liebestod”  from Wagner’s opera Tristan and Isolde.  After that you will hear the legendary duo consisting of Marilyn Horne and Dame Joan Sutherland as they perform a duet from Bellini’s opera “Norma”. Our virtual concert closes with two unabashedly patriotic pieces. First, you see Kate Smith sing “God Bless America” by Irving Berlin.  Finally, you will experience “The Battle Hymn of the Republic” as it was performed one year ago at the Naval Academy.