Friday May 02nd 2008
A free outdoor concert
Delayed Until After December - Check Back for Details
Grand Performances Outdoor Water Court Theater Stage
The diverse community of Los Angeles will be the royal guests as a full orchestra and chorus perform the North American premiere of Billy Bragg’s version of the 9th Symphony. First performed in Vienna in 1824, Beethoven’s Ninth Symphony transcends boundaries of geography, race, nation. As the words of the 9th’s choral “Ode to Joy” clearly state, “Alle menschen werden bruder” - all peoples of the earth are connected by a common humanity.
British balladeer and lifelong social activist Billy Bragg has translated the German words of “Ode to Joy” for a new generation. Commissioned in 2007, Bragg’s new version of Beethoven’s 9th Symphony premiered with the London Philharmonic last November at the Royal Festival Hall, before Queen Elizabeth.
The performance will feature musical groups from across the ethnic and cultural landscape of Los Angeles, bringing their versions of the Ninth. A shared stage will reflect the best of Ethiopian tizeta and ambasel, Oaxacan brass ensembles, Persian dastgahs, South Central hip-hop, blues, Indian raga Jazz and Armenian-inflected rock. The performance will end with Billy Bragg’s rendering of the 4th movement’s chorale arrangement in contemporary English.
The event is co-produced by Battle Hymns Productions, national and international award-winning Grand Performances, and selected community partners.
Public Benefit
The concert will garner broad cultural interest from Los Angeles citizens of all ages, with active participation from the Latino, African-American, Persian, Ethiopian, Euro-American, and Asian communities. Residents will experience, free of charge, a symphony orchestra and choir in concert with local, culturally diverse musical groups –offering varied interpretations of Beethoven’s 9th Symphony.
Advertising/Marketing
The populist nature of the event itself will engender local coverage by Los Angeles media, on-line and off-line outlets, radio PSAs, and Grand Performances publicity outlets. Participating partners will utilize snail-mail flyers and email “viral” outreach. Non-profits such as the African Marketplace, the Chinese American Museum, Plaza de la Raza, and the Watts Towers, serving the different ethnic communities in Los Angeles will be encouraged to email their memberships on our behalf. Posters will be placed with strategically located businesses and non-profits throughout Los Angeles. Paid advertising will be used in select ethnic newspapers.
Project Executive Team
Kerry Candaele, Producer
Kerry is the founder of Battle Hymns Productions, a multi-media company established in 1997. He has directed and produced several documentary films, including the 2008 Following The Ninth: In The Footsteps of Beethoven’s Final Symphony (www.followingtheninth.com). Author of two books of American history, Kerry has also released two CDs of popular music. He has worked internationally as a project analyst for the Los Angeles-based NGO Democracy Council.
Danny Feingold, Producer
Danny is communications director with the Los Angeles Alliance for a New Economy (LAANE), a nationally recognized leader in the effort to reduce working poverty. Under his direction, LAANE has attracted national press attention for the successful campaign to stop Wal-Mart from building a Supercenter in Inglewood, the Santa Monica living wage campaign, and other efforts. Mr. Feingold was a regular contributor to the Los Angeles Times and LA Weekly, and served as news editor and managing editor for the Los Angeles View. He has worked as editor of fiction, health, and business books. Additionally, he is an experienced choral singer.
Betto Arcos, Co-Producer
Betto is host of NOCHE DE RONDA, a weekly 3-hour Latin and World music show on KCSN-88.5 FM. As Music Director and Director of Operations at KPFK-90.7 FM for seven years, Arcos created the daily world music program “Global Village.” A contributing reporter and producer for NPR’s Latino USA and Radio Biling¸e’s Noticiero Latino, Arcos has co-produced experimental radio art with performance artist Guillermo Gomez-PeÒa. Arcos is also an independent music promoter and artists’ manager. A native of Xalapa, Veracruz, Mexico, Arcos graduated cum laude in journalism from the University of Colorado.
Grand Performances
With over 20 years of service to the community, Grand Performances is Southern California’s largest presenter of free performing arts programs, and a landmark nonprofit arts institution whose mission is bringing together the peoples of Los Angeles for concerts celebrating the community’s multi-ethnic cultural contributions. Partially conceived by the Community Redevelopment Agency as part of an 11-acre complex at California Plaza, the organization has attracted widely-diverse audiences of as many as 7000 to the free concerts at the outdoor Water Court Theatre.
Before coming to Grand Performances, Executive Director Michael Alexander was Director of Performing Arts for the LA Department of Cultural Affairs, and managed the AMAN Folk Ensemble and the San Francisco Ballet. Former Co-Chair of California Arts Advocates, Mr. Alexander is now the organization’s Legislative Chair. He has participated as consultant and panelist for the NEA, HUD, the California Arts Council, and the LA County Arts Commission, and currently co-chairs Arts for LA.
Tracy Yassini, Development & Marketing
Tracy brings over 15 years of experience in nearly all facets of nonprofit fundraising in addition to strategic planning, organizational development and management which include key positions at City of Hope National Medical Center and the Muscular Dystrophy Association. As Development Director and Associate Director at LA Alliance for a New Economy from 2001-2003, she developed a deep awareness and continuing dedication to social justice issues. She is now focused on a range of clients and projects which involve fundraising workshops and trainings, managing capital and endowment campaigns, grantwriting, board development and just plain old fashioned grassroots fundraising (her favorite!).