Sandra Seaton
Press Release from the Library of Congress
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Library of Congress Presents New Song Cycle On Life Of Sally Hemings
"From the Diary of Sally Hemings," a new song cycle by composer
William Bolcom
and playwright Sandra Seaton, will have its world premiere at the Library of
Congress
by noted mezzo-soprano Florence Quivar on Friday, March 16, at 8 p.m. The
concert,
which is co-sponsored by the Elinor Remick Warren Society, will take place in
the
Library's Coolidge Auditorium located on the ground floor of the Thomas
Jefferson
Building, 10 First Street S.E.
This concert by Ms. Quivar is part of the 75th anniversary season of free
"Concerts
from the Library of Congress" and the second season of "I Hear America
Singing," a
three-year musical celebration of the Library's Bicentennial. This year,
"I Hear America
Singing" focuses on American artists: composers and performers both
established and
on the verge of major careers, in programs of standard masterpieces and
newly
commissioned works.
"From the Diary of Sally Hemings" was commissioned by Music Accord
Inc., a consortium
of United States concert presenters that includes the Library of Congress, the
Chamber
Music Society of Lincoln Center, the Ravinia Festival, Tanglewood and
others. Based on
an imaginary journal the 18 songs provide a surprising yet persuasive
interpretation of the
relationship between Thomas Jefferson and Sally Hemings, officially a slave but
also the
half-sister of Jefferson's wife Martha. The song cycle gives us a powerful
portrait of Sally
Hemings as a person.
Beginning February 7, tickets for the concert will be available for a nominal
charge of $2
per ticket, with additional charges for phone orders and handling, from
TicketMaster by
calling (301) 808-6900, (202) 432-SEAT or by visiting TicketMaster outlets
(maximum
of two tickets per customer). Tickets for Library of Congress concerts are
claimed
quickly, but there are often empty seats at concert time. Interested
patrons are
encouraged to try for standby seats by appearing at the will-call desk in the
Jefferson
Building by 6:30 p.m. on concert evenings.
###
January 22, 2001
Contact: Helen Dalrymple (202) 707-1940
Web site: www.loc.gov