North Carolina Symphony Continues 80th Anniversary Season Feb. 21-23 With “Freedom” Concerts in Fayetteville and Raleigh

RALEIGH, NC Feb. 14, 2013 – Resident Conductor William Henry Curry will lead the North Carolina Symphony in a 2012-2013 classical season orchestra highlight of “Freedom,” in concerts Feb. 21 in Fayetteville and Feb. 22-23 in Raleigh.

The concerts, which feature narration by David Hartman, and artist James Westwater’s photo choreography on a giant screen, commemorate the 150^th anniversary of the signing of the Emancipation Proclamation in 1863.  With music from Aaron Copland, Charles Ives, Roy Harris, and John Adams, the concert will also showcase baritone Scott MacLeod.

The performances take place on Thursday, Feb. 21 at 8 p.m. in J.W. Seabrook Auditorium, on the campus of Fayetteville State University, and Friday, Feb. 22, and Saturday, Feb. 23, at 8 p.m. in downtown Raleigh’s Meymandi Concert Hall at the Progress Energy Center for the Performing Arts.

Noted photochoreographer James Westwater’s evocative, multi-image photo essay, “The Eternal Struggle,” is set to Aaron Copland’s moving “Lincoln Portrait,” and will be narrated by North Carolina Symphony radio broadcast voice and former Good Morning America host David Hartman.  Bartione Scott MacLeod will perform John Adams’ “The Wound-Dresser.”

A series of multi-disciplinary presentations that allow the North Carolina Symphony to examine the Civil War, the Lincoln Presidency, and the Civil Rights Movement will lead up to the performances. All activities are part of Explorations: Freedom. Through concerts, discussions, and images the North Carolina Symphony commemorates the 150 anniversary of the Emancipation Proclamation.

Other activities that week include:

–Pre-concert talks in Fayetteville and Raleigh
–Demonstration, performance excerpts and Q&A at Shaw University in Raleigh with baritone Scott MacLeod, from 1-2:30 p.m.
–Post-concert Q&A Panels in Fayetteville and Raleigh.
–A Soundbites concert and meal at Parizade Restaurant in Durham that features Civil War-era brass band music and delicious food and drink.  Hosted by David Hartman, the concert features the North Carolina Symphony Brass Quintet -  Paul Randall, trumpet; Timothy Stewart, trumpet; Rebekah Daley, horn;  John Ilika, trombone; and David Lewis, tuba.  Click here for the dinner menu.  Tickets, which include the concert and the meal, are $65.
–An education concert for middle and high-school students will take place in Raleigh on February 21, 2013 at 10 a.m. This concert is supported in part by Symphony partners The Freelon Group and Piedmont Investment Advisors.

Tickets to the Fayetteville performance of “Freedom” are $30.  Tickets to the Raleigh performances of “Freedom” range from $18 to $64. Student tickets are $10. To purchase tickets, visit the North Carolina Symphony website or call the Symphony Box Office at (919) 733-2750 or toll free (877) 627-6724.

J.W. Seabrook Auditorium is located on the campus of Fayetteville State University, in Fayetteville. Meymandi Concert Hall is located in the Progress Energy Center for the Performing Arts, 2 E. South St., in Raleigh.

Freedom concerts are supported in part by Symphony Partners The Freelon Group and Piedmont Investment Advisors.

Series Partner for the 2012/13 Fayetteville Classical Series is Reed Lallier Chevrolet. Partners for the 2012/13 Raleigh Classical Series include Clancy & Theys Construction; Duke Medicine: Smith Anderson Blount Dorsett Mitchell & Jernigan, LLP; The Freelon Group; and Piedmont Investment Advisors, LLC.

The Series presenter for Soundbites is Duke Realty.  Generous support for Soundbites has also been provided by the Hulka Ensemble and Chamber Music Programs Fund of the North Carolina Symphony.

Statewide partnership and support provided by Progress Energy.