Musical Remembrances
Nationally and locally, Americans come together in a series of musical programs commemorating 9-11.
SUZANNE CHESSLER
Special to the Jewish News
T
hree themes — remem-
brance, recognition and
resolve — enter into multi-
ple musical programs mark-
ing the one-year anniversary of the ter-
rorist attacks on the United States.
Michigan residents will have a num-
ber of concert choices while remem-
bering the tragic loss and suffering,
recognizing the heroism of emergency
workers and volunteers and resolving
to move forward and remain strong.
Concert for America, a combination
of commentary and music hosted by
Tom Brokaw, will be broadcast 9-11
p.m. on NBC. Beethoven's Ninth
Symphony and choral presentations will
be at the heart of a performance of the
Detroit Symphony Orchestra, con-
ducted by Itzhak Perlman, 8 p.m. at
the Detroit Opera House. Another
local program, "9-11: In
Remembrance," also music and choral
performances, will take place at Ann
Arbor's Power Center for the
Performing Arts.
American Voices
"All of us have been changed by the
events of 9-11 and the year that fol-
lowed, so the idea of this show is to
reflect on that," says Robert Katz, exec-
utive producer of Concert for America.
"We're going to have readings of mov-
ing and important pieces of American
literature, and the music will be an emo-
tional accent to what's in the show."
Katz is busy overseeing the develop-
ment of many kinds of segments —
reflections of all that was lost, initia-
tives of rescue workers, effects on chil-
dren, feelings of survivors and the
common attitudes of Americans as
they carry on.
Leonard Slatkin will conduct the
National Symphony Orchestra for
performances by Aretha Franklin,
Placido Domingo, Gloria Estefan and
Al Green, among many others.
Concert for America, being taped at
Washington's Kennedy Center for the
Performing Arts on Sept. 9, was devel-
oped with Laura Bush as honorary
chairman.
"This is the most difficult show I've
encountered because there's a lot of
attention to what is appropriate and
what isn't," says Katz, a Peabody
Award-winner who started with com-
mercials and music videos and moved
on to performance specials, such as
Eric Clapton's Concert for Crossroads.
"I don't think we're going to be
judged as entertainment but as a show
that melds emotions, positive messages
and respect for anybody who lost
to experience the art
someone close."
and beauty of music as a
Katz, a New York City
contrast to the ugliness
resident who has worked
and hate of the terror-
on commercials planned
ism.
in Detroit, was walking
One year later, in
his daughter to school
commemoration
of 9-
when the first plane hit
11, Perlman has chosen
and later learned he knew
Beethoven's Ode to Joy,
several people killed or
which honors the broth-
injured. Although not a
erhood of man. Glenn
regular at Shabbat servic-
Mellow on viola and
es, he did attend that
Laurie Landers:
Friday evening.
Goldman on violin were
Leonard
Slatkin
will
'Sitting there in the
there last year and will
lead the National
shared community of our
perform again this year.
Symphony Orchestra in
congregation and reflect-
"Ode to Joy is a piece
"Concert for America."
ing on my Judaism was
that
exemplifies the best
very comforting," he
of
the
human spirit,"
explains. "Talking to my
says
Mellow,
who
has
served as princi-
rabbi also helped.
pal viola of the Evansville Philharmonic
"Our program will address what it
and the Owensboro (Kentucky)
means to be an American at this time,
Symphony. "I don't believe there's any-
and we're hoping that the two hours
will be inspiring and bring out feelings thing humans do as a group that's more
outstanding than making music to
similar to what people get from faith."
demonstrate the best of humanity."
To further demonstrate the theme of
brotherhood, the concert will include
Perlman Returns
chorus members from throughout the
On Sept. 11, 2001, Itzhak Perlman and
area. The Wayne State University
the Detroit Symphony Orchestra were
Symphonic Chorus and the University
in rehearsal for the next evening's con-
of Michigan Men's Glee Club will be
cert when the terrorists struck, and they
among the performers in the program
:
decided to go ahead with their perform
that also includes Mahler's Adagietto and
ance. Perlman, principal guest conduc-
tor for the DSO, wanted his audience
REMEMBRANCES on page 137
The Most Tragic Day
Television and radio gear up for 9-11` memorial.
_ALICE BURDICK SCHWEIGER
Special to-the Jewish News
T
o mark the one-year
anniversary of the terrorist
attacks against the World
Trade Center and
Pentagon, the three major television
networks have planned live, continual
daylong coverage for Sept. 11.
That evening, President Bush is sched-
uled to speak to the nation, and the net-
works will cover the address in its entire-
ty, adjusting their schedules accordingly.
Other national network and cable
outlets also have special programming
on tap.
The Big Three
On ABC, coverage begins at 7 a.m.
with an extended Good Morning
America. Memorial events in New
York, Washington, D.C., and
Shanksville, Pa., will be shown live.
After GMA, Peter Jennings will
anchor continuous coverage until 5
p.m., including Answering Children's
Questions, a follow-up to a town hall-
style program that originally aired
Sept. - 15, 2001. Jennings will look at
how children's concerns have changed
during the past year.
From 6:30-7 p.m., World News
Tonight will focus on the day's events.
During primetime, 9-11 p.m., Charles
Gibson will present a minute-by-
minute reconstruction of the attacks
and how the government reacted.
Jennings also will examine what was
going on inside the towers in those
102 minutes between the first attack
and the collapse of the north tower.
Barbara Walters joins families in
their counseling sessions as they deal
with their trauma, and Dians Sawyer
reports on the babies born to mothers
who became widows on Sept. 11.
CBS's 13 hours of live coverage, The
Day That Changed America, runs 7
a.m.-noon, with an expanded edition
of The Early Show anchored by Dan
Rather and Jane Clayson.
Commemorative ceremonies from
New York, Washington, D.C., and
Shanksville, Pa., will be broadcast live.
Throughout the afternoon and into
the early evening, live coverage of
events will continue. The CBS Evening
News with Dan Rather will offer an .
expanded one-hour edition from 6:30-
7:30 p.m., with reports from corre-
TRAGIC DAY on page 136
‘N*
9/ 6
2002
135