Wednesday, April 21, 2010

A RIOT OF ASSYRIAN ARTS

Assyrian arts and culture once again soar in a riot of musical color as the Assyrian Aid Society of America (AAS-A) presents the 2010 Mesopotamian Nights concert.

The fourth annual Assyrian musical extravaganza spotlights AAS-A’s fundraising auction on August 21 at the Gallo Center for the Arts in Modesto, California. All proceeds go toward making life a bit easier for the Assyrians in Iraq.

This year’s fare offers a tasty menu of Assyrian orchestral and operatic music spiced up by a Broadway-style Assyrian musical. A 41-piece symphony orchestra, singers and dancers light up the evening with a musical treat that will set toes to tapping and spirits to flying.

The program includes Assyryt Suite No. 2, a silky orchestral arrangement of Paulus Khofri’s songs by the French composer Michel Bosc.

Ninos and Semiramis: a love story, also by Michel Bosc, is a lovely cantata, that is a work for a group of singers, set to poems by Yosip Bet Yosip.

Assyrian composer Sam Madoo, on commission from Mesopotamian Nights, showcases his arrangements for string quartet of several songs by the legendary Assyrian composer William Daniel.

Mesopotamian Nights turns to George Somi, another young and talented Assyrian classical music composer, for excerpts from his orchestral suite The Assyrian Legacy.

Finally, the popular Assyrian singer Walter Aziz and musician and arranger Edwin Elieh collaborate on a rollicking Broadway-style Assyrian musical packed with delightful surprises.

Matthew Buckman, Towsend Opera Players executive director, is musical director and stage manager. John Kendal Bailey conducts.

No matter what your musical taste, there’s something here to put trumpets in your voice and fanfares in your heart. Please join me for a celebration of music, food and wine, plus a chance to bid on a fine selection of auction premiums at Mesopotamian Nights.

Obelit Yadgar
Writer & Master of Ceremonies
www.obieyadgar.com

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