Sunday, June 21, 2009

The festival will close on Sunday, June 21 at Wilmington’s Grand Opera House with the return of one of the festival’s signature performances - Duke Ellington’s Sacred Concerts, led by acclaimed local conductor and music educator David Christopher and performed by approximately 150 instrumentalists, vocalists, and dancers. Featured performers will include award-winning tap dancer Joseph Webb, whose performances include Savion Glover’s Bring in ‘Da Noise Bring in ‘Da Funk; the Pieces of a Dream Modern Dance Theatre; and several distinguished soloists, including vocalist Devonne Gardner, who soloed for Ellington when he debuted the Sacred Concerts; 13-year-old vocalist Halima Bleu of Wilmington, who performed the role of Nala in the Broadway production of The Lion King; and Iris Fairfax, Lawler Rogers, and Zen Aura. Featured instrumentalists include trumpeters Nick Corvino and Matt Gallagher, bassist Rob Swanson, and pianist Dennis Fortune. The Wilmington Children’s Chorus will also perform.

Ellington considered his Sacred Concerts the most important work of his long career. While discussing the work, Ellington once explained, “Every man prays in his own language.” It is this quote that captures the spirit of the three Sacred Music concerts that Ellington premiered in 1965, 1968 and 1973, and that were the culmination of the last, liturgical phase of his life's work in music. Ellington found a whole new vocabulary to express his spirituality late in his life by fusing liturgy and Jazz along with elements of classical music, choral music, spirituals, gospel, blues and dance.