First Unitarian Church Portland Honors Mothers of Fallen Soldiers
Anti-war Activist Ann Wright introduces Pergolesi’s “Stabat Mater” or “Sorrowful Mother”performed by Cascadia Academy of Music

Portland, Ore. – First Unitarian Church Portland and Cascadia Academy of Music present an evening of words and music honoring the mothers of fallen soldiers. Vocalists Catherine van der Salm and Tuesday Rupp will perform Pergolesi’s Stabat Mater with chamber orchestra conducted by Signe Lusk. Anti-war activist Ann Wright will introduce the performance. The event will be held Friday, March 30, 2007 at 7 p.m. in the Main Street Sanctuary of First Unitarian at 1011 SW 12th Avenue. Tickets are $15, and are available at all Safeway TicketsWest Ticket Centers, chargeable by phone at 503-224-TIXX, and on the web at www.ticketswest.com or www.CascadiaAcademy.com.

A former State Department official and anti-war activist, Ann Wright will speak prior to the concert in honor of mothers who have lost soldiers in the Iraq War. Ms. Wright is one of several high-ranking officials critical of the Iraq war that was interviewed in the MoveOn / Robert Greenwald Film “Uncovered: The War On Iraq”. In 2003, Ms. Wright resigned from the State Department in protest of the war. She is currently working on a book entitled “Dissent in a Democracy; Profiles of Whistleblowers and Others Who Have Dared Speak the Truth about the War in Iraq”.

Ms. Wright’s comments will be followed by a performance of the 1735 work Stabat Mater, by composer Giovanni Battista Pergolesi. The title Stabat Mater translates to “sorrowful mother,” and the text of the work is an expression of compassion for the mother of Christ whose son was sacrificed to save mankind. The piece will be conducted by Signe Lusk and performances by sopranos Catherine van der Salm and Tuesday Rupp and members of the First Unitarian Choir will accompany the eight member chamber orchestra.

Oregon mothers of fallen soldiers may contact event coordinator Larry Taylor at Lawrence_d_taylor@yahoo.com to attend the event for free.

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