Birdfoot Backstage
with 桜 SAKURA
Thursday, March 1, 2018 at 7:30 PM
Performing Arts Center, Old U.S. Mint
New Orleans Jazz Museum
400 Esplanade Avenue, New Orleans
Free Admission, reservations suggested
Join the the dazzling 桜 SAKURA and Birdfoot’s Artistic Director Jenna Sherry “backstage” in a conversation about Beethoven’s riveting Fifth Symphony and Anne Wilson’s Lament in Memory of Matthew Shepard.
Beethoven’s Fifth Symphony is the latest work that SAKURA has arranged for five cellos (an epic feat in itself), and one of the most-performed and recognized pieces of music of all time. Beethoven’s “Fifth” is like a fortress build from a simple rhythmic “lego block”—the famous “da-da-da-dum” opening rhythm.
Anne Wilson’s Lament in Memory of Matthew Shepard, on the other hand, was one of the first pieces that SAKURA ever performed and one of only a few in their repertoire that was originally written for five cellos. This loving and compassionate work paints a picture of the tragic story of the young gay man who was tricked, savagely beaten, and ultimately killed as a result of his sexual orientation.
This edition of “Backstage” is an opportunity to get inside this powerful music alongside the musicians of SAKURA. Join the conversation!