John Malveaux: Santa Monica Symphony Orchestra Jan. 13, 2018 Rev. Dr. Martin Luther King, Jr. concert at SGI USA World Peace Ikeda Auditorium was a continuing success

Cedric Berry and Guido Lamell

Cedric Berry and Rick Capparela

John Malveaux of 

www.MusicUNTOLD.com 

writes:

Santa Monica Symphony Orchestra Jan 13, 2018 Rev Dr. Martin Luther King, Jr. concert at SGI USA World Peace Ikeda Auditorium was a continuing success by Maestro Guido Lamell to research and conduct an enlightening concert with social significance. The program included an orchestral arrangement of Duke Ellington's BLACK, BROWN, and BEIGE. Although a grand piano and pianist was on stage, the arrangement did not include a piano part. The capturing performance of the first half was bass-baritone Cedric Berry singing "Te Deum" scene from TOSCA, Act 1. Dr. Martin Luther King had an appreciation for opera and Gaetano Donizetti was his favorite opera composer.

The commanding voice of bass-baritone Cedric Berry ignited the audience again in the second half reciting words from Dr. Martin Luther King's speeches and writings during performance of NEW MORNING FOR THE WORLD subtitled DAYBREAK OF FREEDOM by Joseph Scwantner. See pic of Cedric Berry and Maestro Lamell receiving thunderous applause and program host Rich Capparela, KUSC Classical Music 91.5 FM kneeling to chat with Cedric Berry (sitting) during intermission.