February 4, 2005
FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE
Portland, Ore. … Exactly two months after the Dec. 26 Asian tsunami disaster, the Oregon Symphony will partner with Portland-based Mercy Corps to dedicate performances of Brahms’ Requiem to tsunami survivors and victims, Symphony President William Ryberg announced today. The concerts, scheduled for Feb. 26-28 at the Arlene Schnitzer Concert Hall, also will serve as an opportunity for Mercy Corps to thank Oregonians for their leadership role in the tsunami relief effort.
“We asked Mercy Corps to consider how the Symphony might play a meaningful role in supporting their work to rebuild the lives of tsunami victims,” said Ryberg. “The Brahms’ Requiem, with its powerful message of hope for the living, was an obvious musical choice. We also are pleased to help Mercy Corps communicate the long-term nature of relief efforts.”
“Oregonians have always been among Mercy Corps’ strongest supporters, and their generosity towards the communities devastated by the tsunami has been extraordinary,” said Bob Newell, Mercy Corps’ Board chair. “Mercy Corps has raised $20 million in private funds for tsunami relief – much of it from the Pacific Northwest – and that allows us to provide lasting, sustainable assistance. We are proud to partner with the Oregon Symphony to address the ongoing needs of the families most affected by the tsunami.”
Symphony Music Director Carlos Kalmar readily agreed with the concert selection: “Usually the reason for a Requiem is grief, sometimes even pain,” he said. “Brahms, however, selected the lyrics for the Requiem himself, so it is not the Latin text (or a translation). The real focus is one of calmness, one of what I would describe as ‘happy sorrow.’ The quotations describe the feelings of ‘looking back with calm grief, but looking at the future with calm hope.’ This is a great piece to commemorate the tragic events of the tsunami.”
“Mercy Corps representatives have been invited to attend the Brahms’ Requiem concerts to share information about the relief efforts,” said Ryberg.
About Mercy Corps
Since 1979, Portland-based Mercy Corps has provided more than $830 million in assistance to people in 80 nations. The organization’s 2,000 staff worldwide currently reach six million people in more than 35 countries. More than 91 percent of the agency’s resources are allocated to programs that directly assist those in need.
Mercy Corps’ staff are assisting over 250,000 people in India, Sri Lanka and Indonesia left homeless and injured by the powerful disaster. Working in cooperation with local authorities and organizations, Mercy Corps has launched programs to generate income for survivors and re-establish economic opportunities through projects that begin long-term recovery. In each country, Mercy Corps is making special efforts to address the immediate and long-term needs of children, the most vulnerable in the tsunami-affected areas.
*Note - For more information, please contact:
Carrie Kikel, Oregon Symphony, (503) 228-4294
Eric Block, Mercy Corps, (503) 796-6800
