Tue 4/18 @ 7:30PM
While a contingent on the right in the U.S. has long used immigrants to gin up fear and hate among “real” Americans (it turned against George W. Bush when he proposed comprehensive immigrant reform in 2005), it’s gotten much worse in the last eight years since a prominent individual landed at the bottom of an escalator to proclaim that Mexican immigrants were predominantly rapists and drug dealers, not “their best.”
A drive through Cleveland’s beautiful, unique Cultural Gardens should remind us that that copious achievements and rich culture that built this region were thanks to immigrants. The Cleveland Orchestra will be offering another reminder when it presents a free concert this week at Severance Music Center entitled Ellis Island: The Dream of America.
The one-hour concert features a multimedia work by contemporary American composer, Peter Boyer, which includes narration and historic images in addition to music. Seven actors tell the stories of seven immigrants from seven different countries, who arrived here during the years (1892-1954) in which Ellis Island in the New York Harbor welcomed almost 12 million immigrants and refugees. The Statue of Liberty sits on the island.
The Cleveland Orchestra’s assistant conductor Daniel Reith will lead the performance, with director Donald Carrier. While it’s free, tickets are required. Go here to reserve them.
clevelandorchestra/ellis-island/