The Denver Philharmonic’s “O Beautiful” concert last weekend was both stirring and beautifully performed. It began with the iconic “Fanfare for the Common Man” and then lulled and enlivened us with the music of “Porgy and Bess.”
But the centerpiece was “Ellis Island: The Dream of America.” It told the stories of early immigrants to America, with beautiful and well-paired music as background to actors telling first-person accounts. All of them talked about the hope they felt when they reached Ellis Island and saw the Statue of Liberty.
As the performance ended, most of the crowd of 900 rose quickly to their feet to applaud the performance and, quite possibly, the stirring message. For me, it was both. Our country has always been seen as the beacon of welcome and hope. The stories that were told all spoke that message. Our country’s character grew because of hope, not hate.
䲹DZѱԻ, Littleton
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