City of San Francisco, French Consulate & Grace Cathedral Announce Public Solidarity Concert for the Notre-Dame de Paris
SF Symphony, SF Opera, American Bach Soloists, and Johann Vexo, the organist from the Notre-Dame de Paris, will all perform at Grace Cathedral on Monday, April 29th in a concert that is free and open to the public
Published Friday, April 19, 2019
San Francisco, CA — Today Mayor London N. Breed, the French Consulate and Grace Cathedral announced a solidarity concert for the Notre-Dame de Paris will be held on Monday, April 29th at 6 pm that is free and open to the public. The concert will take place at Grace Cathedral and will include performances by the San Francisco Symphony, the San Francisco Opera, American Bach Soloists, Johann Vexo, the organist from the Notre-Dame de Paris, and others.
“San Francisco is proud to stand in solidarity with the people of Paris, our sister city, and the world to celebrate the beauty, spirit and resilience of Notre Dame de Paris,” said Mayor Breed. “Watching Notre Dame burn was devastating, just as it was also horrible to witness a series of historic Louisiana churches burnt in recent arson attacks. Our houses of worship hold a special place for our cities and our people, and we are proud to support the people of Paris as they begin the work to rebuild the iconic monument in the heart of their city.”
“Watching Notre Dame de Paris engulfed in flames was a shock for all Paris lovers,” said Emmanuel Lebrun-Damiens, Consul General of France. “Beyond a monument and an architectural masterpiece, it is a part of the world history of art and our common identity that was being damaged. I am very grateful to San Francisco Mayor London Breed for the organization of this concert at Grace Cathedral and would like to acknowledge all the many ways of support that we have received during the past week. This concert will allow all of us to find comfort in the beauty of music, and the strength to move on to the phase of reconstruction of our beloved cathedral.”
Grace Cathedral is French Gothic in design and while its influences include the French cathedrals of Amiens, Beauvais and Chartres in addition to Notre Dame, its facade most reminds visitors of the beloved Parisian cathedral. The event will be coordinated by Charlotte Mailliard Shultz, the Chief of Protocol of the City and County of San Francisco. More details will be released next week.
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