News anchor Randy Price narrates Lincoln program with symphony this weekend
By Gail McCarthy
Staff writer
For the past 60 years, notable personalities have narrated "Lincoln Portrait" by American composer Aaron Copland, written in 1942.
The words come from addresses by Abraham Lincoln, woven into a text for the orchestral work, commissioned in 1942 by conductor Andre Kostelanetz shortly after the United States began fighting in World War II.
A young Yoichi Udagawa remembers growing up listening to that music on a battery-operated tape recorder. It was the recording narrated by Henry Fonda with the London Symphony Orchestra conducted by Copland (1900-1990).
"I always loved that music and when I became a conductor, I realized I can do this piece," said Udagawa, musical director and conductor of the Cape Ann Symphony, which performs the work this weekend as part of a Pops concert.
Walter Cronkite narrated the piece for the U.S. Air Force Symphony Orchestra. Al Gore narrated the work for the New York Philharmonic, and Katharine Hepburn with the Cincinnati Pops Orchestra. Charlton Heston, Eleanor Roosevelt, James Earl Jones, Paul Newman, Gregory Peck and Vincent Price all had the honor of narrating the music.
Channel 7 News Anchor Randy Price will make his debut with the Cape Ann Symphony following in the same vein of others who honor the nation's history with this work.
Price — who served in the Air Force as a broadcaster with the American Forces Radio and Television Service after college — said Lincoln's words continue to be relevant in the 21st century.
"When you hear the words, if I didn't tell you who was talking, it might be a great thinker of today's age. He was a great American president during a critical chapter in American history," he said. "As a society, we don't pay enough attention to history, yet we all contribute to history in some way."
Udagawa said the concert program for the Spring Pops Concert features great pieces written primarily by American composers.
Two works by Boston composers will make their premiere with "Minuet" by Alice Pertchik-Udagawa, the conductor's wife, and "Concordia" by Tom Vignieri. The program also features Von Suppe's "Morning, Noon and Night," Gould's "American Salute," the Anderson favorites "Waltzing Cat and Chicken Reel," Williams' "Liberty Fanfare," Bock's Broadway classic "Fiddler on the Roof" and the "Finale" from Tchaikovsky's 1812 Overture.
The compositions of Pertchik-Udagawa are described as short character pieces for piano that evoke different feelings, said Udagawa. Minuet is her third orchestra work.
"The Minuet in F major is a short baroque-like piece for string orchestra," she said. "The ideas for the piece came very spontaneously one afternoon while I was improvising at the piano."
Pertchik-Udagawa was born in Brooklyn, N.Y., and raised on Long Island. She attended the Boston Conservatory where she studied piano performance with Alfred Lee.
Price is looking forward to sharing the stage with Udagawa and the Cape Ann Symphony.
"These kinds of appearances are the silver lining. I'm more than happy to do these things because they are positive, life-affirming and interesting," said Price who in the past has narrated "'Twas the Night Before Christmas," with the Boston Pops.
Price has championed the causes of many organizations, ranging from human rights to animal welfare because of his relationship with viewers over the past 26 years working in New England. He also breeds award-winning cocker spaniels. An Eagle Scout, he also is a supporter of Boy Scouting.
Price, who grew up in Baton Rouge, began his career in radio while a student at Louisiana State University. His commercial TV career began in California where he was first recognized for his reporting skills. He later moved to New England where he continues to bring news stories to viewers.
Reader box:
What: The Cape Ann Symphony's Spring Pops Concert featuring TV-7 news anchor Randy Price in a concert of works by American composers.
When: Saturday, May 17, at 8 p.m. and Sunday, May 18 at 2 p.m.
Where: Fuller Auditorium at Blackburn Circle, off Route 128, in Gloucester. Ticket prices are $25 for adults, $20 for senior citizens and college students. Under 18 are admitted free. For tickets and information, call 978-281-0543 or visit www.capeannsymphony.org.
