The National Symphony Orchestra (NSO), led by conductor Steven Reineke, and Artistic Advisor Ben Folds welcome legendary actor, musician, activist, and recent space traveler William Shatner as the featured guest artist for its upcoming DECLASSIFIED® : BEN FOLDS PRESENTS concert on Friday, April 29 at 9 p.m. in the Kennedy Center Concert Hall.
On October 13, 2021, William Shatner had the distinct honor of being the oldest human, and only artist, to travel beyond Earth’s atmosphere after decades of famously portraying interstellar explorer “Captain James Tiberius Kirk” on Star Trek. In a unique concert experience, Shatner will perform new and original spoken-word poetry with new orchestral compositions inspired by nature. It is through his poetry and character that Shatner articulates his personal and profound perspective on the fragility and vulnerability of our planet. Accompanied by the NSO, Shatner explores the “thin line” between life and death that our planet’s atmosphere is currently facing. Folds serves as host, occasionally joining the orchestra as well as Shatner as his duet partner.
Shatner’s original works will be coupled with mainstays of the classical repertoire such as Claude Debussy’s Clair de lune and The Planets by Gustav Holst.
This partnership between long-time friends and collaborators Folds and Shatner is the latest project in their decades-long history together. Previously, they teamed up on Shatner’s acclaimed album Has Been, featuring their highly praised version of Pulp’s “Common People.” They also performed “In Love” together from Folds’ album Fear of Pop together on Late Night with Conan O’Brien on January 22, 1999.
The evening will begin with a pre-concert performance at 8 p.m. on the Millennium Stage in the Grand Foyer, featuring participants of the DC Camp ACappella Intensive that will be held on Tuesday, April 26 at Planet World in the restored, historic Franklin School Building. The intensive is a free, daylong program led by singer/arranger/composer Deke Sharon, and is the result of a collaboration between Folds, Planet Word, a D.C.-based interactive museum devoted to immersive language experiences, the NSO, and Camp ACappella. The pre-performance events will also include a photo booth, corn hole, and a beer tasting provided by Port City, which is locally based in Alexandria.
The DECLASSIFIED® series defies the traditional classical music presentation by offering great live music in a casual and relaxed setting, with performances of symphonic music, as well as music newly composed or arranged specifically for this event. The series strives to break down misconceptions of classical music while offering pre-and post-concert parties.
Since its inception in 2017, the DECLASSIFIED®: BEN FOLDS PRESENTS concert series has featured a host of contemporary artists from a multitude of genres. These varied artists perform songs that are newly arranged and orchestrated for the artist and the NSO specifically for these events. Guest artists over the years have included Grammy®, Tony®, and Emmy® award-winning artists such as Jon Batiste, Sara Bareilles, Regina Spektor, Wu Man, Danay Suarez, Jamey Johnson, Sarah Silverman, Kishi Bashi and others.
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