UNITED NATIONS NATIONS UNIES POSTAL ADDRESS ADRESSC POSTALE- UNITED NATIONS, N.V. IOO17 CABLE AODHE» ADREME TEUEGRAPHIQUE: UNATIONS NEWVORK EXECUTIVE OFFICE OF THE SECRETARY-GENERAL CABINET OU SECRETAIRE GENERAL Rro. S-3840A -- Tel. (212) 963-5495 - FAX (212) 963-1185 8 July 1998 Dear Ms. Bumbry, I want to thank you for your recent visit to the United Nations and your generous interest hi holding a concert here. We were honoured by your visit. Although matters of timing, financing and limits to the stage pose difficult obstacles for a performance this fall, be assured that we are interested and hope we may continue to explore the possibility, perhaps for 1999. Let us continue the conversation. I wish you a good summer and again, send sincere thanks for your interest and support. With highest regards. fours sincerely, Gillian Martin Sorensen Assistant Secretary-General for External Relations Ms. Grace Bumbry Honorary Ambassador of UNESCO Villa Arasio 6926 Montagnola Switzerland I I K < \ < 5 o u i en I o * i A (fl •3 g 03 O o cs "S "S r 11- O fe^ S^s « «/> UJ Z S j J s K 2 < h £. 3o 8 £ Itl»; • g ij';. u '.TJ* I-0 51 °y ^ a 2 U Q s> IL t- IL C t C Z o z o z O S Villa Arasio Tel. 0041/91/542204 6926 Montagnola Fax. 0041/91/549443 Switzerland H.E. Mr. Kofi Annan S ecretary-General UNITED NATIONS Room 8300 New York, NY 10017 May 7, 1998 Dear Secretary-General, Please allow me to introduce myself. You might_be already familiar with my name since you have beernn New York many years with trie UNITED fi^IQNSjQrganizatiQn during some ofTfieTtime jhat_!_was performing at the Metropolitan Opera. I shall be enclosing a brochure to refresh your memory. I have in the meantime cut back a lot on my operatic activities and have established THE GRACE BUMBRYBLACKMUSICAL HEjUTAGEENSEMBLE, anon-tor proift OTga'ttizaUoiTsOl C 3, which made it's world premiere at the 75th Salzburg Festival opening in 1995. This was followed by an equally successful US premiere in Carnegie Hall on February 16, 1996. The Ensemble concluded a sold-out tour often German cities and has appeared successfully at other US-venues. The Ensemble is now widening its areas of exposure in collaborating with the National Park Service^ and Kennedy Center in a RACIAL HARMONY GALA which is to take^lace^on^ctober 18, 1998 at the John F. Kennedy Center for the:.^rf^nrjmg^AJt:sJn_WajMngtonJPC. The concert is to celebrate and commemorate the efforts_ ofthose; whoi joughj^enormpus.odds fpjjhe freedorn of the slaves; Africans, African Americans, Native Americans, Quakers as well as those courageous whites who defied the authorities in helping to bring about the freedom of so many unfortunate souls. This Gala concert is to attract media and public attention to that important period in American history and the role that the Spiritual played in it. You will find also enclosed the original FAX from UNESCO Director-General Federicp Mayor of June 10, 1997 wherein he appointed me as UNESCO'"Special Adyispr for the SLAVEROUTE Project. Our original idea was to launch this project with a Gala concert in Goree, Senegal, in ^ebnaary of 1998, but after careful consideration with the Secretary of the Interior, The Honorable Bruce Babbit, a decision was made to shift the launching to Washington DC (see end.). The final concert should tak^lac^j.tthe_General Assembly in New York and I would very much wish to discuss thisTpoint Pis. reply to: 4701 Foxhall Crescent, NW, WasSh/ngton/DC 20007 . T: (202) 625 2081 . F: x 2083 Urme'i . < '.,7 SP • -:! -. i<\ 45 05 1-,. \ I)e;u- VJs Buinbrv. m L)ircc"or of the ( 'NMS*. 'O Liaison a LiS based muskd x\;\\? rou'v i'oi!i\ \vhii,h couiJ bo .wN.'i-il'.' S Ni: SCO"'.; ii!i.: i am awar<; oi'n>.- liVi'irc-^ vr \-ork (3\.;ti vi-iv. •.-, ovi^ ••"-: !..),- :' - :• 'radii onai AiVic^n-Aimrit'-it! j^.n -,!•,. !')a\ic -,!..>.'ii IM rnak'.n;/ '-'id.-'1" >• •'• " '•! a'-ij tr up!'io!dinjL', -is Mrica;"1 cnyiiis. ; S|RH;!U v\:r-., r:iur!, ill.; • •••.• ';> '^ -. '• : with 'he UNf'S(;<..) Slave Ko;.;U: |'r,;Mc::T. :v!)it:p in"!u.!t. s a '.»...<.• • -:v^"» : hi^tor-cai realit}' cit iht; ira^vilhtniii. <4:v<.- f.riido n.vJ ^ vs'Tiy .j'!( • •'•• cuhijr i' ikid, as ft cen!.nha;;on »(• I ;NI£Sf. (v-, iiv^^n to i*r->r^^!, •...:..•;., ••, o.; pe ice <n ord^r 10 O-^ilHi.^o V}>? -t^iiooiaii;-".. i !;rr, •„- i'!r° ir, • . 1 'N'!-:- {_,(.) Special Advisor %;• fne Shn^ ji-mtc Fioi^vl !!>•.- OjrcctOi- 01 i '];•-• l^-ric-c'. M" :.)>\;I.^HH i.)ie;\-- -viij !,. ;•'• i-. .' .i;;r;!il 'ie con^cis 'n Sc^iva! "or ; ». .'.;t v3l<; 'OTH: •"•'•' ii. C^. i '•.'•.: i:. : i /ndL'qround Hai;io:i(.i l:^ic -•••;:!! h\; :-;uivc!-;;\] !Lv:cn;\j !\f. ;, , Dfuv;c e ail assistance lo ciu ii< !his joim v:;i.!c*>'\ With all i t; ! Cit.-:;..•<> vi:,-- . Ms '. ?r ite Biirnbr United States Department of the Interior NATIONAL PARK. SEXVKZ 20840 JAN 9 1998 To Whom It May C The National Park Service is developing an Underground Railroad educational program That wiH celebrate, y* commemorate the significance of tins powerful event in Amedcsa Histoiy . In sddilim to developing piictcd ft'trffp""^ matfn^\Kr and ag histDric places assodattd wilt the UndcxgioandRaiItoad,tbe National Pack info 'i"npenf*i«f i»greemgiH?i uiyl^i grtwe-rmnenial and to pronsjte and iot^ipret its importance in the evolution, of the national civil rights xoovt Specifically, it is the intention of the National Park Service to enter into a collaborative p*latio<nghip uifrh ri«% John F. Kennedy Center for tfie Perfimmigg Ans and TrK-, (established by the operatic diva Ms. Grace Bumbty, founder of The Grace Boxabxy Black Musical Heritage Ensenible} g^^ possibly others in spoasoziDg 2 fials musical qaTiifo to 2nd, commemnration of the Undargroond Raflroad. Featuring Ms, Bmntay and nucoerous other iotematjonally amlaimed, musical arusta, tins »t?*aMa^ pnbKe gaimpneng qnij TTnA-T^nvtirtg fif tty- tr»|ft ftp Underground RaSzoad played in this conntcy'sl9ih century quest for basic banana^ civil Thank y ou for your itttgcst in this vay important progr Sincerely, obert Stanion Director THE GRACE BUMBRY BLACK MUSICAL HERITAGE ENSEMBLE World Premiere took place in Salzburg. Austria, on the eve of the 1995 Festival Opening on July 22nd, 1995. Festival Director Gerard Mortier had invited GRACE BUMBRY and her Ensemble - which he had not yet heard - solely relying on GRACE BUMBRY's reputation. His instinct proved correct: the evening was an astounding success as can be gathered from the excerpts quoted below. "SALZBURGER VOLKSZEI7UNG" (daily, circulation 300.000, nationwide): ",..and even more vital was the GOSPEL presentation during the second part of the programme. Profound basses, shimmering sopranos... the swaying "Thank you, Jesus", the overwhelming ''Amen" and several encores turned the audiences jubilant and cheering.,. GRACE BUMBRY, the unforgotten Lady Macbeth, Carmen and Lieder- Singer of the Salzburg Festival, was rightfully celebrated this evening.,." "SALZBURGER NACHRICHTEN" (daily, circulation 650.000, nationwide): "... GRACE BUMBRY ... is not only patron and music-coordinator of her Ensemble - which by presenting GOSPEL and SPIRITUAL impressively is upholding the origin of African American music and with this service to the precious heritage presents an attractive and distinguished entertainment ... a joyful experience which causetl the audience in Salzburg's revered temple of culture to be moved to rhythmic applause..." ACCOLADES CONTINUED THROUGHOUT THE ENTIRE GERMAN TOUR: "DAS OPERNGLAS", February 1996 (opera monthly,nationwide in Germany, Austria and Switzerland, 320.000 subscribers) "...GRACE BUMBRY ... is the first Black Diva in opera history, who has tafcen upon herself to introduce European music lovers to the origin of African-American musical tradition. What a crowning glory to her international career..." "MADAME", February 1996 (monthly, nationwide in G, A + CH, 600.000 circulation): "GRACE BUMBRY was the Black Venus of the Bayreuth Festival and she still reigns supreme-on the great operatic stages of this world. Her Tosca, Turandot or Eboli remain unforgettable highlights, but she has "the black musical heritage" in her blood and now formed The Ensemble, which, after a triumphant Premiere in Salzburg, will now tour Germany..." "DER SPIEGEL", EXTRA-Coverstory February 1996 (340.000 subscribers in D, A + CH): "Soprano & Soul: GRACE BUMBRY as Gospel star. The Grace BUmbry Black Musical Heritage Ensemble is - as the impressive name already indicates - an idea arid project of AMAZING GRACE BUMBRY...-i- "DAS SONNTAGSBLAIT" 2/23, 1996 (Hamburg weekly, 350.000 circulation): "GRACE BUMBRY - the Black Diva. As opera singer she enjoyed a triumphant career on opera stages worldwide. Now she brings to life the world of Spiritual and Gospel... "BERLINER ZEITUNG", 2/29/95 (Berlin daily, 600.000 circulation): "... a great star of opera has changed roles. The soprano GRACE BUMBPY has achieved everything that makes a "star". When visiting the Philharmonic last Tuesday, she presented the music of her homeland and the history of her people..." THE GRACE BUMBRY BLACK MUSICAL HERITAGE ENSEMBLE . Villa Arasio . CH-6926 Montagnola, Switzerland . T: 41-91-994 8619 . FAX: 41-91-994 9443 MISSION OF THE ENSEMBLE At a time when many cultural institutions are being neglected if not lost, THE GRACE BUMBRY BLACK MUSICLA HERITAGE ENSEMBLE aims to preserve and present the tradition of the spiritual, an African-American musical genre which has occupied an important place in the history of music in this country and which has been a major ingredient in the rich mix that we call American culture.