FORT LESLEY J. MCNAIR, D.C. -- The U.S. Army Band "Pershing's Own" returns to the Sylvan Theater on the grounds of the Washington Monument Saturday, Aug. 15 at 7:30 p.m. to present its annual "Overture 1812."
A late-summer tradition in Washington for more than 30 years, "Overture 1812" continues to be a FREE, family-friendly performance featuring The U.S. Army Concert Band, Chorus, Herald Trumpets and soloists from The U.S. Army Voices.
"The program features a crowd-pleasing mix of light classical, Broadway, and film music," said The U.S. Army Band "Pershing's Own" Director of Marketing and Public Affairs, Jen Maly. ""Pershing's Own" will be joined on stage by ABC7 WJLA's award-winning journalist Jonathan Elias, who will serve as guest emcee and will guide the audience through an evening of music that represents the best of Americana from composers like John Williams, Arthur Pryor, Jerome Kern and Oscar Hammerstein."
The concert will conclude with a bang -- literally! The 3rd U.S. Infantry Regiment (The Old Guard) Presidential Salute Battery lends its special talent to the performance with four 5,775-pound World War II era anti-tank guns. The guns, will fire 75mm blank shells with one-and-a-half pounds of gunpowder. A total of 33 shots will be fired, including the final volley from all four cannons.
Tchaikovsky's inimitable "1812 Overture" was written to commemorate the Russian defeat of Napoleon's Grande Armée. Perhaps one of the finest examples of storytelling through music, Tchaikovsky's score calls specifically for live cannon fire to musically fight off the advancing Napoleonic army, symbolized by the French anthem La Marseillaise. Church bells, chimes and the chorus of Russia's God Save the Czar celebrate the Russian victory.
The National Sylvan Theater is located on the grounds of the Washington Monument. Patrons are welcomed to come early and bring a blanket or lawn chairs and a picnic and enjoy the sights and sounds as "Pershing's Own" and the Presidential Salute Battery light up the night.
The concert is FREE and tickets are not required.
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