Ravinia 2019, Issue 7, Week 14

7:30 PM THURSDAY, SEPTEMBER 12, 2019 PAVILION CONSPIRARE CRAIG HELLA JOHNSON, artistic director and conductor CRAIG HELLA JOHNSON Considering Matthew Shepard Prologue Cattle, Horses, Sky, and Grass Ordinary Boy We Tell Each Other Stories Passion Recitation I The Fence (before) Recitation II The Fence (that night) Recitation III A Protestor Keep It Away from Me (The Wound of Love) Recitation IV Fire of the Ancient Heart Recitation V We Are All Sons (part 1) I Am Like You / We Are All Sons (part 2) The Innocence Recitation VI The Fence (one week later) Recitation VII Stars Recitation VIII In Need of Breath Recitation IX Deer Song (Mist on the Mountains) Recitation X The Fence (after) / The Wind Pilgrimage Epilogue Meet Me Here Thanks All of Us Reprise: This Chant of Life (Cattle, Horses, Sky, and Grass) There will be no intermission in this program. Ravinia expresses its appreciation for the generous support of Sponsors the Rudy Juarez Family and Welz Kauffman and Jon Teeuwissen . TONIGHT’S CONCERT IS PERFORMED IN COMMEMORATION OF THE 50TH ANNIVERSARY OF THE STONEWALL RIOTS. THE LEGACY OF MATTHEW SHEPARD Because of what I do, I’m often asked to share what Matthew Shepard’s life, death, and legacy mean to me and to our community and nation today. The passage of time has made it harder to give a short answer. Matt—as his friends invariably called him— was a friend, one of several I have lost over the years to one tragedy or another. His larger-than- life presence made him hard to forget, and his continuing life as a historic figure and symbol stands alone among those of my loved ones who left us too soon. In that sense, his legacy means to me what it means to so many—a fixed point in the path toward LGBT acceptance in our so- ciety, ultimately being achieved despite, or be- cause of, fallen heroes. What means the most to me to say, though, is that the importance of Matt Shepard was his hu- manity. He was a man who lived. He had a fam- ily, aspirations, friendships, dates, photographs, diaries, foods he disliked, politicians he disliked more, and always, the opinions. So many opin- ions, so rich, so passionately advanced and skill- fully defended in debate. He was also gay. It’s sad that’s all so many people ever knew of him. Matt loved the theater, films, and music, and so it is fitting that a growing part of how he is honored and remembered is through the artistic achievements of those who, like myself, mourn- ed his passage and refused to fully heal from the shock we all felt at his violent, needless death. His life and the scar that holds its place for many of us is also a wellspring for our noblest inten- tions and inspirations. It is a gateway to action, a fitting place of pilgrimage for our passion. Matt’s life tells us, live yours as you. Be authentic. Follow your head and your heart and celebrate where it leads. What we will hear in this performance is the sound of a place that went undiscovered for a long time. It lived in a composer’s heart and mind and it took nourishment from the life of one young man who once was here among us. Matt’s legacy is many things. This event, this moment, us together here, is one of its faces. I hope when you leave here, you take this mo- ment with you, and look for the next one. Keep Matt and his story in your heart, and you will surely find it. Jason Marsden Executive Director Matthew Shepard Foundation RAVINIA MAGAZINE | SEPTEMBER 3 – SEPTEMBER 15, 2019 106