Past Event: Songs of War and the Journey Home

Revisit the hauntingly beautiful songs and poetry of the Great War with baritone John Brancy and pianist Peter Dugan. An exploration of the timeless themes of longing and the search for meaning and peace, the program features music by WWI veterans, including New York natives Alan Seeger and Irving Berlin, alongside classics by Schubert, Rachmaninov, and more. Afterwards, Brancy and Dugan will be joined by Dr. Libby O’Connell, Chief Historian Emeritus at History Channel and Commissioner of the National World War I Centennial Commission, for a conversation about the Armistice and the lasting impact of the music of the Great War. 

Reception and CD signing to follow. 

This program is presented as an exclusive preview of Brancy and Dugan's new program, Armistice: The Journey Home, which will premiere at Lincoln Center's Alice Tully Hall on April 5^th.

About the Speakers and Performers:
Baritone John Brancy and pianist Peter Dugan made their critically acclaimed debut of A Silent Night at the Kennedy Center in 2014, an homage to the centennial of World War I through the music of composers who lived through, fought in, and died in the Great War. Since then, Brancy and Dugan have been presented in recital by Carnegie Hall, the New-York Historical Society, and the Joye in Aiken Festival, among others. Both artists maintain lively and unique individual careers. Brancy has performed with the Boston Symphony Orchestra and on tour with Glyndebourne Opera. Dugan has performed as a soloist with Michael Tilson Thomas and the San Francisco Symphony, and in duo collaborations with Itzhak Perlman and Joshua Bell. Brancy and Dugan's music is available for purchase on iTunes and Amazon. 

Libby O’Connell, Ph.D., was appointed by President Obama to serve on the US World War I Centennial Commission. She is also chair of the World War I Centennial Committee for New York City and author of The American Plate: A Culinary History in 100 Bites. After working as a professor, preservationist, and museum educator, O’Connell spent over twenty years at History Channel, where she continues to serve as a consultant and Chief Historian Emeritus. She has received four Emmys for her work in television and history. 

View a trailer of Brancy and Dugan's work here: