Kinder to narrate concert by St. Louis symphony

JEFFERSON CITY, Mo. -- Lt. Gov. Peter Kinder will join the St. Louis Symphony Orchestra for two performances of "Lincoln Portrait," a musical tribute to Abraham Lincoln by composer Aaron Copland.

Kinder, of Cape Girardeau, will narrate excepts of the 16th president's writings during the performances at the invitation of symphony president and executive director Randy Adams.

"The St. Louis Symphony is one of the finest symphony orchestras in the world today, and I hope to help bring Aaron Copland's musical tribute to Abraham Lincoln to life for the audience," Kinder said.

The first performance is at 7:30 p.m. today at the University of Missouri-Columbia's Jesse Hall. The second will be at 8 p.m. Thursday at the orchestra's home of Powell Symphony Hall in St. Louis.

Copland wrote "Lincoln Portrait" shortly after the Japanese attack on Pearl Harbor to boost morale and patriotic pride among Americans. Conductor David Robertson will lead the symphony.