2009-07-28 17:43:04 -

LOS ANGELES, CA -- (Marketwire) -- 07/28/09 -- Friends Of The Observatory (FOTO) will host and present the debut of "Cosmic Conjunction 2009: Music*Moonlight*Griffith Observatory," a special one-night-only concert at Griffith Observatory on Sunday, October 4, from 6:00 to 8:30 p.m., P.D.T. For the first time in the Observatory's history, a full symphony orchestra will perform on the Observatory lawn. The program will feature the world premiere of "Observations," an original orchestral composition by Arthur B. Rubinstein of Symphony In The Glen with live narration by Leonard Nimoy. This concert marks Griffith Observatory's first "Cosmic Conjunction," an annual program developed to link astronomy and the arts.



In addition to this event, "Cosmic Conjunction" will present a free concert performance for school children at The Greek Theatre located in Griffith Park, to provide under-served communities an unusual combination of astronomy and music. This performance offers young people an opportunity to experience astronomy through the medium of celestially-themed music and will take place on Tuesday, Oct. 6 at 10 a.m. P.D.T (details TBD).



Special guests attending the exclusive event Sunday, October 4 will enjoy a pre-concert VIP reception with notables such as Nimoy and 4th District Councilmember Tom LaBonge. All attendees are invited to dinner on the Observatory's front lawn followed immediately by a performance by Symphony In The Glen, a 67-piece orchestra conducted by Maestro Rubinstein.



"When Galileo first pointed a telescope at the sky 400 years ago, his observations changed everything," says Dr. E.C. Krupp, Director, Griffith Observatory. "The United Nations has declared 2009 as 'The International Year of Astronomy' to commemorate this anniversary and now Griffith Observatory is presenting to the public a completely original musical salute to our evolving astronomical heritage."



"With the full Moon rising behind the orchestra on October 4, the audience will be enveloped by the night sky as the musical program moves through the ages," describes Krupp. "The music begins in 1609, the year Galileo made his first observations and continues, century by century, with compositions that reference the sky and cosmos. We are grateful that Friends Of The Observatory is the galvanizing force behind this presentation of celestial music."



The evening ends with "Observations," Arthur Rubinstein's original composition for the International Year of Astronomy, narrated by Leonard Nimoy. Says Rubinstein: "It is a singular pleasure to have 'Observations' inaugurate the 'Cosmic Conjunction' initiative for astronomy and the arts.
With it, Griffith Observatory affirms the notion that art and science really do feed each other. Each looks to the beauty of the other's truth and the truth of the other's beauty."



"Friends Of The Observatory (FOTO) is proud to be the driving force behind this community outreach celebration, which is the first of an annual program merging astronomy with the arts," notes Camille Lombardo, Executive Director, FOTO. "Our goal is to inspire the future, one imagination at a time, while supporting excellence in public astronomy. This program will help new audiences see the stars from a different perspective."



The performance also felicitously coincides with the 52nd anniversary of the launch of the first artificial satellite, Sputnik 1.



Information regarding ticket reservations and sponsorship opportunities may be obtained by contacting FOTO's Web site at www.FriendsOfTheObservatory.com : , via telephone (213/473-0807), or email ( fotofriend@FriendsOfTheObservatory.org : mailto:fotofriend@FriendsOfTheObservatory.org ). Net proceeds from the inaugural "Cosmic Conjunction" go to support FOTO's efforts to provide educational opportunities at Griffith Observatory and in the community.



"This special fundraising event of music under the stars is a rare treat and a perfect example of how critically important FOTO is to the Observatory and the community it serves," says Mark Pine, Deputy Director, Griffith Observatory. "This program and others that the public enjoys daily at the Observatory would simply not exist without the generous and unwavering support of FOTO and its dedicated members, especially in these challenging economic times."



Griffith Observatory is owned and operated by the City of Los Angeles, Department of Recreation and Parks. The Observatory is located on the slope of Mount Hollywood in Griffith Park. The building is open to the public six days a week, with free parking and free admission. Free public telescope viewing is available every evening the Observatory is open and the sky is clear.



Friends Of The Observatory (FOTO) is a non-profit, 501 (c) (3) membership organization established in 1978 to support and promote Griffith Observatory. As a community support group, FOTO offers numerous benefits to members and assists in the development of the Observatory, so that it continues to inform and inspire its countless visitors and remains one of the most internationally recognizable icons of Los Angeles.
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