[Congressional Record Volume 140, Number 111 (Thursday, August 11, 1994)]
[Senate]
[Page S]
From the Congressional Record Online through the Government Printing Office [www.gpo.gov]


[Congressional Record: August 11, 1994]
From the Congressional Record Online via GPO Access [wais.access.gpo.gov]

 
         THE 10TH ANNIVERSARY SEASON OF THE SURRY OPERA COMPANY

  Mr. MITCHELL. Mr. President, I rise today to congratulate the Surry 
Opera Co. of Maine on its 10th anniversary season. Founded in 1984 by 
Walter Nowick, the Surry Opera Co. has brought together amateur opera 
singers first from Maine and across our Nation, and then from around 
the world.
  This week, free concerts are being performed by scores of French, 
German, Japanese, Russian, and American amateur singers at Mr. Nowick's 
invitation and under his direction. These 10th anniversary events are 
part of the fulfillment of Mr. Nowick's dream of cultivating 
international understanding and good will through the performance of 
great music by ordinary citizens.
  The world is much different today than it was when the Surry Opera 
Co. was founded. Then, the cold war shaped people's attitudes toward 
one another to such a degree that there were few people to people 
exchanges between Americans, Russians and other citizens of the former 
Soviet Union. Walter Nowick and the Surry Opera Co. singers saw an 
opportunity, through music, to establish associations that would help 
dissolve this hostility between nations.
  The Surry Opera Co. first travelled to the Soviet Union in November, 
1986. Three years later, 80 members of the Leningrad Amateur Opera Co. 
arrived in Maine. Since those groundbreaking trips, there have been 
many joint performances around the world. Each time, members and 
supporters of the respective Opera Companies have provided food and 
lodging in their homes for their foreign guests. These arrangements 
have both fostered deep personal friendships and made the trips 
financially feasible.
  Mr. Nowick and all associated with the Surry Opera Co. have helped to 
build bridges among people of different cultures. Just as Mr. Nowick 
envisioned, joint international performances have led to increased 
understanding between performers and their audiences throughout the 
world.
  We all share the hope that the universal appeal of opera will 
continue to be a building block for international friendships and 
peace. I commend Walter Nowick for his vision, and I congratulate all 
members of the Surry Opera Co. on their 10th anniversary season.

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