NSO Haiti relief benefit

"Song of the Earth" indeed. The National Symphony Orchestra and Kennedy Center are doing their bit to help the planet: the proceeds from the orchestra's scheduled concert on January 22nd will be donated to the Haiti Relief and Development Fund of the American Red Cross.

In addition to the scheduled program -- Mozart’s “Prague” Symphony and Mahler’s “Das Lied von der Erde,” which will also be played Thursday and Saturday night -- Friday’s concert will open with a special performance of Bach’s “Air on the G String,” also conducted by Iván Fischer, the orchestra’s principal conductor.

“In this time of crisis, it is important for us to take heed, and take responsibility for helping those who urgently need aid,” said Michael M. Kaiser, the Kennedy Center's president.

The Haiti Relief Benefit Concert will take place on Friday, January 22, 2010 at 8 p.m. Tickets: $25 to $85; call (202) 467-4600, or (800) 444-1324 (for those outside the DC metropolitan area), or from the website at kennedy-center.org.

Through this or other means, do what you can. The need in Haiti isn't going to go away any time soon.