Star cast for JFK tribute

Washington - Cellist Yo-Yo Ma, actor Julie Andrews, singer Paul Simon and musician Herbie Hancock will take part in a concert in January celebrating the legacy of former US President John F Kennedy and his commitment to the arts, the Kennedy Centre said on Wednesday.

The January 20 concert at the Kennedy Centre will kick off three weeks of performances and events to mark the 50th anniversary of Kennedy's inauguration as US president.

They will include American Ballet Theatre stagings of works favoured by Jacqueline Kennedy, and the world première of a new orchestral piece, Remembering JFK: An American Elegy by Peter Lieberson, which includes narration by actor Morgan Freeman of texts taken from President Kennedy's speeches and writings.

The Kennedy Centre in Washington, DC is a living memorial to President Kennedy's drive to develop a national performing arts centre and to honour America's greatest artists.

The three week anniversary programme will also include recreations of the "Concerts for Young People by Young People" of the 1960s, exhibitions and a new theatre work.

The January 20 opening event will be hosted by TV journalist Diane Sawyer and director Mike Nichols. Andrews, Simon, Hancock, tap dancers The Manzari Brothers and African-American soprano Harolyn Blackwell will be among the performers and presenters.