Etablished in 1804 by Napoleon, the Pere Lachaise Cemetery was originally considered to be too far removed from the Paris center attracting few funeral services. In a brilliant marketing campaign, the administrators had the remains of infamous lovers Abelard and Heloise transferred to the site and within a few years the cemetery population skyrocketed from a few hundred to 35,000. The cemetery is now home to over 300,000 including famous musicians Rossini, Bizet, Poulenc, and Chopin. One of the most visited graves, however, is tortured artist, poet, and Doors legend, the Lizard himself, Jim Morrison.

Acclaimed photographer Susan Wilson and violinist Rebecca Strauss have created a memorable and moving multi-media performance of slowly dissolving photographic images accompanied by commentary and live music from the Parisian cemetery’s famous composer-residents. Check it out Saturday, April 4th at the Indian Hill Music School in Littleton. show time is 7:30.

One final note: the Mt Auburn Cemetery was inspired by the Pere Lachaise with it's peaceful pathways and landscaped grounds providing a tranquil sleeping place for the departed. A few years later, the Lowell Cemetery modeled itself after Mount Auburn emphasizing the beauty of the surroundings and becoming one of the first garden cemeteries in the country.