On Saturday May 19th , the New Jersey Festival Orchestra, under the baton of David Wroe, presents a magnificent 35th anniversary season finale celebration of music linked in some way to England and its great city of London.
The concert opens with Sir Edward Elgar’s exhilarating Introduction and Allegro for Strings, a work composed in 1905 to enable the string section of the then recently formed London Symphony Orchestra to show off their virtuosic skills. NJFO strings will be sure to live up to the challenge!
Second on the agenda is one of the English composer Ralph Vaughan Williams'
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The Lark Ascending, an enduringly popular work that epitomizes the rolling green hills and meadows of the English countryside. The solo violin's magical evocation of the skylark's flight as it soars above delicate orchestral textures will be presented by NJFO concertmaster Anton Miller.
Anton Miller has been NJFO Concertmaster for over 20 years. One of an esteemed line of "Dorothy DeLay protégées, " which includes Joshua Bell, Sarah Chang and many more, Mr. Miller has appeared throughout the United States and abroad as a soloist, chamber musician, recitalist, and pedagogue.
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The NJFO season finale concludes with Haydn’s joyous Symphony No. 104. Haydn, London's greatest adopted musical son, spent his final years in London where he produced much of his greatest symphonic output. The 'London Symphonies' are those commissioned for London musical extravaganzas, and each one grows progressively grand, culminating with No. 104. This high-spirited work, known as “London” will demonstrate the exuberance of the New Jersey Festival Orchestra and bring the NJFO season to a rousing conclusion.
“I think this sparkling concert will be the dramatic high point of the NJFO season,” remarked NJFO Music Director David Wroe. “The outstanding music will leave you uplifted and energized. I can hardly imagine a better way to round off what has been a wonderful 35th anniversary season.”
TICKET INFORMATION
In London Town takes places on Saturday, May 19th at 7pm at the Presbyterian Church in Westfield with a free pre-concert lecture by Michael Rosin at 6pm, and on Sunday May 20 at 3 p.m. at The Concert Hall, Drew University in Madison.
Tickets for both concerts ($28-$76, students U18 $15) are available online at on
www.njfestivalorchestra.org. Tickets may also be purchased by calling the box office (908) 232-9400.
