The audience of music lovers at New Brunswick’s State Theatre New Jersey this Sunday, May 5, 2019 evening anxiously awaits the start of tonight’s presentation of Rocktopia — the road version of the Broadway musical which fused 20th-century rock with some of the world’s greatest classical music.
Created by Broadway actor and Trans-Siberian Orchestra member Rob Evan and Randall Craig Fleischer, a pioneer in the fusion of symphonic rock, Rocktopia is an extravaganza which features unique pairings of musical compositions performed by a ensemble of six lead vocalists, a rock band, plus a live orchestra and choir.
Inspired by the idea that if Beethoven or Mozart were alive today, they would be modern-day rock stars, Evan and Fleischer pooled their musical knowledge to create Rocktopia in the form of a live concert experience which celebrates a unique fusion of classical music, classic rock, and opera. Their production tells the universal story of the human condition in a way that only music that has touched the hearts of multiple generations can.
The lights dim and the musicians who comprise Rocktopia’s orchestra, choir, and rock band take their places on the stage — notably guitarist and musical director Tony Bruno, bassist Luis Guzman, and drummer Travis Laws.
Conductor Henry Aronson takes his place at the piano to conduct the majestic sounds of Richard Strauss’ Also Sprach Zarathustra as stars float towards the audience on the big screen located just above the musicians.
Beams of light shine through the smoke as timpani drums roll and French horns and brasses ascend. Blue light surrounds violinist Máiréad Nesbitt as she takes the stage, her bow dancing on her violin.
Audience members clap along with delight when singers Kia Ifani Warren and Chloe Lowery take the stage and the rock band — featuring musical director Tony Bruno — shakes things up by segueing into The Who’s “Baba O’Reilly.”
The sound bullets as the band rocks out along with singer Toby Rand who enters singing, “Out here in the fields/I fight for my meals/I get my back into my living.”
Soon, female rockers Warren and Lowery — along with singer Colin Smith and the audience — join Rand on the song’s famous “Teenage wasteland/It’s only teenage wasteland” coda.
Guitarist Bruno and violinist Nesbitt wail before the music changes to Eine Kleine Nachmusik, a Mozart chamber ensemble piece which is paired with Styx’ “Come Sail Away.”
Images of colored skies on tranquil water add to the experience of hearing rockers Rand, Warren, Smith, and Lowery along with classical singer James Valenti as they each take turns singing lead. Later, they beautifully harmonize with one another as lights flash and ever-changing images fill the screen.
By the conclusion of this compelling mash-up, the crowd erupts into excited applause.
Classical vocalist Alyson Cambridge’s rich and resonant voice is featured on Handel’s Lascia Ch’io Pianga.
The power of opera with full orchestra and choir is on display for all to experience before the arrangement cleverly morphs into Elton John’s “Don’t Let the Sun Go Down on Me.” As lights and colors spin on the screen behind them, opera diva Cambridge and rocker Colin Smith share musical styles on the lead.
Conductor Aronson is featured on Rachmaninoff’s Piano Concerto №2 in C Minor, his piano playing both dramatic and compelling. Then, an orchestral interlude changes the mood as Kia Ifani Warren enters singing Heart’s “Alone.”
Her vocal strong and passionate, Warren is soon joined by Chloe Lowery, and the two divas wail with emotion, power, and feeling. Their voices blend into a soulful cry as the choir adds its unique voice to the crystal-clear sounding mix, all courtesy of the State Theatre’s superior acoustics.
Rocktopia’s rock band and classical orchestra are featured on “Allegretto” from Beethoven’s Symphony №7 as clouds appear on the screen. The music is sad and mysterious — yet lilting and beautifully melodic — as it leads into a vibrant Nesbitt violin solo.
Tony Bruno reenters on guitar and is joined by the orchestral strings on Led Zeppelin’s “Stairway to Heaven.” Featuring Toby Rand on vocals, the drama of this classic power ballad is accentuated by the full-sounding vocals of the choir.
Heads bop as Bruno deftly solos on the iconic anthem, changing the mood and tone as the music ramps up and Rand vocally soars.
By the conclusion, audience members happily join in as Bruno conducts them in singing the final “And she’s climbing a stairway to heaven” refrain together.
Henry Aronson conducts Tchaikovsky’s Overture from Romeo and Juliet from the piano as Máiréad Nesbitt dances while playing her violin. The music streaming from her bow flows out over the audience before Travis Laws enters on drums and the orchestral timpani drums roll setting a mood of anticipation for Bruce Springsteen’s composition for Patti Smith, “Because the Night.” Here, Warren’s soulful voice rings out on the “Because the night belongs to lovers” lyric.
Soon, Chloe Lowery takes over the lead, adding her vocal talents to the dance of the song.
Images of storm clouds and lightning flash on screen — the sound rolling across the stage — as all six Rocktopia vocalists take their places for Pink Floyd’s “Another Brick in the Wall.” Lights shine on the choir as the wall of sound cries, “We don’t need no education/We don’t need no self control,” before the piece shifts to double time and images of young people protesting fill the screen and the arrangement morphs into Muse’s “Uprising.”
Act I concludes with Nesbitt sweetly playing a rapid violin run which ascends with Aronson’s piano accompaniment into Rimsky-Korsakov’s Scheherazade. Then, Kia Ifani Warren shines on Led Zeppelin’s power ballad “Kashmir,” her voice gracefully rising above the rest of the musicians.
Lastly, Rand, Cambridge, and Valenti join together for Andrea Bocelli’s “Con Te Partirò.” The contrast of musical styles adds a rich depth to the experience for all before Warren returns to perform with her musical colleagues on this beautiful composition.
The audience applauds and cheers, showing its appreciation for Roctopia’s unique blend of styles, genres, and talents.
During intermission, we chat with several audience members who share their opinions of Rocktopia thus far.
Comments Bill from Piscataway, “I had no idea what to expect. Rocktopia is not only surprisingly good — I’m actually blown away.”
Notes Paul from Piscataway, “The vocals are unbelievable — phenomenal, really — and the sound here is great, too.”
Katrina from Piscataway states, “When my mom told me this was going to be a classical concert, I didn’t know what to expect — and I was kind of dreading it because I don’t really know classical music — but I’m having so much fun now! I know all the classic rock tunes from my dad playing the songs at home, and the classical music is so beautiful. It’s really seamless how they put it all together.”
Jodi from Fort Lee calls Rocktopia “Fantastic,” adding, “It’s very moving — and I love that it features different generations, cultures, and races all coming together to create such timeless music.”
Lastly, Carmen from Hillsborough concludes by declaring, “I just love it — it’s classical rock!”
Act II opens with the band and orchestra performing the regal strains of “The Gates of Kiev” from Mussorgsky’s Pictures at an Exhibition. The choir joins in singing before Máiréad Nesbitt and Tony Bruno are featured on violin and guitar. The interplay between the rock musicians and classical singers makes a statement before they all segue into an arrangement of U2’s “Where the Streets Have No Name” featuring vocalist Toby Rand.
Percussion and strings accompany violinist Nesbittt on Berlioz’s Symphonie Fantastique as singers Rand, Warren, and Lowery take the stage and Bruno plays the instantly recognizable guitar intro from Aerosmith’s “Dream On.” The number builds in intensity and the musicians perform from their hearts and souls as the audience joins in singing the number’s famous “Sing with me, sing for the year/Sing for the laughter, sing for the tear” chorus.
Opera diva Alyson Cambridge is featured on Puccini’s “Quando Me’n Vo’” from La bohème. Starting with a picked guitar accompaniment, Cambridge sings this beautiful aria as the arrangement shifts moods and interweaves with two other songs — The Beatles’ “Something,” featuring Colin Smith, and Lucio Dalla’s 1986 composition, “Caruso.”
A highlight of the Rocktopia production is Chloe Lowery’s performance of Foreigner’s “I Want to Know What Love Is.”
Inviting the audience to clap along while the choir sings, Lowery vocally ad libs over them. The crowd goes crazy for her, standing as they applaud for this show-stopping number.
Alyson Cambridge takes the mic asking, “New Brunswick, are you having a good time?” After she introduces the entire cast, Máiréad plays solo violin on the Theme from Schindler’s List standing in a single spot light, the music flowing from her instrument directly to audience members’ hearts.
The orchestra joins her as the song progresses into Barber’s Adagio for Stringsbefore she’s joined by Lowery for Queen’s “Who Wants to Live Forever.” As the talented cast of musicians perform, images of departed but not forgotten musicians grace the screen including Freddie Mercury, George Harrison, David Bowie, Prince, John Lennon, Jimi Hendrix, Janis Joplin, Elvis Presley, and more.
Segueing into Queen’s “We Are the Champions,” Toby Rand is featured on a powerful and poignant arrangement as photos of such iconic individuals as Abraham Lincoln, Anne Frank, Albert Einstein, Eleanor Roosevelt, Mother Theresa, John F. Kennedy, Rosa Parks, and Martin Luther King, Jr. appear on screen.
“Ode to Joy” from Beethoven’’s Symphony №9 opens with classical singers Cambridge and Valenti singing along with the choir to great works of visual art.
Soon, the entire cast takes the stage for Journey’s “Don’t Stop Believin’.” Audience members stand clapping with their arms overhead as they participate in this celebration of music and life. Caught up in the brotherhood and humanity coming from the stage, the audience can’t help but cheer and applaud as “Ode to Joy” and “Don’t Stop Believin’” are woven together to create a spectacular Rocktopia finale.
For an encore, the Rocktopia cast performs “Bohemian Rhapsody in Blue,” an innovative fusion of Gershwin’s Rhapsody in Blue and Queen’s “Bohemian Rhapsody.”
Opening with the iconic Rhapsody in Blue clarinet solo, themes from both pieces are cleverly interspersed. James Valenti sings segments of “Bohemian Rhapsody” in front of the stage while Lowery and Warren sing from spots in the audience. The arrangement brings audience members to their feet cheering when the cast take its final bows together.
As theatergoers make their way out of the auditorium, we take a moment to chat with several Rocktopia cast members who are out in the State Theatre lobby meeting and greeting fans.
When asked to share their thoughts about bringing Rocktopia to New Jersey, Colin Smith comments, “This was a lovely crowd and a really nice theater,” before Chloe Lowery declares, “There was such great energy here!”
Lastly, James Valenti — a New Jersey native — adds, “I was born in Summit and lived in Clinton, NJ, but I never performed in this theater before,” exclaiming, “I loved it!”
We also chat with several members of the crowd who comment on tonight’s performance.
Dianne from Marlboro declares, “Rocktopia is such a feel-good show! I knew that it had played on Broadway so I’m glad that I got to see it here at the State Theatre.”
Marjorie from Tampa reveals, “I live in Florida but I’m here in New Jersey visiting my best friend, and I think this will be the highlight of my trip! There’s such talent in this show — each musician is just amazing; for instance, the violinist, from the top of her head to the tip of her toes, is one instrument,” before suggesting, “I think everyone in America should see this show — it is so uplifting.”
Comments Glen from Wilmington DE, “Rocktopia was so entertaining. When we heard it was going to be a show which featured a mix of rock and classical music, we knew we just had to come see it, and it really is a nice mix of old and new music,” before concluding, “It runs the full gamut.”
Lysa from Wilmington DE agrees adding, “It was awesome, and it was especially great the way they fused the classical and rock pieces together.”
Kazue from North Brunswick concurs noting, “Rocktopia is a wonderful mixture of classical and rock music,” explaining, “The arrangements and transitions from song to song are so smooth, they’re just seamless.”
Adds Chris from North Brunswick, “It’s a nice mix of older rock and newer rock, with great musicianship, too.”
Lastly, Melissa from Sayreville succinctly sums things up when she calls Rocktopia “an absolutely amazing rock experience!”
To learn more about Rocktopia, please go to rocktopia.com. For information on upcoming performances at State Theatre New Jersey — including the Happy Together Tour 2019 featuring The Turtles, Chuck Negron, Gary Puckett and the Union Gap, The Buckinghams, The Classics IV, and The Cowsills on May 29, The Piano Guys on September 10, and Béla Fleck and the Flecktones on December 6 — please click on stnj.org
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