The New Jersey Festival Orchestra is back on Sunday, August 20, 2023 with another outdoor concert in Westfield featuring music by Gershwin and Delius, and songs by Aaron Copland performed by NY Metropolitan Opera’s renowned baritone Stephen Gaertner.
Maestro David Wroe, music director and conductor of Westfield’s professional orchestra, said he is overjoyed to present “Summertime Folk Fantasies” in the gardens of one of Westfield’s finest residences.
“We’re thrilled to be able perform this superb summertime celebration concert. The Hertell Gardens ‘experience’ — under the stars, an acre of bucolic grounds, theatrically lit, acoustically enhanced sound, one of Westfield's grandest mansions as a backdrop — is back by popular demand for a superb summer celebration. Come enjoy a summer sunset with an unforgettable artistic and social experience for the entire family.”
“The August 20 concert will present a 'touch of the folksy',” continued Wroe. “The program highlights the deep connection between the English and American musical cultures, not only because of the shared language, but also because of their love of common folk melodies sprinkled with both sweet melancholy and dancing rhythms.”
The concert features Delius' Brigg Fair a hauntingly beautiful take on the old English Lincolnshire folk melody of the same name and the Appalachian flavors of Copland’s Old American Songs. To close is Gershwin's iconic Porgy and Bess Fantasy.
American baritone Stephen Gaertner, who made his Metropolitan Opera debut in 2007, will join NJFO to perform a number of Copland’s most cherished songs that capture both the grandeur and the intimate detail of American life and legend including “The Boatmen’s Dance,” “Long Time Ago,” “Simple Gifts” and “I Bought Me a Cat,” and more. These songs constitute some of the most popular and beloved classical music of our time – either in the concert hall or in popular culture.
With change of pace, the orchestra will present Gershwin’s Porgy and Bess Fantasy showcasing a wealth of moving melodies, memorable tunes, not to mention powerful and dramatic instrumental interludes, from, arguably, America’s greatest folk opera. Audiences will thrill to the orchestral sounds of “Summertime,” ‘It Ain’t Necessarily So,” I Got Plenty O’Nuttin,” “ My Man’s Gone Now,” and many more, from one of the most celebrated American works of the 20th century.
The concert, made possible, in part, by The NJ State Council on the Arts, will be professionally staged and lit.
“This concert is going to be another phenomenal event,” stated NJ Festival Orchestra Board President Keith S. Hertell. “We transform my grounds to create a fully professional outdoor performance experience. We build a symphonic stage to accommodate 30 to 40 musicians and conceptualize a ‘mood’ for each piece with exciting lighting. We bring in sound enhancement technology to evenly distribute the sound of the orchestra throughout the grounds. It’s a huge undertaking and we are deeply grateful to The NJ State Council on the Arts for their support.”
If you go: The performance on Sunday, August 20 begins at 7.30pm. Bring your own lawn chairs and refreshments to the rear garden setting of NJFO Board President, Keith S. Hertell, at 241 E. Dudley Avenue in Westfield. Patrons are welcome to arrive as early as 5:00pm to set up and enjoy the sunset. VIP seating is available for those who wish to take advantage of a limited access to a reserved section of NJFO chair seating provided close to the stage.
Tickets ($40 for general lawn admission, $85 for VIP reserved seating, chairs provided) may be purchased online at www.njfestivalorchestra.org, by phone (908) 232-9400 or in person at the NJFO office, 224 East Broad St. in Westfield.
Free on-street parking and full accessibility available.
For those who prefer a more traditional indoor experience, this concert will also be presented at The Sieminski Theater in Basking Ridge on Friday August 18th. For tickets and information for the indoor performance at Sieminski Theater, go to https://sieminskitheater.org or call 866-307-8532.
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