(PLAINFIELD, NJ) -- Experience iconic, beloved orchestral masterpieces at the upcoming Plainfield Symphony Orchestra concert, "Your Favorite Melodies," on Saturday, March 14, 2026, at 7:00pm. Maestro Charles Prince will present Sergei Rachmaninoff's Piano Concerto No. 2, featuring returning artist Itay Goren and Antonin Dvorak's New World Symphony.
Sergei Rachmaninoff's Piano Concerto No. 2 in C minor, Op. 18 (1900-1901), was composed after his recovery from severe depression following the disasters of his first symphony and first piano concerto. It was dedicated to his neurologist, Nikolai Dahl, for successfully restoring his health and confidence in composition. The three-movement work is one of his most enduringly popular pieces and established his fame as a composer and pianist. The work is filled with sumptuous melodies that are so memorable, they have appeared in films including Grand Hotel, Brief Encounter, and The Seven Year Itch and in popular songs since the 1930s.
This work is one of the most difficult and virtuosic in the piano repertoire. Our soloist, Itay Goren's playing has been described as "an evocative journey from shimmering excitement to calm contemplation" (Classical New Jersey). He has performed in Europe, Asia, the Pacific and the United States in addition to highly acclaimed solo recitals in Madrid, Prague, Paris, and New York City, and various festival appearances. Itay graduated from William Paterson University with degrees in both classical and jazz performance and received the highest university awards.
The Symphony No. 9 in E minor, "From the New World," was composed by Antonin Dvořák in 1893. It was the culmination of his years in the United States when he was Director of New York's National Conservatory of Music. Dvořák declared that he intended the subtitle to mean "Impressions and greeting from the New World." Bohemian folk music blends with spirituals and Native American music in its themes. The slow movement English horn solo, popularly known as "Going Home," has become one of the best-known melodies in classical music.
All concerts are held at the Crescent Avenue Presbyterian Church located at 716 Watchung Avenue in Plainfield New Jersey. Tickets are available for purchase online or at the door the day of the concert. Concerts begin at 7:00pm.
