Rhapsody in Blue & The Firebird
2018–19 Season
Concert Information
-
MILHAUD La création du monde
French composer Milhaud heard jazz in Harlem during a 1922 visit and brought the sound back to Paris for this lively ballet based on African folk mythology.
-
GERSHWIN Rhapsody in Blue
Gershwin called this iconic piece “a musical kaleidoscope of America, of our vast melting pot, of our national pep, of our blues, our metropolitan madness.”
-
PRICE Piano Concerto (NJSO Premiere)
Florence Price was the first African-American female composer to be performed by major orchestras; her lush concerto skillfully blends classical and popular styles. Read an article from The New Yorker on the “The Rediscovery of Florence Price: How an African-American composer’s works were saved from destruction.”
-
STRAVINSKY Suite from The Firebird (1919)
Lavish, vibrant, iconic; tells the tale of the Firebird, whose power is brilliantly illustrated by the thrilling score.
NJSO Accent Events
Toys for Tots
Bring a new, unwrapped toy to donate to the NJSO’s annual Toys for Tots drive.
Singalong Fun – Thu, Nov 29, at 12:30 pm
Come early and sing along to an entertaining selection of song favorites.
Prelude Performance – Fri, Nov 30, at 7 pm
Come early and enjoy a special performance by one of the ensembles of the NJSO Youth Orchestras, conducted by Henry Kao.
Classical Conversation – Sat, Dec 1, at 7 pm and Sun, Dec 2, at 2 pm
Learn more about the music from NJSO musicians, guest artists and other engaging insiders.
Groups save up to 30%
Groups of 9 or more receive significant discounts on single ticket prices!
-
Sample on Spotify
-
Preview selected works on this program using Spotify.
If you’re a Spotify member, simply click play. To download Spotify on your device, click the Spotify icon in the player below.
Nothing beats hearing it live. Buy tickets and enjoy the music the way it was meant to be experienced.
-
About the Artists
-
JOSHUA WEILERSTEIN
Joshua Weilerstein is the artistic director of the Orchestre de Chambre de Lausanne. He combines enthusiasm for both traditional and contemporary repertoire with an ambition to bring new audiences to the concert hall, and he endeavors to include works by living composers whenever possible.
In the 2018–19 season, Weilerstein makes debuts with the Lausanne Opera, conducting Cosi fan tutte, and with the NJSO, Cincinnati Symphony and New World Symphony. He returns to the Milwaukee Symphony, St. Paul Chamber Orchestra, Florida Orchestra and North Carolina Symphony Orchestra. In Europe, guest engagements include the Oslo Philharmonic, where he conducts each season, as well as the Netherlands Philharmonic, Deutsche Kammerphilharmonie, NDR Radio Sinfonie, Deutsches Radio Philharmonie, Nörkoppings Orchester and Mozarteum Orchester.
Weilerstein feels that it is essential to have an open communication between the stage and audience and encourages hearing from musicians and audiences alike. He is accessible on Facebook and Twitter @joshweilerstein for conversations about the future of classical music, programming and the experience of concert-going.
AARON DIEHL
Pianist Aaron Diehl is one of the most sought-after jazz virtuosos. His meticulously thought-out performances, collaborations and compositions are a leading force in today’s generation of jazz contemporaries, spearheading a distinct union of traditional and fresh artistry.
Recent highlights include serving as music director for the Jazz at Lincoln Center New Orleans Songbook concert series, performing in the New York premiere of Philip Glass’ complete Etudes at the Brooklyn Academy of Music, collaborating with the Spanish flamenco guitarist Dani De Morón in Flamenco Meets Jazz and touring the US and Europe with Grammynominated jazz singer Cécile McLorin Salvant.
Diehl has released several albums, including Space, Time, Continuum and The Bespoke Man’s Narrative on Mack Avenue Records; Live at the Players and Live at Caramoor. In 2014, he became one of the youngest artists to be named a Monterey Jazz Festival commission artist.
Diehl is a graduate of The Juilliard School, where he studied with Kenny Barron, Eric Reed and Oxana Yablonskaya.
Sponsors
The December 2 concert is generously sponsored by Bank of America.