NJSO presents Bond & Beyond | June 4–5
Sat, June 4, at NJPAC in Newark
Sun, June 5, at State Theatre in New Brunswick
- ‘Bond & Beyond’ features five decades of 007 classics
- Singer Debbie Gravitte takes center stage
- NJSO Accents include sing-alongs, ‘Secrets of James Bond’ discussions
- State Theatre co-presents New Brunswick performance
NEWARK, NJ (April 26, 2016)—The New Jersey Symphony Orchestra presents a symphonic tribute to James Bond featuring music from five decades of classic 007 films, including Casino Royale, Goldfinger, Diamonds are Forever and more, June 4–5 in Newark and New Brunswick. Tony Award-winning vocalist Debbie Gravitte takes center stage; Michael Krajewski conducts.
The NJSO POPS performances take place on Saturday, June 4, at 8 pm at the New Jersey Performing Arts Center (NJPAC) in Newark and Sunday, June 5, at 3 pm at the State Theatre in New Brunswick. The June 5 performance is presented in collaboration with the State Theatre.
New York Theatre Guide writes: “Bond and Beyond: 50 Years of James Bond celebrates the music of the world famous spy, brought to life on the silver screen in 1962, starring the legendary Sean Connery. Under the baton of the hilariously entertaining Michael Krajewski, and joined by Tony Award winner Debbie Gravitte, this evening … was spent hearing the wonderful scores from many of the twenty-three official James Bond films. From Russia With Love, Skyfall and Goldfinger make appearances in this wonderful tribute to cinematic nostalgia …
“Krajewski leads the orchestra with ease, and connects with the audience with humor and actual interesting facts. He knows how to play a room. Providing the marvelous soprano voice for the evening is Tony Award winning actress Debbie Gravitte. Gravitte does a wonderful job singing the famous Goldfinger and Skyfall themes. She also steals the show when she sings ‘Secret Agent Man’ and ‘Diamonds are Forever.’ Her talent, backed by the powerful orchestra, instills a spectacular experience in everyone in attendance.”
NJSO Accent festivities include “The Secrets of James Bond” post-concert discussions with Cinema Retro magazine publisher, 007 author and documentary filmmaker Lee Pfeiffer, who has tracked the suave super spy internationally for decades and shares intel on James Bond and his literary creator, Ian Fleming. Accents also include pre-concert sing-alongs beginning one hour before each concert. Additional information about this season’s NJSO Accent events is available at www.njsymphony.org/accents.
TICKETS
Tickets start at $20; the best seats are now available for $55. Tickets are available for purchase online at www.njsymphony.org, by phone at 1.800.ALLEGRO (255.3476) or in person. The NJSO Patron Services and Sales office is located at 60 Park Place, 9th floor, in Newark; tickets are available by phone or in person Monday–Friday, 9 am to 5 pm.
Tickets for the June 5 performance are also available from the State Theatre ticket office online at www.StateTheatreNJ.org, by phone at 732.246.SHOW (7469) or in person. The State Theatre ticket office is located at 15 Livingston Ave in New Brunswick—hours are Monday–Friday, 10 am to 6 pm; Saturday, 1 to 5 pm, and at least three hours prior to curtain on performance dates unless otherwise specified.
CONCERT PROGRAM
Bond & Beyond
Saturday, June 4, at 8 pm | NJPAC in Newark
Sunday, June 5, at 3 pm | State Theatre in New Brunswick
Michael Krajewski, conductor
Debbie Gravitte, vocalist
New Jersey Symphony Orchestra
The June 5 performance is presented in collaboration with the State Theatre.
Additional information is available at www.njsymphony.org/events/detail/bond-and-beyond.
NJSO ACCENTS
Designed to inspire audiences, NJSO Accents are pre- or post-concert events that complement the concert experience and provide audience members with more opportunities to personally connect with the music and music makers.
Pre-Concert Festivities—before both performances
Arrive an hour before the concert starts and enjoy pre-concert sing-alongs.
The Secrets of James Bond—after both performances
Want to learn the secrets of James Bond and his literary creator Ian Fleming? Get behind-the-scenes intel from Cinema Retro magazine publisher, 007 author and documentary filmmaker Lee Pfeiffer, who has tracked the suave super spy internationally for decades.
Learn more at www.njsymphony.org/accents.
NJSO Accents in Newark are generously sponsored by the Prudential Foundation.
THE ARTISTS
Michael Krajewski, conductor
Known for his entertaining programs and clever humor, Michael Krajewski is a much sought-after conductor of symphonic pops. He is music director of The Philly Pops and principal pops conductor of the Houston, Atlanta and Jacksonville symphonies.
As a guest conductor, Krajewski has performed with the Cleveland and Philadelphia orchestras; Boston and Cincinnati pops; San Francisco, Baltimore, Detroit, Indianapolis, Seattle, Dallas, St. Louis, Pittsburgh and National symphonies; and numerous other orchestras across the United States.
In Canada, he has led Ottawa’s National Arts Centre Orchestra, Toronto Symphony Orchestra, Calgary Philharmonic and the Edmonton, Winnipeg and Kitchener-Waterloo symphonies. Other international appearances include performances in Dublin and Belfast with the Ulster Orchestra, as well as performances with the Hong Kong Philharmonic, Malaysian Philharmonic Orchestra, Iceland Symphony Orchestra and Spain’s Bilbao Symphony Orchestra.
With degrees from Wayne State University in Detroit and the University of Cincinnati College-Conservatory of Music, Krajewski furthered his training at the Pierre Monteux Domaine School for Conductors. He lives in Orlando, Florida; when not conducting, he enjoys travel, photography and solving crossword puzzles.
Debbie Gravitte, vocalist
One of Broadway’s biggest personalities, Debbie Gravitte received the Tony Award, along with the New York Showstopper Award and a Drama Desk Award nomination, for her critically acclaimed performance in Jerome Robbins’ Broadway. She made her Broadway debut in the original cast of They’re Playing Our Song, and went on to appear in Blues in the Night, Perfectly Frank (Drama Desk Award nomination), Zorba, Ain’t Broadway Grand?, Chicago and Les Misérables. Gravitte appeared in London in Jerry Herman’s Mack and Mabel at the Drury Lane Theatre.
Gravitte has sung with more than 100 orchestras worldwide, including National Symphony with Marvin Hamlisch, Cleveland Orchestra, Boston Pops, Cleveland Pops, Peter Nero and The Philly Pops, Pittsburgh Symphony, Atlanta Symphony, San Diego Symphony and Houston Symphony.
She has appeared with the London Symphony, Aalborg Symphony, Stockholm Philharmonic, Jerusalem Symphony, Royal Scottish National Orchestra and Orquestra Sinfônica Brasileira, and she gave a special performance in Beijing with Lang Lang and the Chinese Philharmonic.
Gravitte is featured on many recordings, including her three solo CDs: Defying Gravity, The Alan Menken Album and The MGM Album. More information is available at www.debbiegravitte.com.
THE NEW JERSEY SYMPHONY ORCHESTRA
Named “a vital, artistically significant musical organization” by The Wall Street Journal, the New Jersey Symphony Orchestra embodies that vitality through its statewide presence and critically acclaimed performances, education partnerships and unparalleled access to music and the Orchestra’s superb musicians.
Under the bold leadership of Music Director Jacques Lacombe, the NJSO presents classical, pops and family programs, as well as outdoor summer concerts and special events. Embracing its legacy as a statewide orchestra, the NJSO is the resident orchestra of the New Jersey Performing Arts Center in Newark and regularly performs at the State Theatre in New Brunswick, Count Basie Theatre in Red Bank, Richardson Auditorium in Princeton, Mayo Performing Arts Center in Morristown and bergenPAC in Englewood. Partnerships with New Jersey arts organizations, universities and civic organizations remain a key element of the Orchestra’s statewide identity.
In addition to its lauded artistic programming, the NJSO presents a suite of education and community engagement programs that promote meaningful, lifelong engagement with live music. Programs include school-time Concerts for Young People performances and multiple offerings—including the NJSO Youth Orchestras family of student ensembles and El Sistema-inspired NJSO CHAMPS (Character, Achievement and Music Project)—that provide and promote in-school instrumental instruction as part of the NJSO Academy. The NJSO’s REACH (Resources for Education and Community Harmony) chamber music program annually brings original programs—designed and performed by NJSO musicians—to a variety of settings, reaching as many as 17,000 people in nearly all of New Jersey’s 21 counties.
For more information about the NJSO, visit www.njsymphony.org or email information@njsymphony.org. Tickets are available for purchase by phone 1.800.ALLEGRO (255.3476) or on the Orchestra’s website.
The New Jersey Symphony Orchestra’s programs are made possible in part by The New Jersey State Council on the Arts, along with many other foundations, corporations and individual donors.
STATE THEATRE
The State Theatre is a premier nonprofit venue for the performing arts and entertainment. The theater exists to enrich people’s lives, contribute to a vital urban environment and build future audiences by presenting the finest performing artists and entertainers and fostering lifetime appreciation for the performing arts through education. The State Theatre’s programs are made possible in part by funding from the New Jersey State Council on the Arts/Department of State, a Partner Agency of the National Endowment for the Arts, and contributions from numerous corporations, foundations and individuals.
PRESS CONTACT
NJSO National & NYC Press Representative:
Dan Dutcher, Dan Dutcher Public Relations | 917.566.8413 | dan@dandutcherpr.com
NJSO Regional Press Representative:
Victoria McCabe, NJSO Communications and External Affairs Manager | 973.735.1715 | vmccabe@njsymphony.org
State Theatre Press Representative:
Kelly Blithe, State Theatre Director of Communications | 732.247.7200, ext. 542 | kblithe@statetheatrenj.org
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