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Tuesday, May 10, 2016

NEW SYMPHONY MAESTRO CLOSES INAUGURAL SEASON WITH CONCERT, APPEARANCE BY YOUNG ARTIST COMPETITION WINNER

SEASON FINALE

WHEN: Saturday, May 14, 7:30 pm
WHERE:
Mt Pleasant Middle School, 11 Broadlawn Drive, Livingston NJ
TICKETS: range from free for children under 12 accompanied by adult and high school students with id, to $15 for seniors and $25 for adults.
Tickets available at the door or by calling (973)980-1809.
Visit www.lsonj.org for more information on the Livingston Symphony Orchestra and their 2015-2016 “Season Finale”

Maestro Anthony LaGruth concludes his inaugural season with the Livingston Symphony Orchestra in dramatic fashion. Featuring this year’s Young Artist Concerto Competition Winner Victoria Chung’s performance of Mozart’s “Oboe Concerto in C” with the orchestra, the LSO “Season Finale” also includes Wagner’s Prelude to Act 3 of his opera “Lohengrin,” Liszt’s “Les Preludes,” and Tchaikovsky’s “Fourth Symphony.”

Pieces selected by LaGruth are audience favorites, each a distinct form with a story to tell. Opening the program is Prelude to Act 3 of “Lohengrin,” from a Wagnerian opera based upon a medieval legend. This inspiring music precedes the wedding of a Knight of the Holy Grail and his rescued bride to be, and coincidentally, was first conducted by Wagner’s father-in-law to be, Franz Liszt, the composer of the next piece. Liszt, known as the greatest pianist of his time, is also a romantic composer and innovator of the “symphonic tone poem,” of which “Les Preludes” is his most popular. Four memorable themes from this single movement showpiece have been described as “love, destiny, war and countryside´ or even “peace, storm, excitement and life.” The evening ends with Tchaikovksy’s passionate Fourth Symphony, which Tchaikovsky composes during a year which included an ill fated marriage to a former student and the beginning of a long term relationship with a patroness, one he corresponds with over one thousand times, but never actually meets in person. Often referred to as the “Fate Symphony,” this work reflects an exhaustive emotional journey from darkness to nostalgia, new beginnings, and triumph. LaGruth looks forward to sharing this music, their stories, and more with audiences with all levels of musical understanding this May 14.

While the LSO musicians value LaGruth’s gifts of audience rapport, story- telling and musicianship, they are especially pleased to also be working at this season finale with Young Artist Competition winner, oboe player Victoria Chung. Ridgewood’s Ms. Chung has been selected to perform with the orchestra from amongst 14-20 year old New Jersey musicians after an application and audition process conducted by LaGruth and orchestra members Janice Kaplan(Union cellist); Randy Calistri-Yeh (principal cellist, Florham Park); and John Centenaro (Cedar Knolls, clarinet). Born in the United States, Ms. Chung is currently a Juilliard Student who has won multiple awards in both Korea and the U.S.A. Technically masterful, her musicality sets her apart from her peers, and per her bio, she sees herself as an oboe player for a major orchestra, a position in which she can collaborate with her peers in sharing her passion for music and conveying “the stories that only can be told through music.” Her choice of pieces for this performance, Mozart’s “Oboe Concerto,” has a story all its own, written originally for a Salzburg oboe player, performed expertly by at least two others, and ultimately repurposed as a commissioned flute solo. It is a testament to the joy of Mozart’s work, and as performed by Ms. Chung, a rare opportunity for audience members to listen and revel in the expressive, voice-like quality of the oboe instrument.