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Wednesday, August 15, 2018

BONJ 2018 Summer Music Festival concludes with annual Summer Breezes Orchestra Concert on August 19

Image result for baroque orchestra of new jerseySummer Breezes Orchestra Concert

WHEN: Sunday, August 19, at 3:00 pm
WHERE:
Dolan Hall, The Annunciation Center, The College of Saint Elizabeth, 2 Convent Road, Morristown
TICKETS: Adults: $40, Seniors: $30, Students (under 22, with ID): $5. For further information and to order tickets: www.baroqueorchestra.org 
973-366-8922.

The 2018 concert will open with the World Premiere of Piano Concerto #2 by John Ivor Alexander. Alexander’s style is inspired by Baroque models and structures, while developing a sound all his own. The concerto is in three movements. The Baroque Orchestra of New Jersey premiered Alexander’s first concerto in January 2016. Mr. Alexander will fly from Spain to be here to discuss his work and meet the musicians and audience.

Following the premiere, the orchestra will play the Keyboard Concerto in G minor, BWV 1058. Bach’s brilliant melodic energy is evident throughout the concerto’s first and third movements, while the second movement Is inspired by the sublime nature of Bach’s writing.

Performing both concerti will be pianist John Pivarnik. Mr. Pivarnik has appeared several times with The Baroque Orchestra of New Jersey as both performing chamber music, continuo realization, and concertos. He performed the premiere of Alexander’s first concerto. He has also performed concertos by Mozart and Bach. In addition, John has been accompanist at the BONJ cabarets. John is organist and choirmaster at St. Peter's Episcopal Church in Essex Fells, NJ. He is also pianist for the Amitie Trio.

The first half will conclude with the allegro movement from Wolfgang Amadeus Mozart’s dramatic Piano Concerto #24. Performing the work will be pianist Sherwin Pan, a winner of the 2018 Pearl & Julius Young Music Competition. Mr. Pan has won several competitions and performed with Russian Philharmonic Orchestra in Moscow and the Belgorod Symphony Orchestra.

The second half will have special guest soprano Dominika Zamara singing arias from Mozart's Don Giovanni.  Ms. Zamara recently appeared as Donna Elvira in Italy.  She will also sing Fanny's aria from Rossini's La Cambiale di matrimonio.  Ms. Zamara will be performing the role in future performances in Italy.

The major work on the concert will be Felix Mendelssohn’s moving Symphony #5. The symphony was nicknamed “The Reformation Symphony” by Felix’s talented and perceptive sister Fanny. The work incorporates and is built upon familiar themes such as what is referred to as “The Dresden Amen” which inspired other composers of the Romantic era. Mendelssohn also expressively incorporates the great chorale tune “Ein Feste Burg ist Unser Gott” to bring the symphony to a rousing conclusion.

This concert is dedicated to the memory of Karen Pinoci

Below is a quote from BONJ Conductor and Music Director Robert Butts.

“Karen Pinoci was a deeply respected colleague as musician and conductor.  While she was principal cellist with the orchestra, I so greatly enjoyed both her musicianship and being able to discuss music from the conductor’s perspective.   I greatly valued her sense of collegiality in a field which is far too often marked by competitiveness.  Among many great memories was the night of the first full orchestra rehearsal for our performance of Wagner’s Die Walküre.  It was one of the most exhilarating rehearsals I could imagine.   Nobody really wanted the music to end.  We all went out to Charlie Brown’s to have a few drinks and dinner together.  Karen and friends suddenly broke into an impromptu singing of the Ride of the Walkyries, quickly joined by everybody in the room.  The music was more than just music.  It was life.”

The Baroque Orchestra of New Jersey was founded in 1996 with music of the 17th and 18th century at its core. The group performs a variety of genres from concertos to symphonies to operas. Under the auspices of its Pearl and Julius Young Music Competition, the organization has nurtured the talent of many promising young musicians. Under the auspices of its Artistic Director Maestro Butts, the orchestra’s repertoire has expanded to include 20th century and modern pieces by the likes of Joaquin Rodrigo and others.