The Philharmonic of Southern New Jersey kicks off its 24th season on Sunday, Nov. 2 with a concert to honor veterans. The performance includes the New Jersey premiere, and only the second performance ever, of composer Jake Runestad’s “Dreams of the Fallen,” co-commissioned by the Philharmonic and a small consortium of orchestras nationwide, led by the Louisiana Philharmonic and the National World War II Museum. Combining the musical forces of solo piano, chorus and orchestra, with powerful texts written by Iraq War veteran and award-winning poet Brian Turner, “Dreams of the Fallen” explores a soldier’s emotional response to the experience of war. Pianist Jeffrey Biegel joins the Philharmonic, along with the Rutgers University-Camden Choir and the Temple University Concert Choir. Led by music director and conductor Matthew Oberstein, the all-American program includes Morton Gould’s “American Salute,” Samuel Barber’s “Adagio for Strings,” Aaron Copland’s “Lincoln Portrait,” and the stirring “Armed Forces Salute,” a medley of the marches from each branch of the armed forces.
Tickets range from $15 to $30 and are now on sale through www.psnj.org. The concert begins at 3 p.m. Music director Matthew Oberstein leads a pre-concert talk with the guest artists at 2 p.m.
“I would like to congratulate the Philharmonic of Southern New Jersey on its 24th season and we are proud to support this special tribute to our veterans. It’s important that in addition to providing services to our veterans, we thank and honor them with special tributes like this special performance,” said freeholder Ed McDonnell, liaison to Camden County Division of Veterans Affairs.
The Philharmonic of Southern New Jersey’s 2014–2015 season honors heroes on the 150th anniversary of the end of the Civil War. The season includes residencies with Grammy-winning composer Joan Tower (March 1, 2015), Pulitzer Prize-winning composer Jennifer Higdon (May 3, 2015) and Jake Runestad, all of whose work is featured during the season. Holiday Pops returns for the second year, featuring 15-time Emmy Award winner Sonia Manzano (“Sesame Street”) as guest narrator.
This program is made possible in part by funds from the New Jersey State Council on the Arts.
