New Jersey Choral Society “Symphony of Voices”
The New Jersey Choral Society presents “symphony of voices”, the stunning finale to its 2011-2012 season, on Friday, June 1 at 8:00 pm at the West Side Presbyterian Church, 6 South Monroe Street, Ridgewood, NJ. The choir will be performing with world-class soloists Jessica Rivera and Mark Womack, the Connecticut Choral Society, and a symphonic orchestra of fifty-one musicians.
A second performance will be held on Sunday, June 3 at 3:00 pm at the Naugatuck Valley Community College Fine Arts Center in Waterbury, CT. Under the direction of dynamic conductor Eric Dale Knapp, the choir will present Ralph Vaughan Williams’ monumental work, “A Sea Symphony”. When it was first presented to British audiences in the early years of the twentieth century, “A Sea Symphony” marked the beginning of a new age of both philosophical thought and musical excellence.
Drawing from the poetry of Walt Whitman, Vaughan Williams embraced the idea of a sea voyage as a metaphor for the voyage through life of the human soul. Organist Linda Sweetman-Waters will perform the finale of Camille Saint-Saëns’ “Organ Symphony”. Guest soloist, soprano Jessica Rivera, has been established as one of the most creatively inspired vocal artists of today. Her voice has been praised by the San Francisco Chronicle for its “effortless precision and tonal luster”, and the New York Times calls her “vocally luminous”. Mark Womack, baritone soloist, continues to garner praise for his commanding vocal and dramatic interpretations, both in the operatic and theatrical worlds as well as that of the classical musician. He has been hailed for his “rich clear voice and good looks” by the Salt Lake Tribune, and as “strikingly warm, gracefully honey-toned,” by Opera News.
Come one hour prior to concert time for The Inside Line, a complimentary lecture about the music for all ticket holders. In support of the Center for Food Action, the New Jersey Choral Society will be collecting nonperishable food items at the Ridgewood concert. The Center for Food Action is a non-profit organization that provides emergency food, rental and utility assistance, counseling and advocacy for people in need.
Advance tickets for June 1 are $30.00 for general admission, $27.00 for students, seniors, and patrons with disabilities, and $12 for children 12 and under (Add $5.00 at the door). Group discounts are available. West Side Presbyterian Church is wheelchair accessible. For reservations or more information, visit https://www.NJCS.org or call the New Jersey Choral Society at (201) 379-7719. Funding has been made possible in part by funds from the New Jersey State Council on the Arts/Department of State, a Partner Agency of the National Endowment for the Arts