(VOORHEES, NJ) -- -- On February 26th at 3:00pm, the Philharmonic of Southern New Jersey will present “Images and Imagination” a journey through major symphonic works by illustrious French composers Debussy, Lalo and Berlioz.  This program, including Berlioz Symphonie Fantastique, Nuages and Fêtes from Debussy’s Nocturnes, and Lalo’s Cello Concerto, will be led by Music Director Candidate David Bernard, Music Director of the Park Avenue Chamber Symphony, the Massapequa Philharmonic Orchestra and the Eglevsky Ballet.  The soloist in the Lalo will be the renowned cellist Adrian Daurov.

Maestro Bernard will offer a free pre-concert talk about the program at 2:00pm just prior to the concert.

“It is a thrill to work with the fine musicians of the Philharmonic of Southern New Jersey in bringing this incredible program to New Jersey audiences,” says David Bernard.  “The journey of passion and emotional peaks in Berlioz Symphonie Fantastique combined with the vivid imagery of Debussy’s Nocturnes and the lyricism and virtuosity of Lalo’s Cello Concerto will be an unforgettable experience for the audience and the orchestra,” says Bernard.

This performance is the second of three concerts featuring finalists from the PSNJ’s international search for the successor to Matthew Oberstein, who served as Music Director for 10 years driving the orchestra’s growth, new commissions and development of local partnerships.  Audience members for each of the concerts this season will provide feedback and input to the search committee.

“The PSNJ is starting 2023 with more enthusiasm than ever,” said Board President Elura Nanos. “The chance to work with Mr. Bernard is incredibly exciting for our group, and our 85+ members will take the stage this winter eager to share their experience with our audience.”

“Images and Imagination,” will be held at Eastern Regional High School Center for the Performing Arts in Voorhees, NJ on Sunday, February 26, 2023 at 3:00pm.  The program will feature works by Debussy, Lalo, and Berlioz.  Maestro Bernard will offer a free pre-concert talk about the program at 2:00pm just prior to the concert. 

Tickets are available through the orchestra’s website https://www.psnj.org/feb

Images and Imagination - Sunday, February 26 at 3:00pm (Pre-Concert Talk at 2:00pm) at Eastern Regional High School Center for the Performing Arts (1401 Laurel Oak Road, Voorhees, NJ)

David Bernard, Conductor

Adrian Daurov, Cello

Debussy “Nuages” and “Fêtes” from “Nocturnes”

Lalo Cello Concerto

Adrian Daurov, Cello

Berlioz Symphonie Fantastique

David Bernard, Conductor: David Bernard serves as Music Director of the Park Avenue Chamber Symphony, Massapequa Philharmonic and the Eglevsky Ballet. He is an active guest conductor, appearing with the Brooklyn Symphony, the Dubuque (IA) Symphony, the Greenwich (CT) Symphony, Greater Newburgh Symphony Orchestra, the Island Symphony, the Litha Symphony, the South Shore Symphony and ensembles from the Manhattan School of Music. Called “the Johnny Appleseed of Classical Music” by Long Island Weekly, Maestro Bernard has helped the arts thrive through his innovative approaches to audience and orchestra building as music director and guest conductor.

Bernard is the First Prize winner of The American Prize Orchestral Conducting Competition (professional division) 2019. David Bernard’s critically acclaimed performances and recordings include Beethoven’s Ninth Symphony at Carnegie Hall (“ taught and dramatic” -Superconductor), Stravinsky’s "The Rite of Spring" at Lincoln Center (“transcendent...vivid...expertly choreographed” -LucidCulture), a complete cycle of Beethoven symphonies praised for its “intensity, spontaneity, propulsive rhythm, textural clarity, dynamic control, and well-judged phrasing” by Fanfare magazine, Tchaikovsky’s Pathétique Symphony (“parts emerge like newly scrubbed details in a restored painting. Bernard and his musicians frequently shed new and valuable light on a thrice-familiar standard” -Gramophone) and an album of Dvořák’s Late Symphonies (“David Bernard treats each of the symphonies with alert and respectful acuity. He trusts Dvořák’s metronome markings, often to surprising and exciting effect, and makes sure the narratives unfold with seamless assurance. Bernard shapes the score with fine control, savouring its tender and invigorating material minus mannerism or bluster.” -Gramophone)

Adrian Daurov, Cello: A native of St. Petersburg, Russia and now living in New York City, cellist Adrian Daurov is one of the most dazzling artists of his generation.

Adrian Daurov, at the age of 15, made his debut as soloist with the St. Petersburg State Symphony Orchestra. Subsequently, he earned top honors at three international competitions - Bulgaria’s 1st International Music Competition “Coast of Hope” (First Prize, 1996); The Netherlands’ Peter De Grote International Music Competition (Grand Prix, 2002); New York City’s L.I.S.M.A. International Music Competition (First Prize, 2004). In 2004, he toured  as soloist with the St. Petersburg Chamber Orchestra, performing in St. Petersburg, Moscow, Warsaw and throughout Germany, and was appointed to the dual position of principal cellist and soloist with the Bayreuth Youth Festival Orchestra, under the baton of Peter Gulke. 2008 heard him as a featured participant in a gala Carnegie Hall concert celebrating Russia’s Independence Day, a program that included the distinguished Russian singers Yelena Obratztsova and Vladimir Galouzine.

After studying at the St. Petersburg Conservatory, Adrian Daurov was awarded the Jerome L. Greene Scholarship for advanced studies at The Juilliard School with renowned cello pedagogues André Emelianoff and  David Soyer, where he completed his Bachelor’s and Master’s degrees. While still in school, he was appointed principal cellist of The Chamber Orchestra of New York, a position he still holds. Mr. Daurov has also collaborated in chamber music programs with pianist Alexander Ghindin, violinist Mark Peskanov and flutist Eugenia Zukerman. Recent seasons have included debuts with the Dayton and Massapequa philharmonic orchestras, the symphony orchestras of Altoona, Bozeman, Glacier, Kalamazoo, Longmont, Longwood, Ridgefield, Westerville and Wyoming, and the Chamber Orchestra of New York (at Carnegie Hall). In 2012, he teamed up with the award-winning pianist Spencer Myer to form the Daurov/Myer Duo.

Passionately devoted to the music of our own time, Adrian Daurov has already presented the world premieres of two important works - In 2008, Fountains of Fin for flute, violin and cello by the Persian composer Behzad Ranjbaran and, in 2009, The Epistle - Concerto for Cello & Chamber Choir by the Siberian composer Yuri Yukechev, written for Mr. Daurov and the Russian Chamber Chorus of New York, Nikolai Kachanov, Artistic Director.

Adrian Daurov’s artistry has been heard on several radio and television stations, including WNYC, WQXR and NTV-America. He is also featured on a recent album by the young New York City-based jazz star Romain Collin.

Adrian Daurov performs on a magnificent 1989 cello crafted by John Terry in Florence, Italy.