The New Jersey Festival Orchestra (NJFO), under the baton of David you Wroe, invites you to step into the intoxicating musical world of turn-of-the-century Vienna.
On Saturday, February 22, 2025, at 7:00 p.m. at The Presbyterian Church in Westfield, NJFO will transport audiences to a world of elegance, joy, and poignant reflection with a lively program of music by iconic Viennese composers, including Johann Strauss and Gustav Mahler.
“We are excited to present a selection of familiar yet ever-delightful melodies that define the city’s exuberant spirit, stated NJFO Music Director David Wroe. “One highlight is sure to be the ever-popular Blue Danube Waltz, a perfect representation of Vienna’s festive atmosphere!”
The evening opens with sweeping waltzes, dances, and operetta selections, with renowned soprano Marcelina Roman (shown above) adding her exquisite voice to the celebration. A laureate and winner of more than 20 prizes in international competitions Ms. Roman has performed in opera houses and music halls all over the world.
The program then takes a striking turn with the lyrical beauty Gustav Mahler’s Symphony No. 4, a work that explores both the lightness of innocence and the emotional depth of human experience.
The concert is a journey through the city’s most jubilant moments juxtaposed with more somber reflections, offering an unforgettable blend of frivolity and introspection.
“This is a celebration of two sides of Vienna,” continued Wroe, Music Director of NJFO. “We’re thrilled to bring both the spirited music of Strauss and the intensity of Mahler to our audiences, showcasing the vibrant contrasts that make Vienna’s musical legacy so powerful.”
Can’t make Saturday evening February 22? Prefer an afternoon concert? The performance will be repeated on Sunday, February 23rd at 2:30 p.m. at the Sieminsky Theater, Fellowship Cultural Arts Center, Basking Ridge. Both concerts are presented through the generous support of The NJ State Council on the Arts.
Tickets ($45 - $85) with a special discount price of only $25 for kids (under18) are available online at www.njfestivalorchestra.org or by calling (908) 232-9400.
Marcelina Román - Polish soprano Marcelina Román began her musical education as a cellist and later received her diploma at the Karol Lipiński Academy of Music in Wrocław. Her professional stage and role debut was as Violetta in “La Traviata” by G. Verdi with conductor Andriy Yurkevych, winning her the Jan Kiepura Prize for “Female Debut of the Year”. Marcelina is a laureate and winner of more than 20 prizes in international competitions, including Eva Marton Voice Competition, Hungary; IVC’s-Hertogenbosch; The Netherlands; Jāzeps Vītols Vocal Competition in Latvia; Adam Didur Singing Competition in Polonia. After her spectacular success as “Armide” (J.B.Lully) she was named “Operatic Revelation of the Year”. In 2021, Marcelina released her solo album “Polish Soul” in collaboration with pianist Gilbert den Broeder.
