New York, NY (Top40 Charts / Orchestra Moderne NYC) The legacy of the American immigration experience will be spotlighted as Orchestra Moderne NYC makes its Carnegie Hall debut October 7, 2017 with The
Journey to America: From Repression to Freedom.
Orchestra Moderne NYC is the new, diverse ensemble comprised of New York's top musicians and founded earlier this year by internationally renowned conductor to create musical experiences that celebrate humanity and are connected to important social issues, resonate with diverse audiences of music lovers, and provide inclusive opportunities for all composers and performers especially women and minorities.
The concert will feature
Peter Boyer's Grammy-nominated Ellis Island: The
Dream of America, one of the most-performed American orchestral works composed in the last 15 years. This beautiful tribute to historic American immigration features seven actors reading stories chosen from the Ellis Island Oral History Project, accompanied by an emotional orchestral score, and projected photos from the Ellis Island Immigration Museum.
"I wanted to create a game-changing orchestra that would perform music that taps into social issues and has cultural relevance and meaning for all of us," said Ms. Andersson, who is music director and conductor for the concert. "Music resonates in our minds, bodies, hearts, and instruments, and as such remains one of our most profound and significant human experiences. I am thrilled to showcase these themes by presenting this concert. "
The program also features the U.S. premiere of Emmy Award-winning composer
Lolita Ritmanis's Overture to Light, a symphonic work created with inspiration from her parents and the generations of Latvians that fled Communism during World War II.
The concert will include the world premiere of Steven Lebetkin's Concerto for Violin and Orchestra. Lebetkin is a musical disciple of the late Jewish composer
Karol Rathaus, a leading early 20th century film and classical composer who immigrated to
America during the Third Reich. The second movement, written in memory of Rathaus, will be performed by violinist and Juilliard student Momo Wong in her Carnegie Hall debut.
Orchestra Moderne NYC
Orchestra Moderne NYC is a new ensemble, founded in early 2017 by internationally renowned conductor Amy Andersson. Comprised of New York's top musicians, the orchestra's mission is to create musical experiences that celebrate humanity, are connected to important social issues, resonate with diverse audiences of music lovers, and provide inclusive opportunities for all composers and performers especially women and minorities. www.orchestramoderne-nyc.com