David Wroe, musical director of the Westfield Symphony Orchestra, will lead a collaborative program at Temple Emanu-El in celebration of Israel at 60.
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If you go...May 01, 2008
In an expression of support for Israel that extends beyond the Jewish community, the Westfield Symphony Orchestra and Temple Emanu-El are presenting a concert at the Westfield synagogue on Thursday, May 8.
The proceeds from Israel at 60 — A Diamond Celebration will go toward helping residents of Sderot, the Israeli town facing bombardment from nearby Gaza.
“We have performed before at Temple Emanu-El, but this is our first joint program with the temple,” said WSO music director David Wroe. “We felt it would be a wonderful gesture, representing the arts in our part of New Jersey and celebrating Israel’s 60th anniversary, and that it would set a wonderful precedent.”
The British-born Wroe approached Emanu-El’s Rabbi Doug Sagal about a year ago to suggest that they collaborate. When Sagal suggested that they do something to mark Israel’s 60th anniversary, Wroe leaped at the opportunity, according to both men.
Sagal was thrilled. “I’m enormously grateful that David responded with such enthusiasm,” he said.
Wroe told him that a few years ago he participated in a Yom Hashoa commemoration at Carnegie Hall in Manhattan, and became fascinated by Jewish musical themes.
Sagal said the current situation in Israel helped shaped the program.
“When he approached me, I was very cognizant that we would be celebrating Israel’s 60th. At the time, we didn’t anticipate the level of violence the country would be facing from Hamas, but now that it’s once again besieged this way, it is more important than ever that we stand up for the State of Israel, and show our pride in what it has accomplished,” said Sagal. “We’re also very pleased that every bit of the money that comes in, over and beyond the expenses, is going to help the people of Sderot.”
Wroe compiled the program for the evening, working with Sagal, the temple’s Cantor Martha Novick, and leaders of the Jewish Federation of Central New Jersey. He said they brought together elements that celebrate Jewish tradition and spiritual aspiration and Israeli culture.
Israeli pianist Alon Goldstein will perform at a concert celebrating Israel’s 60th anniversary at Temple Emanu-El. Photo by Janette Beckmen
At the suggestion of Toby Goldberger, an Emanu-El member and active Central federation leader, Livingston musician Rabbi Greg Wall was asked to participate, in addition to Israeli pianist Alon Goldstein and the Paramus-based Pro Arte Chorale.
Founded in 1983, WSO performs at The Presbyterian Church in Westfield and the Union County Arts Center. Wroe is an experienced opera and orchestra conductor who also serves as the musical director of the Theatro Grattacielo of New York City; he is a regular conductor at the New York City Opera and guest conductor at New York University for the ‘07-‘08 season.
Wroe said the collaboration with the synagogue meshed with the orchestra’s theme for the 2008-09 season.
“We’re reflecting through music literature on war and peace, on conflict and conflict resolution,” he said. For example, the week before the temple concert, WSO will perform Benjamin Britton’s War Requiem. In April, they presented Richard Strauss music composed during and after World War II.
Goldstein will play the Piano Concerto in A Minor by Robert Schumann. Rowe described the Israeli as “one of the greatest young pianists in the world.”
The Pro Arte Chorale, performing with Novick, will be singing The Chichester Psalms composed by Leonard Bernstein based on Hebrew psalms.
Wall’s ensemble will play an original composition that draws on samples of Jewish music from communities all over the Diaspora, and arrives at an eclectic mix suggestive of modern Israeli music.
“The material is not original, but Greg Wall is knitting it together in new ways,” said Wrote.
He described Wall, a jazz musician and klezmer music expert as well as a rabbi, as “a fascinating spiritual and cultural leader, who is committed to cataloging and further expounding on Jewish music and constantly renewing it.”
If you go
What: Israel at 60 — A Diamond Celebration
Where: Temple Emanu-El in Westfield
When: Thursday, May 8, at 7:30 p.m.
Cost: Tickets are $36, $54, and $72.
Sales: Temple Emanu-El office (908-232-6770), the Westfield Symphony Orchestra office (908-232-9400), and various Westfield merchants
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