Princeton Symphony Orchestra Opens Season with Bernstein Celebration Ft Violinist Daniel Rowland & Soprano Meghan Picerno

On Saturday, September 29 at 8 pm and Sunday, September 30 at 4 pm, the Princeton Symphony Orchestra (PSO) opens its six-concert Classical Series with a celebration of one of America's most revered composers and conductors, Leonard Bernstein. The concert features brilliant violinist Daniel Rowland performing the West Side Story Suite (arranged by William Brohn) for violin and orchestra, and stunning soprano Meghan Picerno singing "Glitter and be Gay" from Candide. The orchestra takes the spotlight for Three Dance Episodes from On the Town. Music Director Rossen Milanov conducts. Both performances are at historic Richardson Auditorium, Alexander Hall on the campus of Princeton University and include a free Pre-Concert Talk for ticket holders hosted by Mr. Milanov. The PSO is proud to be a part of #BernsteinAt100, a two-year global celebration, honoring Mr. Bernstein by performing his music and continuing his legacy of education and outreach.

Leonard Bernstein (August 25, 1918 - October 14, 1990) was a world-renowned conductor and composer, and one of classical music's icons of the 20th century. He was Music Director of the New York Philharmonic and conducted the world's major orchestras, leaving behind an enormous legacy of audio and video recordings. His books, as well as the much-beloved televised Young People's Concerts with the New York Philharmonic, established him as a leading educator. His orchestral and choral works include three symphonies (No. 1 "Jeremiah", No. 2 "Age of Anxiety", and No. 3 "Kaddish"), Serenade, Mass, Chichester Psalms, Songfest, Divertimento for Orchestra, Arias and Barcarolles, and Concerto for Orchestra. Bernstein's works for the Broadway stage include On the Town, Wonderful Town, Candide and the immensely popular West Side Story. In addition to the West Side Story collaboration, Mr. Bernstein worked with choreographer Jerome Robbins on three major ballets, Fancy Free, Facsimile and Dybbuk. Mr. Bernstein was the recipient of many honors, including eleven Emmy Awards, one Tony Award, the Lifetime Achievement Grammy Award, and the Kennedy Center Honors.

Meghan Picerno is widely recognized for her exciting, crowd-pleasing performances on opera, theatre, and concert stages nationally and internationally. Currently starring as Christine Daaé in the US Premiere and 1st National Tour of Andrew Lloyd Webber's Love Never Dies, this season Ms. Picerno also made her debut at the Royal Albert Hall in London with the Royal Philharmonic Orchestra honoring Lord Andrew Lloyd Webber, as well as making her debut with The San Francisco Symphony under the baton of Maestro Michael Tilson Thomas in their successful production of Candide as Cunegonde.

Daniel Rowland's playing has been acclaimed as "wonderful, ravishing in its finesse" by The Guardian, "totally and truly charismatic" by Beeld, while The Herald praised his "astonishing sound and uniquely single-minded intensity." He has established himself on the international scene as a highly charismatic, colorful and adventurous performer, as well as a passionate chamber musician. He is the first violin of the renowned Brodsky Quartet, and forms an acclaimed recital duo with pianist Natacha Kudritskaya.

Tickets ($96, $80, $62, $35, and $28-youth) for A Bernstein Celebration and other PSO Classical Series concerts are available at princetonsymphony.org or by calling 609 497-0020. Pricing includes admission to the Pre-Concert Talk, held one hour prior to concert start time. Six-concert subscriptions and Saturday concert discounts are also available.

The Princeton Symphony Orchestra's performances of the Bernstein Celebration concert are made possible through the generosity of Bryn Mawr Trust and Taft Communications.

Additional guest artists on the PSO's 2018-2019 season are pianists Inon Barnatan and Dominic Cheli, violinist Rachel Barton Pine, flutist Chelsea Knox, soprano Mikaela Bennett, and flamenco dancer Griset Damas-Roche. The orchestra will perform a new work by Derek Bermel, a PSO co-commission. The orchestra's winter POPS! series includes two performances of the annual Holiday POPS! concert with the Princeton High School Choir and Saturday Evening POPS! with Broadway star Ryan Silverman.

Princeton Symphony Orchestra 2018-2019 Classical Series Calendar

Saturday, September 29, 2018 at 8 pm; Pre-Concert Talk, 7 pm - Richardson Auditorium

Sunday, September 30, 2018 at 4 pm; Pre-Concert Talk, 3 pm - Richardson Auditorium

Find the PSO online at www.princetonsymphony.org