The Los Angeles Jewish Symphony (LAJS), lauded for its exploration of Jewish culture, presents EXALTATION! BIBLICAL STORIES THROUGH MUSIC, a performance celebrating music inspired by the Bible’s rich literary heritage, on Sunday, August 14, 2011, 7:30 pm, under the stars at the Ford Amphitheatre in Los Angeles.
The concert, led by Artistic Director Noreen Green, features a variety of classical, film and musical theatre works. Among the guest artists are celebrated vocalist and two-time Grammy nominee Amick Byram and fifteen-year-old violin virtuoso Stephen Waarts, described by critics as “poetic,†“engaging†and “something special.â€
The evening includes music from Franz Waxman and Mario Castelnuovo-Tedesco, two film composers among the elite group of European émigrés that enriched the cultural life of Los Angeles. On the program are Waxman’s lushly romantic film score, The Story of Ruth, a stirring depiction of loyalty, romance, faith and devotion; and Castelnuovo-Tedesco’s brilliant and seldom-played Violin Concerto #2, subtitled The Prophets, a musical portrait of Isaiah, Jeremiah, and Elijah, featuring Waarts.
Additionally, Byram performs music from stage and screen ranging from Andrew Lloyd Weber’s Joseph and the Amazing Technicolor Dreamcoat and Steven Schwartz’s Prince of Egypt to Jerry Bock’s The Apple Tree, Alan Menken’s King David and Shuki Levy’s Masada The Musical Saga. Byram was in the original cast of Masada The Musical Saga, which was presented in Israel for the 50th anniversary of the founding of the state.
The mission of the Los Angeles Jewish Symphony (LAJS), founded by Artistic Director and Conductor Dr. Noreen Green in 1994, is to perform orchestral works of Jewish composers (both known as well as not commonly recognized); establish opportunities for the presentation of new compositions by Jewish artists; serve as a professional resource for aspiring Jewish and non-Jewish musicians; act as an educational medium for Jewish music and composers; and provide educational opportunities for diverse populations of school age children.
Since its debut in 1994, LAJS has served over 60,000 people through 49 full symphony concerts, 54 community events and fund raising concerts and 25 educational concerts. The Symphony has premiered 33 works by Jewish composers and works never before performed in America, as well as world premieres and Israeli premieres in Israel. LAJS has provided aspiring musicians of all ethnicities and backgrounds an opportunity to play with a full orchestra, and more than 12,000 students have participated in LAJS’ music education programs.
For more information: www.lajewishsymphony.org
