• By Mabel Pais

Experience the film concert for music lovers, filmgoers and anyone looking for an exciting and unique concert experience!

‘The Godfather Live’ brings director Francis Ford Coppola’s masterpiece to music venues for the first time, making its premiere at the New Jersey Performing Arts Center (NJPAC – njpac.org) in Newark on Friday, August 16 at 7:30 pm; and Count Basie Center for the Arts (thebasie.org) in Red Bank on Sunday, August 18 at 3 pm.

Winner of three Academy® Awards and countless other honors, ‘The Godfather’ remains one of the greatest films in the history of cinema. Nino Rota’s iconic score, accompanied by the film’s traditional Italian folk music and jazz comes to life on stage, performed live by the New Jersey Symphony (njsymphony.org) while the film is simultaneously shown in high definition on the big screen.

THE GODFATHER

‘The Godfather,’ released by Paramount Pictures in 1972 to popular and critical acclaim, tells the story of the Corleones and their rivalry with other New York crime families between 1945 and 1955, as the title character (Marlon Brando) hands over the reins of power to his youngest son (Al Pacino). Also starring James Caan, John Cazale, Robert Duvall and Diane Keaton, the film won three Academy® Awards — including Best Picture and Best Actor (Marlon Brando) — and established Coppola’s reputation as one of the exciting new breed of directors who revolutionized Hollywood from the late 1960s onwards.

In 2008, an ‘Empire’ magazine vote saw ‘The Godfather’ named as the greatest film ever made, a distinction also awarded by ‘Entertainment Weekly’ and ‘Metacritic’. It came second in ‘Sight & Sound’s’ 2002 list and ‘Time Out’s’ 2003 readers’ poll and is currently ranked at number two in IMDb’s all-time list.

Composer Nino Rota achieved international acclaim in the 1950s and 1960s for his work with Italian directors Federico Fellini and Luchino Visconti, scoring the likes of ‘White Nights’, ‘The Leopard’, ‘La Dolce Vita’ and ‘8½’. His music for ‘The Godfather’, including its immortal “Love Theme from ‘The Godfather,’”  was ranked at #5 in the American Film Institute’s list of the greatest scores ever written.

Justin Freer, Producer of ‘The Godfather Live’ in Concert said, “We are proud to embrace the evolution of live experience, and we hope that this concert honors the many talented musicians that bring the music of the movies to life, while giving everyone the ability to re-live one of the great masterpieces in Cinema.”

PROGRAM

‘The Godfather Live’ in Concert

New Jersey Symphony at the Movies

Newark: Friday, August 16, 2024, 7:30 pm, New Jersey Performing Arts Center

Red Bank: Sunday, August 18, 2024, 3 pm, Count Basie Center for the Arts

Nicholas Hersh conductor

New Jersey Symphony

CineConcerts

CineConcerts – Twitter | Facebook | Instagram

TICKETS

Tickets are available at njsymphony.org/godfather.

This concert is produced by CineConcerts.

Content warning: This film contains Graphic Violence, Adult Content and Profanity that some viewers may find offensive or triggering. Rated R.

Programs, artists and prices are subject to change.

CineConcerts

CineConcerts (cineconcerts.com) is one of the leading producers of live and digital music experiences performed with visual media, and continues to redefine entertainment. Founded by Producer/Conductor Justin Freer and Producer/Writer Brady Beaubien, CineConcerts will engage over 4.8 million people worldwide in concert presentations in over 3,000 performances in 48 countries through 2025, and recently launched CineConcerts +PLUS — a global digital network and app suite with hundreds of exclusive podcast episodes and produced content continues to work with some of the most prestigious orchestras and venues in the world including the Chicago Symphony Orchestra, Cleveland Orchestra, London Philharmonic, Los Angeles Philharmonic, New York Philharmonic, Philadelphia Orchestra, Philharmonia Orchestra and more. Learn more at cineconcerts.com.

Paramount Pictures Corporation

Paramount Pictures Corporation (PPC), a global producer and distributor of filmed entertainment, is a unit of Viacom (NASDAQ: VIAB, VIA), a leading content company with prominent and respected film, television and digital entertainment brands. Learn more at paramountpictures.com.

Nicholas Hersh (Conductor)

American conductor Nicholas Hersh is music director of the Modesto Symphony (California), having been appointed in August 2023 with immediate effect. Across the country, Nicholas has earned critical acclaim for his innovative programming and natural ability to connect with musicians and audiences alike.

Hersh is frequently in demand as an arranger and orchestrator, with commissions from orchestras around the globe for adaptations of everything from classical solo and chamber music to popular songs. His orchestration of Beethoven’s Cello Sonata Op. 69 was premiered by the Philharmonie Zuidnederland in January 2022, while his symphonic arrangement of Queen’s “Bohemian Rhapsody” continues to see worldwide success as a viral YouTube hit. He also serves as arranger and editor for the James P. Johnson Orchestra Edition.

Hersh grew up in Evanston, Illinois and started his musical training as a cellist. He earned a bachelor’s degree in Music from Stanford University and a master’s degree in Conducting from the Indiana University Jacobs School of Music. Hersh is also a two-time recipient of the Solti Foundation Career Assistance Award. Learn more at nicholashersh.com.

The New Jersey Symphony

The Emmy and GRAMMY Award-winning New Jersey Symphony is redefining what it means to be a nationally leading, relevant orchestra in the 21st century. The Symphony is renewing its deeply rooted commitment to diversity, equity and inclusion by championing new, and often local, artists; engaging audiences for whom the inspiring depth and breadth of classical music will be a new experience; and incorporating the broadest possible representation in all aspects of its organization – all to better reflect and serve its vibrant communities.

Connect with NJ Symphony

1.800.ALLEGRO (255.3476)

njsymphony.org

@NJSymphony on Facebook, Instagram, TikTok and X

@NewJerseySymphony on YouTube

Email: information@njsymphony.org

(Mabel Pais writes on The Arts and Entertainment, Social Issues, Spirituality, Cuisine, Health & Wellness, Business, and Education)