• By Mabel Pais

“This extraordinary volume (‘Music and Mind: Harnessing the Arts for Health and Wellness,’) edited by Renée Fleming is the most comprehensive compilation of the role of music in every aspect of life, from biological evolution to our own mental, physical, and spiritual well-being. The meaning of life is in the music of life.” —Deepak Chopra, MD

The New Jersey Symphony celebrates the start of the 2024–25 season with a Gala Celebration on Sunday, October 6 at 1 pm at the New Jersey Performing Arts Center (NJPAC), Newark, NJ.

Join the Symphony for a breathtaking nature-filled season opener featuring international superstar Renée Fleming. As fall colors flare, America’s most celebrated soprano adds the exquisite hues of her voice to this concert, inspired by her 2023 GRAMMY Award-winning album, ‘Voice of Nature: the Anthropocene.’ This special performance spans Classical, Romantic and contemporary music, exploring nature as both inspiration and victim of humanity. Be immersed as the music will be accompanied by a film by the National Geographic Society.

Attendees will enjoy a special pre-concert brunch before experiencing the nature-filled season opening concert with Xian Zhang, Renée Fleming and the New Jersey Symphony.

Net proceeds of this benefit event will support the New Jersey Symphony’s education and community engagement programs. Each year, these programs provide unparalleled opportunities for nearly 60,000 youth, families and community members from all backgrounds to learn, listen, perform and develop a love of music.

CELEBRATION PROGRAM

Download the Event Details, Reservation Form and Advertising information at njsymphony.org/assets/doc/Season-Opening-Celebration-Sponsorship-Brochure-434ae59f8d.pdf 

1 pm: Season Opening Celebration Brunch

3 pm: Season Opening Concert 

CONCERT

Voice of Nature: the Anthropocene with Renée Fleming

Season Opening Gala & Concert

Xian Zhang conductor

Renée Fleming soprano

New Jersey Symphony

Newark – Sunday, October 6, 3 pm, New Jersey Performing Arts Center

The New Jersey Symphony presents ‘Voice of Nature: the Anthropocene’ with Renée Fleming on Sunday, October 6, 2024, at the New Jersey Performing Arts Center in Newark, beginning at 3 pm. The program includes National Geographic Society visuals. The performance will be preceded by the Symphony’s Season Opening Celebration, which begins at 1 pm at the same location.

Music Director Xian Zhang will conduct the program, which features the Symphony alongside renowned soprano, Renée Fleming. This concert is inspired by her 2023 GRAMMY Award-winning album, ‘Voice of Nature: the Anthropocene.’ The concert spans Classical, Romantic and contemporary music, exploring nature as both inspiration and victim of humanity.

Pieces on the program include Björk’s ‘All is Full of Love,’ ‘Twilight and Shadow’ from ‘Lord of the Rings,’ Burt Bacharach’s ‘What the World Needs Now,’ Puccini’s ‘O mio babbino caro’ from Gianni Schicchi and Richard Rodgers’ ‘You’ll Never Walk Alone’ from Carousel among many other works.

Renée Fleming

Renée Fleming is one of the most highly acclaimed singers of our time, performing on the stages of the world’s great opera houses and concert halls. A 2023 Kennedy Center Honoree, winner of five GRAMMY Awards and the US National Medal of Arts, she has sung for momentous occasions from the Nobel Peace Prize ceremony to the Super Bowl. In 2023, the World Health Organization appointed her as goodwill ambassador for Arts and Health.

In May at the Metropolitan Opera, Fleming starred in ‘The Hours,’ an opera based on the Pulitzer Prize-winning novel and award-winning film. In 2023 Fleming received the GRAMMY Award for Best Classical Vocal Solo for her album ‘Voice of Nature: The Anthropocene,’ with Yannick Nézet-Seguin as pianist.

Fleming’s new anthology, ‘Music and Mind: Harnessing the Arts for Health and Wellness,’ was published this spring. “This extraordinary volume edited by Renée Fleming is the most comprehensive compilation of the role of music in every aspect of life, from biological evolution to our own mental, physical, and spiritual well-being. The meaning of life is in the music of life.” —Deepak Chopra, MD

A prominent advocate for research at the intersection of arts, health and neuroscience, as artistic advisor to the Kennedy Center for the Performing Arts, Fleming launched the first ongoing collaboration between America’s national cultural center and its largest health research institute, the National Institutes of Health. She created her own program called ‘Music and the Mind,’ which she has presented in more than 60 cities around the world.

Listen to Renee perform ‘Voice of Nature: The Anthropocene’ – youtu.be/LkVsUX1bIWA. 

Learn more about Renée Fleming at reneefleming.com

TICKETS

Patrons can attend the Season Opening Celebration event on Sunday October 6, at 1 pm which includes hors d’oeuvres, food stations and an open bar at the same location. Guests will enjoy access to premiere concert seats. For more information on the Season Opening Celebration event, visit njsymphony.org/opening.

All tickets include brunch and parking.

The following tickets are available for purchase –

VIP ticket package for two (includes Box Seats)

Celebration ticket includes premiere section seat

Brunch Add-On ticket (for those already holding concert tickets)

Next Gen ticket for ages 21–40 includes front orchestra seat

For more information on concerts and tickets: njsymphony.org/events

Concert tickets are available at njsymphony.org/voiceofnature.

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 our organization-all to better reflect and serve our vibrant communities.

Internationally renowned Chinese American conductor Xian Zhang began her tenure as the New Jersey Symphony’s current music director in 2016. Since her arrival, Zhang has revitalized programming with an industry-leading commitment to diversity, equity and inclusion in mainstage concerts. Since 2021, Zhang has worked together with composer, violinist, educator and social-justice advocate Daniel Bernard Roumain, the orchestra’s Resident Artistic Catalyst, to offer programming that connects with diverse communities in Newark and throughout New Jersey. In 2024, Allison Loggins-Hull succeeded DBR as the orchestra’s Resident Artistic Partner.

Connect with the NJ Symphony

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@NewJerseySymphony on YouTube

Email: information@njsymphony.org

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