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Maestro
Michael Fennelly and his Arcadia
Symphony celebrated
America's 250th anniversary with a
sold-out concert at Carnegie Hall's
Stern Auditorium.
The evening featured a surprise
appearance by Secretary Hillary Rodham
Clinton, who joined the orchestra
on-stage for a special performance.
The program opened with a celebration of
America's musical heritage, featuring
works by Aaron Copland, George Gershwin,
Jerome Kern, Carlisle Floyd, and beloved
American folk and patriotic songs.
A centerpiece of the evening was Copland's Lincoln Portrait, in which
Secretary Clinton narrated Abraham
Lincoln's words—including the Gettysburg
Address—over Copland's orchestral score.
"This has always been a moving,
impactful piece combining this wonderful
music with these words," said Clinton.
"We have to be as vigilant and careful
as President Lincoln warned us of."
Her husband, President Bill Clinton,
watched from the box seats. The evening
also featured the Westchester Children's
Chorus, performing an American medley of
America the Beautiful, My Country,
'Tis of Thee, and God Bless America. The
concert concluded with works by European
masters who helped shape the American
classical canon, featuring Camille
Saint-Saëns, Giacomo Puccini, Giuseppe
Verdi, and Ludwig van Beethoven,
triumphantly culminating in "Ode to Joy"
from Symphony No. 9 and a standing
ovation.
Soprano Jennivee Fiorese, Golden
Classical Music Awards winner, stopped
the show with her powerful performances
of “Somewhere” from West Side Story and
an excerpt from Puccini’s La Rondine.
A historic highlight of the evening was
the Carnegie Hall premiere of You Are My
Rhapsody in Blue, Gershwin's long-lost
choral setting of Rhapsody in Blue.
The rare work was rediscovered by
Maestro Fennelly, who researched,
reconstructed, and created a new
orchestral arrangement for modern
performance while also serving as the
featured pianist.
The performance allowed audiences to
hear a chapter of Gershwin's legacy that
had remained unheard for decades. Nobel
Peace Prize nominee Dame Alice Kandell
was also recognized during the evening
and serenaded from the stage in
appreciation of her efforts in helping
make the concert possible.
The audience included Jeffrey Banks,
Joan Hardy Clark, Susan and Hunter
Cushing, Elise and Pierre S. DuPont V,
Pamela Fiori, Chiara Gorodesky, LaVon
Kellner, Fern Mallis, Christopher Mason,
Peter Olsen, Liane Pei, Ellen and Chuck
Scarsborough, and Kathy Sloane.
Arcadia Symphony New York brings
orchestral performances to New York's
classical music community under the
leadership of Michael Fennelly.
An internationally acclaimed conductor
and pianist, Fennelly serves as Music
Director of Arcadia Symphony New York,
the Athena Chamber Ensemble, and POVAI
in Trani, Italy.
He has performed in leading venues
including Carnegie Hall and Lincoln
Center’s David Geffen Hall, and has
collaborated with institutions such as
the Metropolitan Opera and The Juilliard
School. Fennelly also serves as an
instructor of piano at West Point
Military Academy and has led orchestral
and operatic performances
internationally.
The ensemble presents programs ranging
from beloved masterworks to contemporary
compositions while nurturing young
musicians through its youth orchestra,
providing training, mentorship, and
performance opportunities.
Through concerts, education, and
community engagement, Arcadia Symphony
New York works to make classical music
accessible and relevant to audiences
across generations while celebrating the
connection between timeless traditions
and new artistic voices.
The orchestra's 2025–2026 season
includes performances in New York,
Europe, and Asia.
For more information, visit
www.https://arcadiasymphony.com/ |