Westfield Symphony Goes Latin

When you think about going to the symphony, you think about hearing Beethoven, Bhrams and Tchaikovsky.  But the Westfield Symphony Orchestra is preparing to throw that notion out of the window, hoping to reveal the expanse of classical music.

Tonight the Westfield Symphony is hosting a performance called, "Variations on a Latin Beat." It will feature South American music typically heard during the sensual, fiery dance called the tango. Argentinean tango master Carolina Jaurena will perform with her partner Diego Blanco, who, according to those with the symphony, is one of the top performing tango dancers in the world.

"This is one of our most exciting concerts to date," said Elizabeth Ryan, director of marketing for the symphony. "The passion and energy of the Latin-based music driving this show is phenomenal," she said.

Colombian tango world championship finalists Adriana Neira and Orlando Ibarra will also perform.  Argentinean bandoneonist Hector Del Curto will perform along with the 55-60 members in the symphony.  Del Curto directed "Forever Tango" on Broadway.

David Wroe, the symphony's music director, said the performance is part of a two-year long series being sponsored by the symphony called Sound Partnership. In each concert, the symphony partners with organizations that are not usually associated with symphony music, like music for the tango.

"It's bringing disparate forces together that [normally would] not be played with each other to fuse an artistic product," Wroe said.

Wroe said the Latin Beat project is a refreshing change in repertoire for the musicians. He said the dancers also enjoy the project.

"Very rarely have they had the opportunity to dance with a full symphony orchestra," Wroe said.

Jaurena agreed, saying performing with a full orchestra is a unique experience.

"It's very powerful. The arrangement has so much richness because there are so many instruments," she said. "Normally you have a trio or quintet but a full symphony, it's not very common."

The performance will showcase the old style, traditional tango reminiscent of the tango done at the early dance halls and modern tango with a more street, gritty style. Wroe said the dancers will perform La Cumparsita, made famous by Marilyn Monroe in the 1959 film "Some Like it Hot."

The concert will also feature the world premier of "These Worlds in Us," composed by Missy Mazzoli, an artist in residence with the symphony. According to the symphony's marketing director, Mazzoli was recently deemed "one of the more consistently inventive, surprising composers now working in New York," by the New York Times.

Wroe said he hopes people leave the concert with a new understanding of the innate value of classical music.

"Classical music does not exist on an intellectual pedestal," Wroe said. He said he hopes the performance will broaden the base of support for classical music.

The concert will take place tonight at 8pm at the Union County Performing Arts Center located at 1601 Irving Street in Rahway. All ticket holders are invited to a pre-concert lecture at 7pm in the center's main hall with Dr. Barbara Thomson, who was taught in the music departments at several colleges and universities.

Tickets, which range from $25 to $70, may be purchased directly from the Westfield Symphony Orchestra office at 224 E. Broad Street or by calling the office at 908-232-9400. Tickets (with cash or check) are also available at Town Books on Broad Street in Westfield and Martin Jewelers located at 12 North Avenue in Cranford.