Temple B'nai Abraham Prime Time presents "Rhapsody in Hues: The Compositional Worlds of George Gershwin" with Maestro Robert Butts, Music Director & Conductor, The Baroque Orchestra of New Jersey

Join Temple B'nai Abraham Prime Time for "Rhapsody in Hues:
The Compositional Worlds of George Gershwin" with Maestro Robert Butts, Music Director & Conductor, The Baroque Orchestra of New Jersey

Sunday, December 15, 2013 2:00-4:00 PM @Temple B'nai Abraham

Free and open to the community. Reservations are requested.  973.994.2290

George Gershwin's popular Rhapsody in Blue, one of the landmarks of 20th century music, represents Gershwin's importance in both the concert and popular music worlds. His melodic genius and rhythmic energy inspired him to write some of the greatest songs for the American musical theater, featured in shows such as Lady Be Good, Oh Kay!, and Girl Crazy.  At the same time, with his brother Ira and writers such as George Kaufman, Gershwin explored a more serious side of musical theater with the ironic and sarcastic works, Strike Up The Bandand Of Thee I Sing. In his continued efforts to give operatic seriousness to the musical theater form, his final stage work was the influential Porgy and Bess. The success of Rhapsody in Blue premiered under the baton of Paul Whiteman, led to Gershwin's composing works for the concert stage—most notably his dazzling Piano Concerto in F and the joyous An American in Paris. Gershwin's music in all forms, styles and colors remains at the heart of American music and entertainment.

Dr. Robert W. Butts is New Jersey’s most wide-ranging conductor, exploring the operatic as well as the orchestral worlds, the earliest major works of the Baroque period through compositions of the twenty-first century.  He received his graduate degrees from The University of Iowa and The American Conservatory of Music.He also serves as Music Director and Conductor with The Baroque Orchestra of New Jersey, Eastern Opera Company, Touring Concert Opera of New York and In Mid Air Productions.  He teaches and lectures at Montclair State University, The College of Saint Elizabeth, Drew University and The New Jersey Council For the Humanities. In addition, he develops courses and individual lectures for Westfield Adult School, Leisure Learning, Lifelong Learning, and other adult and continuing education programs across Northern New Jersey. He has done pre-concert talks for NJPAC, The New Jersey Symphony, The New Jersey State Opera and Elderhostel. With The Baroque Orchestra of New Jersey, he has developed the broadcast video series Concerts and Conversations. He is a recipient of the Arts Council of the Morris Area Arts Professional of the Year and has been a finalist for the 2010 and 2011 American Prize for Orchestral Conducting, the 2011 and 2012 American Prize for Opera Conducting, and the 2011 Vytautas Marijosius Memorial Award. He was awarded the 2011 American Prize Citation for outstanding educational and outreach work in music.