On June 24, 2012, well over 1,000 people attended the Arts Council of the Morris Area’s Giralda 2012 Music and Arts Festival where they enjoyed a picture perfect day and were able to just unwind and relax on the gracious lawns of the former Dodge estate, shop for original artworks and/or jewelry, savor ice cream from a vintage ice cream truck and enjoy the thrilling sounds of the outstanding New Jersey Symphony Orchestra (with soloists from Opera New Jersey) under conductor Emil de Cou.
This year’s program included:
NEW JERSEY SYMPHONY ORCHESTRA
EMIL DE COU conductor
Vocalists from OPERA NEW JERSEY:
CHANNING CONNELL soprano
MELISSA KORNACKI mezzo-soprano
JEREMY MOORE baritone
TCHAIKOVSKY Polonaise from Eugene Onegin
STRAUSS Voices of Spring
SULLIVAN H.M. S. Pinafore
Overture
“I’m called Little Buttercup”
“Sorry her lot”
“Fair moon to thee I sing”
“Never mind the why and wherefore”
NICOLAI Merry Wives of Windsor Overture
~Intermission~
ANDERSON Goldilocks Overture
RODGERS “The Carousel Waltz”
MOROSS The Big Country
WILLIAMS “Adventures on Earth” from E.T.: The Extra-Terrestrial
LOWDEN Armed Forces Salute
arr. DRAGON “America the Beautiful”
L-R: Family fun with parachute; 2012 Giralda Conductor, Emil de Cou; Happy crowds enjoy 2012 Giralda.
Additionally, this year’s festival included children’s Art Activities (origami and other art tables), and an Art Show and Sale – not to mention desserts, beverages and snacks available for purchase from Kings Super Markets, The Artist Baker and the vintage ice cream truck.
L-R: Artist Dan Fenelon with string bass he designed; the Marazzo brothers with another vintage ice cream truck; artist Marilyn Rose creates a portrait of concertgoer; three Opera NJ soloists perform with NJSO under Emil de Cou.
In keeping with Giralda tradition, there were generous prizes for the most inventive picnics and the fabulous 50/50 raffle, which netted on lucky person a cash prize (more than $1,000)!
L-R: Prizewinning picnics: The Crater and Peterson Family at their London Olympics- Team USA; The Koslows and their Safari picnic; A fruit “baby” from the Para and Flanagan families’ What to Expect When Expecting picnic; and some handcrafted “vegetable” -topped cupcakes from the Rayburn and Krieck Family’s Garden Party picnic.
Other memorable moments: the Armed Services tribute – when the orchestra played the music associated with each of the armed services and veterans (and current service members) stood to the applause and gratitude of the crowd; and, of course, watching all those kids dancing, running, laughing, beating time to the music and playing in the side fields. Everyone had fun…
L-R: Arts Council Finance Director Anne Dodd readies the raffle ticket bucket; Out of Africa’s elegant picnic display; volunteer raffle sellers from investors Bank get ready to roam the crowds; The Burke family with its Christmas in June picnic; participants of the Mexican Fiesta picnic; .
The Arts Council wishes to thank our sponsors: Open Spaces Management Association; RXR et al; Pfizer; Maersk Inc.; and GRC Management Corp. The event is also sponsored in part by BASF – The Chemical Company; investors Bank; PricewaterhouseCoopers LLP; Frank and Lydia Bergen Foundation, Kings Super Markets; and J. Weber Designs, LLC. Media sponsor: The Daily Record.
All proceeds benefit the many programs and services provided to artists, arts organizations, schools and the community by the Arts Council of the Morris Area.