Anyone who attended First Night Morris 2018 on Sunday night should feel a great sense of accomplishment.
After all, the wind-chill flirted with subzero readings during the fireworks over the Morristown Green.
Fortunately, the 24 entertainment venues were comfy-cozy, and hardy revelers who made it inside were rewarded with memorable performances like these two, thanks to First Night Artistic Programmer Dr. Lynn Siebert of Morris Arts.
One of her New Year’s Eve treats was mallet master Greg Giannascoli, who dazzled us with his rendition of Rhapsody in Blue at Morristown’s Presbyterian Parish House. Notice the exquisite timing between this New Brunswick marimba virtuoso and his pianist, Ron Stabinsky.
Gershwin seems born for New Year’s Eve, as Metropolitan Opera soprano Jennifer Check underscored with her gorgeous interpretation of Someone to Watch Over Me at the Morristown United Methodist Church. Andrew Rosenblum accompanied her on piano:
Video: Jennifer Check at First Night Morris 2018:
Attendance was down about 20 percent from last year’s 25th anniversary First Night Morris, estimated event Director Craig Schlosser.
That’s not bad considering the weather, and the fact that a new chairman, Dan Della Paolera, only came aboard in August, Schlosser said.
Our thanks to MorristownGreen.com contributor Jeff Sovelove for braving the elements to capture these fun shots:
First Night Morris 2018, slideshow photos by Jeff Sovelove
