The Marin Jewish Community Center is like a second home to the New Century Chamber Orchestra. The orchestra rehearses, performs and even holds board meetings at the San Rafael center.
In a gesture of sensitivity, the orchestra pulled a section of its fifth birthday concert from the Marin venue last weekend.
“On the Road for Christmas” by Jake Heggie, with text by Frederica von Stade, premiered Friday night at San Francisco’s Herbst Theater. However, works by Samuel Barber, Lou Harrison and Antonio Vivaldi were heard by Marin audiences instead.
“The decision was essentially mine, in consultation with our board,” said Parker Monroe, NCCO executive director. “We felt that there might be a few people whose feelings could be hurt by a Christmas piece at the JCC. Why hurt anyone’s feelings? We had a full-length program already.”
The Marin Independent Journal reported Sunday that the JCC had decided to pull the concert. But Ron Mogel, Marin JCC executive director, and Monroe agreed that the decision was directed by the orchestra alone.
In fact, “The performance of `On the Road for Christmas’ was never an issue which came to me or my board,” Mogel said. “It was decided by the orchestra in sensitivity to us.
“We appreciate their sensitivity.”
The Independent Journal also reported that the Philharmonia Baroque’s performance of Handel’s “Messiah” was also canceled at the JCC.
“This is not true either,” Mogel said. “The whole story is a controversy which doesn’t exist.
“Our purpose is to provide a broad range of cultural opportunities. But clearly we are first a Jewish venue.”
Mogel would not speculate on whether he and his board would have canceled the show had the NCCO not made its decision.
“We discuss such things on a case-by-case basis,” he said.
NCCO has never canceled a piece before. Monroe said it is unlikely the orchestra would do so again. However, “On the Road to Christmas” refers to Christmas memories and riding to Mass.
“It’s a specific Christmas piece, not a generic holiday piece,” Monroe said. And the NCCO would not want to jeopardize its relationship with the Marin JCC.
“They do countless little things for us which make a big, big difference for our orchestra. They provide us with discounted services and a quality rehearsal space,” Monroe said. “We’ve been great friends from the beginning.”