Star-Ledger: Zhang brings ‘not just skill but also heart’

Nov 7, 2016

Reviewing Music Director Xian Zhang’s November 3 Englewood debut with the NJSO at bergenPAC, The Star-Ledger writes:

Last week, in her first concerts as Music Director of the New Jersey Symphony Orchestra, Xian Zhang showed her mastery of the music of Tchaikovsky. Over the weekend, in her second series of concerts of this season, Ms. Zhang showed she knows a bit about the core Austro-Germanic repertoire as well. In her first time ever conducting at the Bergen Performing Arts Center in Englewood Thursday night, Zhang led the orchestra through a program of Haydn, Beethoven and Strauss.

...

Her phrasing of the music was keen, and she expertly handled the transitions between solo parts and ensemble passages [in Beethoven’s Triple Concerto]. 

[Eric] Wyrick, the NJSO concertmaster, displayed a sweet tone in his parts; as did NJSO's principal cello, [Jonathan] Spitz, whose high notes in the 2nd movement largo brimmed with warmth. [Pedja] Muzijevic brought an old-world sound to the Yamaha grand, employing a soft, elegant touch to the music. All three played as a team — all of them also sported matching black bow ties — and Zhang beamed and applauded each of them after the fiery finale. ...

After intermission came Haydn's Symphony 102, which was partly inspired by the adagio that served as the curtain-raiser. That was a nice touch, as was the fact that both Spitz and Wyrick were back in their respective chairs after being soloists in the first half of the program. ... Zhang whipped the orchestra into a fine frenzy during the galloping conclusion to the presto.

Closing out the concert was Strauss' suite from "Der Rosenkavalier."  This mash-up of great melodies and waltzes from the composer's 1910 blockbuster opera is an excellent test for any orchestra. It requires not just skill but also heart. Zhang brought both.

» Read the full review at www.nj.com

 

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