Star Wars: A New Hope in Concert
2018–19 Pops Movie Series
Luke Skywalker begins a journey that will change the galaxy, as he leaves his home planet, battles the evil Empire and learns the ways of the Force. Don’t miss Star Wars: A New Hope in concert, with the New Jersey Symphony Orchestra performing John Williams’ Oscar-winning score live to the complete film.
CONSTANTINE KITSOPOULOS conductor
NEW JERSEY SYMPHONY ORCHESTRA
Star Wars: The Empire Strikes Back in Concert
2018–19 Pops Movie Series
After the destruction of the Death Star, the Empire has regrouped—with Darth Vader leading the hunt for Luke Skywalker. Star Wars and the New Jersey Symphony Orchestra join forces for Star Wars: The Empire Strikes Back in concert, featuring the iconic movie on the big screen with the NJSO performing John Williams’ legendary score live.
CONSTANTINE KITSOPOULOS conductor
NEW JERSEY SYMPHONY ORCHESTRA
Bravo Beethoven!
2018–19 Family Concert
JOSÉ LUIS DOMÍNGUEZ conductor
SAMANTHA FERRARA narrator and host
NEW JERSEY SYMPHONY ORCHESTRA
We all love Ludwig! Enjoy a full concert of Beethoven’s most wonderful pieces, including excerpts from the Fifth and Seventh symphonies and some of his most exciting overtures. But even though you think you know Beethoven—surprise! What unexpected discoveries await at this boisterous, beautiful concert?!
Rhapsody in Blue & The Firebird
2018–19 Season
JOSHUA WEILERSTEIN conductor
AARON DIEHL piano
NEW JERSEY SYMPHONY ORCHESTRA
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MILHAUD La création du monde
French composer Milhaud heard jazz in Harlem during a 1922 visit and brought the sound back to Paris for this lively ballet based on African folk mythology.
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GERSHWIN Rhapsody in Blue
Gershwin called this iconic piece “a musical kaleidoscope of America, of our vast melting pot, of our national pep, of our blues, our metropolitan madness.”
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PRICE Piano Concerto (NJSO Premiere)
Florence Price was the first African-American female composer to be performed by major orchestras; her lush concerto skillfully blends classical and popular styles. Read an article from The New Yorker on the “The Rediscovery of Florence Price: How an African-American composer’s works were saved from destruction.”
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STRAVINSKY Suite from The Firebird (1919)
Lavish, vibrant, iconic; tells the tale of the Firebird, whose power is brilliantly illustrated by the thrilling score.
Chinese New Year Celebration
2018–19 Season
Start a new tradition at the NJSO’s first-ever Chinese New Year celebration, conducted by Xian Zhang. Whether you live in Newark or hail from its Chinese sister city, Xuzhou, you have a seat amongst the family of music lovers at the NJSO!
LI HUANZHI Spring Festival Overture (NJSO Premiere)
TAN DUN The Triple Resurrection (NJSO Premiere)
BEETHOVEN Choral Fantasy
Opera Choruses and Traditional Chinese Songs
XIAN ZHANG conductor
MIN KWON piano
ERIC WYRICK violin
JONATHAN SPITZ cello
NEW JERSEY SYMPHONY ORCHESTRA
Make Music Possible
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Opening Weekend—WOW!
Press Praise Opening Concerts
“This is the future of classical music—and it does have a future—bringing us beauty, challenge, hope, and community, even in times of gravest despair, as we face the perils of our time and years to come. It is a face of diversity: color, gender, LGBTQ+, recreating some of humanity’s greatest music and crafting new music for the audiences of tomorrow. The New Jersey Symphony got it right, and their timing couldn’t be better.”
—Broad Street Review
Hear the NJSO at NJPAC
The New Jersey Symphony Orchestra brings world-class music to Newark. Experience the NJSO at the New Jersey Performing Arts Center (NJPAC)!