Relaxed Performances
Enjoy classical music in a comfortable environment at these upcoming Relaxed Performances!
These performances, which are all Thursday matinees and Discover concerts at NJPAC, are designed to accommodate the differing needs of our patrons of all abilities and provide additional support for patrons with physical and cognitive disabilities, while delivering an enjoyable experience for all.
More information on Relaxed Performances can be found by clicking here.
Rachmaninoff’s Symphonic Dances
Part of the TD James Moody Jazz Festival
Eric Jacobsen conductor
Christian McBride double bass
Chris Komer horn
New Jersey Symphony
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Claude Debussy Prelude to the Afternoon of a Faun
A languid flute solo opens a portal into another world, with Debussy’s shimmering orchestral colors as vivid as any Monet painting.
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George Duke Dark Wood: Bass Concerto for Christian McBride
Hear the Garden State’s own jazz master in a work tailor-made for his unique groove and virtuosity as he solos with the New Jersey Symphony for the first time.
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Christian McBride Fried Bacon
Christian McBride’s first work for symphony orchestra, Fried Bacon was originally written for and premiered by Chris Komer, New Jersey Symphony Principal Horn extraordinaire, in 2022. The world premiere brought the house down and we can’t wait to play it again.
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Sergei Rachmaninoff Symphonic Dances
An elegiac melody, a Dies Irae quote, a saxophone solo, and the tolling of church bells are among the many extraordinary effects in Rachmaninoff’s final work, written in exile from a Russia to which he’d never return, and which would never be the same.
Discover Rachmaninoff
New Jersey Symphony Family Concert
Xian Zhang conductor
Bill Barclay host
Tony Siqi Yun piano
New Jersey Symphony
What is a rhapsody, and who was Paganini? Unlock the mystery of the musical puzzle in this roller coaster ride for piano and orchestra, demonstrated by the extraordinary talent of Tony Siqi Yun.
Gil Shaham Plays Dvořák
New Jersey Symphony Classical
Xian Zhang conductor
Gil Shaham violin
New Jersey Symphony
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Johannes Brahms Symphony No. 3
Dvořák called this symphony Brahms’ most beautiful. A deeply personal work, its autumnal harmonies embody the composer’s personal motto, “free, but happy.” Orchestral musicians regularly call Brahms the most satisfying composer to play—with this masterpiece, it’s easy to hear why.
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Antonín Dvořák Violin Concerto
Full of folk flavor and rustic rhythms, Dvořák’s only violin concerto is fiendishly difficult. “A virtuoso and a player of deeply intense sincerity” (The New York Times), Gil Shaham makes it sound easy.
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Antonín Dvořák Carnival Overture
A musical celebration of life and all its joys and possibilities, this delightful bonbon of an overture is the perfect dessert at the end of our program.
Xian Zhang
Conducts Mozart
Principal Timpanist Gregory LaRosa Takes the Spotlight
Xian Zhang conductor
Gregory LaRosa timpani
New Jersey Symphony
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Wolfgang Amadeus Mozart Symphony No. 29
Written when he was just 18 (and had already composed 28 symphonies!), this work from a boy genius has a brilliant maturity and is full of elan, wit, and the quintessential Mozartian spirit that continues to inspire.
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Joseph Pereira Virtù - Concerto for Timpani and String Orchestra (East Coast Premiere, New Jersey Symphony Co-Commission)
Drumroll please! Principal Timpanist Gregory LaRosa joins his colleagues as soloist for the first time in this brand-new work, written just for him.
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Wolfgang Amadeus Mozart Symphony No. 41, “Jupiter”
Mozart’s final symphony reaches levels of cosmic brilliance, especially in the thrilling finale about which the 19th-century commentator Aleksandr Ulïbïshev wrote, “One must hear this music to believe it possible.”
Neruda Songs and Poulenc’s Gloria
New Jersey Symphony Classical
Ludovic Morlot conductor
Liv Redpath soprano
J’Nai Bridges mezzo-soprano
Montclair State University Chorale | Heather J. Buchanan, director
New Jersey Symphony
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Peter Lieberson Neruda Songs
Written as a gift for his wife, the acclaimed mezzo-soprano Lorraine Hunt Lieberson, Peter Lieberson’s Neruda Songs takes poetry of extraordinary beauty and makes it even more rapturous.
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Francis Poulenc Gloria
A joyous choral celebration, Poulenc’s music is both playful and exuberant—guaranteed to release endorphins!
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Maurice Ravel Suite No. 2 from Daphnis and Chloé
Ravel’s most ravishing piece (and that’s saying quite a lot!), Daphnis and Chloé is an orchestral tour de force, giving every musician a true instrumental work out.
Discover Tchaikovsky
New Jersey Symphony Family Concert
Xian Zhang conductor
Bill Barclay host
New Jersey Symphony
Tchaikovsky was a great musical storyteller. Learn about the structure of his Fourth Symphony and what to listen for, from string plucking to folk songs, and a wide range of emotions expressed by different instruments.
Ravel’s Boléro
with Xian Zhang
Season Finale | New Jersey Symphony Classical
Xian Zhang conductor
Pablo Sáinz Villegas guitar
New Jersey Symphony
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Leonard Bernstein Overture to Candide
Full of glitter and gaiety, Bernstein’s effervescent overture exudes joy and optimism—the best of all possible worlds.
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Joaquín Rodrigo Concierto de Aranjuez
The pinnacle of the guitar repertoire, Rodrigo’s beloved concerto transports the listener to the heart of historic Spain, capturing, in the composer’s words, “the fragrance of magnolias, the singing of birds, and the gushing of fountains.”
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Alberto Ginastera Four Dances from Estancia
Argentina’s leading composer, Alberto Ginastera, wrote Estancia soon after he met Aaron Copland. This extraordinary ballet score is full of folk character, driving rhythms, and a final dance that is among the most ecstatic moments in the orchestral repertoire.
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Maurice Ravel Boléro
From the nearly imperceptible tap of a snare drum to its exhilarating climax, the slow burn crescendo of Boléro grabs hold of audiences and refuses to let go. There’s nothing like hearing it live!