Events & Tickets
Zhang Conducts Schubert & Dvořák
2018–19 Season
XIAN ZHANG conductor
JOHANNES MOSER cello
Members of the NJSO HORN SECTION
Chris Komer principal | Andrea Menousek | Lawrence DiBello; Eric Reed horn
NEW JERSEY SYMPHONY ORCHESTRA
-
SCHUMANN Konzertstuck for Four Horns (NJSO Premiere)
Festive and virtuosic: 19th-century advances in the French horn made it possible for Schumann to compose the concerto. The NJSO’s horn section steps into the spotlight.
-
SCHUBERT Symphony No. 8, “Unfinished”
Time stops during this two-movement symphony of sublime expression. You’ll marvel at the endless, songful melodies and long to hear the final uncompleted movements!
-
DVOŘÁK Cello Concerto
The king of the cello concertos! The rich tone of superstar Johannes Moser shines as he conquers a piece that matches Dvořák’s “New World” Symphony for drama, melody and passion.
Art of the Double Concerto
2018–19 Season
XIAN ZHANG conductor
ERIC WYRICK violin
ANNELLE GREGORY violin
STEVEN MACKEY electric guitar
NEW JERSEY SYMPHONY ORCHESTRA
-
WEBER Overture to Oberon
Exciting and suspenseful; based on a medieval story of an Elf King who must search the globe for one faithful human couple.
-
STEVEN MACKEY Four Iconoclastic Episodes
“Music driven by energy, motion and joy of playing.” Mackey’s eclectic piece for violin and electric guitar includes hints of Radiohead, Chicago blues and much more.
-
BACH Concerto for Two Violins
Riveting and inspiring; its achingly lovely second movement was unforgettably featured in Children of a Lesser God as actress Marlee Matlin “heard” music.
-
BEETHOVEN Leonore Overture No. 3
Beethoven’s heroic and triumphant overture tells the story of his only opera, Fidelio, bringing this palindrome concert to a delightful close.
Blockbuster All-Orchestral Season Finale
2018–19 Season
XIAN ZHANG conductor
NEW JERSEY SYMPHONY ORCHESTRA
-
MENDELSSOHN Selections from A Midsummer Night’s Dream
Whimsical, sparkling, emotional—was more joyous music ever put to paper? Closes with the famous Wedding March, which in its full orchestral form is a marvel.
-
RACHMANINOFF Symphony No. 2
The superlatives rack up when describing this glorious work: stunning, titanic, sweeping—even sweetly intimate in spots. A perfect conclusion to the season.
Grieg’s Piano Concerto
2019–20 Season
MARKUS STENZ conductor
JUHO POHJONEN piano
-
REBEL “Chaos” from Les élémens (NJSO Premiere)
Louis XIV’s favorite composer, Rebel stunned the king in the 1730s with this depiction of creation that incorporated harmonies 200 years ahead of their time.
-
GRIEG Piano Concerto
Iconic opening chords herald an eternal favorite. Grieg poured the exquisite beauty of Norwegian fjords and folksongs into his only concerto.
-
BRAHMS Symphony No. 2
Brahms’ symphonies are cherished for their expression of a profound depth of human feeling. His Second radiates warmth and joy, with soaring strings, singable melodies and a thrilling finale of blazing brass.
Handel’s Messiah
2019–20 Season
RODERICK COX conductor
AMANDA WOODBURY soprano
J’NAI BRIDGES mezzo-soprano
FREDERICK BALLENTINE tenor
DOUGLAS WILLIAMS bass-baritone
MONTCLAIR STATE UNIVERSITY SINGERS | Heather J. Buchanan, conductor
-
HANDEL Messiah
The opening aria begins with, “Comfort ye …” In the rush of the holiday season, set aside time for glorious music that touches the soul.
Wagner’s The Ring Without Words
2020 Winter Festival: Front & Center
XIAN ZHANG conductor
SIMON TRPČESKI piano
-
WAGNER Prelude to Act I of Lohengrin
Ten minutes of utter serenity: Wagner has painted the most delicate sound, with soft strings evoking the tenderness of silver moonlight.
-
LISZT Piano Concerto No. 2
NJSO audiences demanded Trpčeski’s return. Don’t miss him in this dazzler by the composer-pianist genius Franz Liszt.
-
WAGNER/arr. Maazel The Ring Without Words (NJSO Premiere)
Wagner’s four-night epic of Ring operas is full of heaven-storming music. The American conductor Lorin Maazel, who mentored Xian early in her career, arranged it into this amazing 60-minute suite.
Beethoven’s Piano Concertos 1 & 5
2019–20 Season—Beethoven’s Birthday Bash
XIAN ZHANG conductor
LOUIS LORTIE piano
-
BEETHOVEN Piano Concerto No. 1
Beethoven was considered a great pianist in his time, and this early showcase for his own talent holds an affectionate nod to his hero, Haydn.
-
BEETHOVEN Piano Concerto No. 5, “Emperor”
Full of Beethoven’s most beautiful melodies and powerful rhythms, his final piano concerto more than earns its regal title.
Tchaikovsky’s Violin Concerto
2019–20 Season
ANDREY BOREYKO conductor
AKIKO SUWANAI violin
-
MASON BATES Attack Decay Sustain Release (NJSO Premiere)
A four-minute joyride, with the strings and brass tumbling over each other, and a touch of groove inspired by Mason Bates’ love of electronic dance music.
-
TCHAIKOVSKY Violin Concerto
Famous for blending elegance with fireworks, Suwanai performs one of the most beloved of all violin concertos.
-
SHOSTAKOVICH Symphony No. 10
For decades early in his career, Shostakovich was hounded and harassed by Soviet leader Josef Stalin. Shostakovich’s 10th was written just after Stalin’s death; it is a towering testament to resilience over tyranny.
Season Finale: Mozart & Mahler
2019–20 Season
XIAN ZHANG conductor
LOUIS LORTIE piano
-
MOZART Piano Concerto No. 24
After making a splash for our celebration of Beethoven’s 250th birthday, artist-in-residence Louis Lortie returns to play Mozart’s most dramatic piano concerto—famous for its interplay of woodwinds and piano. After hearing Mozart’s concerto for the first time, Beethoven said, “We shall never be able to do anything like it!”
-
MAHLER Symphony No. 7 (NJSO Premiere)
Sweep into summer with Mahler’s most innovative music! A guitar, a mandolin and the rarely heard tenor horn all add touches of surprise and mystery to the Seventh—alongside the thrilling, massive sound of the entire NJSO.