Beethoven’s “Pastoral” Symphony gets the special treatment from the New Jersey Symphony
Music Director Xian Zhang returned to conduct the New Jersey Symphony for three consecutive performances of Beethoven’s “Pastoral” Symphony in Newark and Morristown in a program that also included two works from Mozart: the Divertimento in D Major and Clarinet Concerto, the latter having Principal Clarinetist Juan Esteban Martinez performing solo. James C. Taylor of NJ Advance Media reviewed the Friday evening performance at NJPAC.
The horn-playing called to mind the rustic sounds of the Alps, the strings and winds evoked both the ripples in a river, as well as the tweeting birds in the second movement, titled: “Scene by the Brook.” But more impressive was the way Zhang let the music surge organically without pushing the pacing or other theatrics. This gave the music a lovely, hushed quality at times, the more dramatic moments seemed to emerge more naturally — and therefore also more moving.
James C. Taylor of NJ Advance Media