China Daily features Xian Zhang
China Daily writes:
Internationally renowned conductor Xian Zhang made her first appearance with the New Jersey Symphony Orchestra (NJSO) since being named its new music director.
"I take great pride in becoming music director of this historic orchestra, which has been associated with a succession of respectable maestros," said Zhang, who will be the first woman and the first Asian American to hold the post in the orchestra's 94-year history.
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"I have enjoyed the flexibility and sensibility in the musicians' playing and eagerness for wanting to sound good as a group, not personal heroics," said Zhang.
"I also loved interacting with the New Jersey audiences. They are very curious, open and supportive of the symphony," Zhang added.
"I thought she was wonderful," Audrey Kurty, a concertgoer said during the intermission at Thursday's concert. "She was terrific, especially the last movement was beautiful and I really love that. I've never heard Barber before — that was really a treat."
"We are very excited, absolutely she is able to transform the orchestra," said Bart Feller, principal flautist of the orchestra after Thursday's concert. "We are very impressed with her energy level. She's a little bit on the short side but when she's on that podium, there's nothing small about her."
"She is in control of the whole situation but she is not controlling, she lets musicians play, she makes us feel comfortable, she trusts musicians that we should play our solos as we want,"Feller added.
Zhang will officially assume the position in September when the 2016- 2017 season begins.
"New Jersey is a very diverse state in many aspects," Zhang said. "The NJSO plays the role of the ‘musical messenger' of the state — I think that's incredible. It makes this orchestra different and special in the United States, where most orchestras play in their home hall only."
"New Jersey has a large population of not only Chinese but also Asians, like Koreans and Indians, which is very diversified," Zhang said where her appointment was announced. "We are more than willing to promote cultural exchange programs between different cultures in the future."
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Read what this week's concertgoers are saying about the NJSO's next music director on Concert Coda.