Star-Ledger previews Winter Festival, praises Star Wars performance
The Star-Ledger previews the NJSO’s Winter Festival (Jan 10–27) in an interview with Music Director Xian Zhang, who conducts three weeks of programs featuring guest artists Emanuel Ax, Dawn Upshaw and Daniil Trifonov.
"I always look forward to this intense period of music making," said Zhang, whose work with NJSO has consistently garnered critical raves and who recently extended her contract through the 2023-24 season.. "It's a chance for us to shine."
THE STAR-LEDGER
The paper praised the Orchestra’s performances of Star Wars: The Empire Strikes Back in Concert.
Just about every seat in NJPAC’s Prudential Hall in Newark was filled on Saturday as Constantine Kitsopoulos led the NJSO through Williams’ Oscar-nominated score with director George Lucas’ 1980 blockbuster sequel playing on a big screen behind them. ... The NJSO honored the score with enthusiastic playing. The horns belted the Wagnerian motifs and the strings provided a lush, old-Hollywood sweep — as well as the spikier, modern pizzicato sounds during the scenes in the gloomy Dagobah environment.
THE STAR-LEDGER