The New Jersey Symphony bring back Handel’s Messiah with full force
In the first performance of Handel’s Messiah at the Cathedral Basilica of the Sacred Heart since the pandemic began, NJ Advance Media heaped praise on the New Jersey Symphony and the powerful vocals of the guest performers and Montclair State University singers in a soaring review.
... the chorus is really the star of "Messiah." The audience stood for the famous "Hallelujah" in Part II and erupted in cheers at the close. The tradition continues.
James C. Taylor of NJ Advance Media
» Read the full review from NJ Advance Media
Town Topics gave the Princeton performance of Messiah a solid review as well.
Zhang and New Jersey Symphony Orchestra found a wide range of approaches to the work, and despite the number of cut sections, the quality of performance and musical creativity presented Handel’s timeless classic oratorio cohesively.
Nancy Plum of Town Topics
» Read the full review from Town Topics
Even Montclair State University themselves were more than proud of the students who performed alongside the Symphony, with some of them taking pride in being a part of the special experience.
“Of all the years I’ve been doing Messiah with this choir, this was perhaps my favorite. The youthfulness in terms of our collective experience with Messiah this year led to a lot of really wonderful excitement on stage, and a few moments that were positively electric.”
Montclair State University graduate student Justin McBurney