EMERGE

A musical journey without boundaries.

Featuring the New Jersey Symphony Orchestra, Music Director Xian Zhang and superstar guest pianists Daniil Trifonov, Simone Dinnerstein and Inon Barnatan.

Produced by DreamPlay Films in association with the New Jersey Symphony Orchestra. Directed by Yuri Alves.

Music Director Xian Zhang leads the New Jersey Symphony Orchestra back on the main stage to masterfully conduct a striking selection of orchestral works, showcased in a uniquely intimate style by maverick filmmaker Yuri Alves, who complements the live performances with mesmerizing visuals beyond the stage. The EMERGE concert film trilogy expands the universe of orchestral music through a mix of live stage performance, stunning visuals, mesmerizing dance sequences and format-bending elements on and off stage. The concerts were recorded live and filmed on RED cinema cameras at the New Jersey Performing Arts Center in Newark, New Jersey, between February and March 2021. The films are presented in 4K Ultra HD.

The film trilogy won a Mid-Atlantic Emmy® Award for Arts – Long Form Content (single program).


EMERGE Part 1: An New Jersey Symphony Orchestra Concert Film

Premiered April 28, 2021



Woodwind and brass instruments return to the New Jersey Symphony Orchestra stage in Schumann’s poignant and powerful Fourth Symphony, paired with the East Coast premiere of a new work from multitalented composer and performer Nokuthula Ngwenyama. Simone Dinnerstein, whose Bach performances are full of life, brings vitality and grace to the composer’s F-Minor Keyboard Concerto. More info.


EMERGE Part 2: An New Jersey Symphony Orchestra Concert Film

Premiered May 26, 2021



New Jersey Symphony Orchestra favorite Inon Barnatan joins forces with Music Director Xian Zhang and the New Jersey Symphony Orchestra for Florence Price’s under-recognized Piano Concerto—a work full of glorious melodies, rhythmic dance figures and keyboard pyrotechnics—performed alongside one of Mozart’s final symphonies, a personal favorite of Xian. More info.


EMERGE Part 3: An New Jersey Symphony Orchestra Concert Film

Premiered June 30, 2021



Superstar pianist Daniil Trifonov brings wit, fire, sarcasm and daring to Shostakovich’s First Piano Concerto, with newly named New Jersey Symphony Orchestra Assistant Principal Trumpet Anderson Romero sharing the solo spotlight and Music Director Xian Zhang at the podium. Beethoven’s tour-de-force Fourth Symphony, full of grace, passion and vigor, rounds out the program. More info.