CHERYLYNN TSUSHIMA
New Jersey Symphony music director Xian Zhang.
The New Jersey Symphony will emphasize orchestral works by American composers — including Leonard Bernstein, Duke Ellington, George Gershwin and Rob Kapilow — and welcome guest performers such as Joshua Bell, Daniil Trifonov, Gil Shaham and Jennifer Koh in its 101st season, announced today.
“For many years, I’ve dreamed of an American-themed season,” said NJS music director Xian Zhang, in a press release.
She also said: “It’s very meaningful as an American orchestra to frame our season around American voices highlighting our musical identity. We are proud that our commitment to diversity and inclusion spotlights many distinct performers, conductors, artists and composers with which we’re so privileged to work.”
The season will feature 12 pieces by 11 living composers, “many of whom are women and people of color” said Zhang. “We’ve commissioned new works from Jessie Montgomery, Daniel Bernard Roumain and Anna Clyne. Plus, we will finally premiere Tyshawn Sorey’s For Marcos Balter with Jennifer Koh, which was delayed due to the pandemic. We are also proud to feature music by Kevin Puts, Reena Esmail, Augusta Read Thomas, Gabriela Montero and David Ludwig, among others.”
Subscriptions are now on sale, with tickets to individual shows going on sale in August. Visit njsymphony.org.
Here is the schedule:
MARIA JARZYNA
AARON DIEHL
“Ellington & Dvořák: New Worlds”
NJPAC, Newark, Oct. 14 at 8 p.m.; State Theatre, New Brunswick, Oct. 15 at 3 p.m.
Robert Spano, conductor; Aaron Diehl, piano. Program includes Valerie Coleman’s Umoja; Still’s Out of the Silence; Ellington’s New World a-Comin’; Dvořák’s Symphony No. 9, “From the New World.”
“Schumann’s Cello Concerto”
NJPAC in Newark, Oct. 19 at 1:30 p.m. and Oct. 22 at 3 p.m.; Richardson Auditorium at Princeton University, Oct. 20 at 8 p.m.; Count Basie Center for the Arts, Red Bank, Oct. 21 at 8 p.m.
Joseph Young, conductor; Sterling Elliott, cello. Program includes a new work by Jessie Montgomery (New Jersey Symphony co-commission); Schumann’s Cello Concerto; Elgar’s Enigma Variations.
” ‘Jurassic Park’ in Concert”
Constantine Kitsopoulos, conductor.
Count Basie Center for the Arts, Red Bank, Oct. 27 at 8 p.m.; NJPAC, Newark, Oct. 28 at 8 p.m.; State Theatre, New Brunswick, Oct. 29 at 3 p.m.
“Ruth Reinhardt Conducts Bartók & Mendelssohn”
NJPAC, Newark, Nov. 9 at 1:30 p.m. and Nov. 10 at 8 p.m.; Mayo Performing Arts Center, Morristown, Nov. 12 at 3 p.m.
Ruth Reinhardt, conductor; Time for Three (Ranaan Meyer, double bass; Nick Kendall, violin; Charles Yang, violin). Program includes Mendelssohn’s The Hebrides (Fingal’s Cave); Kevin Puts’ Contact; Bartók’s Concerto for Orchestra.
LISA MARIE MAZZUCCO
JOSHUA BELL
“Joshua Bell Leads the New Jersey Symphony”
NJPAC, Newark, Nov. 30 at 1:30 p.m. and Dec. 1 at 8 p.m.; State Theatre, New Brunswick, Dec. 3 at 3 p.m.
Joshua Bell, conductor and violin. Program includes Mendelssohn’s Overture to A Midsummer Night’s Dream and Violin Concerto; Beethoven’s Symphony No. 4.
“A Gospel Holiday” (family concert)
NJPAC, Newark. Dec. 9 at 2 and 3:30 p.m.
“Handel’s Messiah”
Richardson Auditorium at Princeton University, Dec. 15 at 8 p.m.; Cathedral Basilica of the Sacred Heart, Newark, Dec. 17 at 7 p.m.
Nicholas McGegan, conductor; Sherezade Panthaki, soprano; Key’mon Murrah, countertenor; Thomas Cooley, tenor; Tyler Duncan, baritone; Montclair State University Singers (Heather J. Buchanan, director).
“Beethoven’s Violin Concerto with Augustin Hadelich”
Richardson Auditorium at Princeton University, Jan. 12 at 8 p.m.; Count Basie Center for the Arts, Red Bank, Jan. 13 at 8 p.m.; NJPAC, Newark, Jan. 14 at 3 p.m.
Xian Zhang, conductor; Augustin Hadelich, violin. Program includes Daniel Bernard Roumain’s i am a white person who _ Black people; Beethoven’s Violin Concerto; Mussorgsky/Ravel’s Pictures at an Exhibition.
“The American Dream”
NJPAC, Newark, Jan. 20 at 8 p.m.; Mayo Performing Arts Center, Morristown, Jan. 21 at 3 p.m.
Xian Zhang, conductor; Rob Kapilow, conductor; JCC Young People’s Chorus @ Thurnauer; Young People’s Chorus of New York City. Program includes Still’s Darker America; Rob Kapilow’s We Came to America (world premiere, commissioned by the Thurnauer School of Music at the Kaplen JCC on the Palisades in Tenafly); Bernstein’s Three Dances Episodes from On the Town and Symphonic Dances from West Side Story.
“Lunar New Year Celebration”
NJPAC, Newark, Feb. 3, 2024 at 7:30 p.m.
Yue Bao, conductor; Tony Siqi Yun, piano.
CAPATHIA JENKINS
“Respect: A Tribute to Aretha Franklin”
Count Basie Center for the Arts, Red Bank, Feb. 16, 2024 at 8 p.m.; NJPAC, Newark, Feb. 17, 2024 at 8 p.m.; State Theatre, New Brunswick, Feb. 18, 2024 at 3 p.m.
Capathia Jenkins, singer. Ryan Shaw, singer.
“Vivaldi’s The Four Seasons”
NJPAC, Newark, Feb. 22, 2024 at 1:30 p.m.; Count Basie Center for the Arts, Red Bank, Feb. 24, 2024 at 8 p.m.; State Theatre, New Brunswick, Feb. 25, 2024 at 3 p.m.
Xian Zhang, conductor; Robert Ingliss, oboe; Eric Wyrick, violin. Program includes Reena Esmail’s RE/Member; Strauss’ Oboe Concerto; Vivaldi’s The Four Seasons.
“Xian Conducts Carmina Burana”
NJPAC, Newark, March 1, 2024 at 8 p.m. and March 3, 2024 at 3 p.m.
Xian Zhang, conductor; Andrew Adelson, oboe d’amore; Jana McIntyre, soprano; Barry Banks, tenor; Hugh Russell, baritone; Montclair State University Chorale (Heather J. Buchanan, director). Augusta Read Thomas’ Selections from Jubilee; J.S. Bach’s Oboe d’Amore Concerto; Orff’s Carmina Burana.
“Tchaikovsky’s Fifth Symphony”
NJPAC, Newark, March 14, 2024 at 1:30 p.m.; Richardson Auditorium at Princeton University, March 15, 2024 at 8 p.m.; NJPAC, Newark, March 16, 2024 at 8 p.m.; Mayo Performing Arts Center, Morristown, March 17, 2024 at 3 p.m.
Xian Zhang, conductor; Tom Borrow, piano. Program includes David Ludwig’s Night Vision; Mozart’s Piano Concerto No. 24; Tchaikovsky Symphony No. 5.
GIL SHAHAM
“Gil Shaham and Xian Zhang”
NJPAC, Newark, March 22, 2024 at 8 p.m. and March 24, 2024 at 3 p.m.; Count Basie Center for the Arts, Red Bank, March 23, 2024 at 8 p.m.
Xian Zhang, conductor; Gil Shaham, violin. Program includes Mozart’s Serenade No. 11; Chevalier de Saint-Georges Violin Concerto No. 9; J.S. Bach Violin Concerto No. 1; Mozart Eine kleine Nachtmusik.
” ‘Star Wars: Return of the Jedi’ in Concert”
Mayo Performing Arts Center, Morristown, April 4, 2024 at 7:30 p.m.; Count Basie Center for the Arts, Red Bank, April 5, 2024 at 8 p.m.; State Theatre, New Brunswick, April 6, 2024 at 8 p.m.; NJPAC, Newark, April 7, 2024 at 3 p.m.
“Jennifer Koh and Jun Märkl Return!”
NJPAC, Newark, May 4, 2024 at 8 p.m.; Mayo Performing Arts Center, May 5, 2024 at 3 p.m.
Jun Märkl, conductor; Jennifer Koh, violin. Program includes Liszt’s Prometheus; Tyshawn Sorey’s For Marcos Balter (New Jersey Symphony co-commission); Brahms/Schoenberg’s Piano Quartet No. 1 (Orchestrated).
“Jeremy Denk, Anna Clyne, Beethoven’s ‘Eroica’ “
Richardson Auditorium at Princeton University, May 17, 2024 at 8 p.m.; NJPAC, Newark, May 18, 2024 at 8 p.m. and May 19, 2024 at 3 p.m.
Markus Stenz, conductor; Jeremy Denk, piano. Program includes Berlioz’s Roman Carnival Overture; Anna Clyne’s Piano Concerto (New Jersey Symphony co-commission); Beethoven’s Symphony No. 3, “Eroica.”
“Discover Beethoven’s ‘Eroica’ ” (family concert)
NJPAC, Newark, May 18, 2024 at 2 p.m.
GABRIELA MONTERO
“Montero Performs Montero plus Bizet’s Carmen”
NJPAC, Newark, May 30, 2024 at 1:30 p.m. and May 31, 2024 at 8 p.m.; State Theatre, New Brunswick, June 2, 2024 at 3 p.m.
Xian Zhang, conductor; Gabriela Montero, piano. Villa-Lobos’ Bachianas Brasileiras No. 4; Gabriela Montero’s Piano Concerto No. 1, “Latin”; Bizet’s Selections from Carmen.
“Daniil Trifonov Plays Gershwin”
Richardson Auditorium at Princeton University, June 7, 2024 at 8 p.m.; Count Basie Center for the Arts, Red Bank, June 8, 2024 at 8 p.m.; NJPAC, Newark, June 9, 2024 at 3 p.m.
Xian Zhang, conductor; Daniil Trifonov, piano. Program includes a new work by Daniel Bernard Roumain (world premiere, New Jersey Symphony commission); Gershwin’s Porgy and Bess: A Symphonic Picture (arr. Bennett) and Concerto in F.
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