New Jersey Symphony Orchestra - 2014-15 Season

N E W J E R S E Y S Y M P H O N Y O R C H E S T R A JACQUES LACOMBE Music Director

Sarah Chang, violin Beethoven Fifth Symphony Orff Carmina Burana André Watts, piano Handel Messiah Rimsky–Korsakov Scheherazade Gil Shaham, violin Mozart Symphony No. 39 Winter Festival: Sounds of Shakespeare

2014–15 SEASON

Music As You Like It

ENGLEWOOD | MORRISTOWN | NEWARK | NEW BRUNSWICK | PRINCETON | RED BANK

Music As You Like It Photo pages 3, 13, 15, 18, 20 and front cover by Fred Stucker | Photo pages 5, 6, inside and back cover by Tristan Cook

“If music be the food of love, play on,” mused

the lovesick Orsino in Shakespeare’s Twelfth Night. Four centuries later, Music Director Jacques Lacombe and the New Jersey Symphony Orchestra answer the call with a season of music exactly as you like it: treasured favorites and delightful discoveries and an international roster of gifted artists and conductors at six marvelous venues.

The NJSO’s 2014–15 season beckons with such monumental masterworks as Beethoven’s Fifth Symphony, Mendelssohn’s Violin Concerto, Brahms’ Double Concerto, Mahler’s “Titan” Symphony, Orff’s Carmina Burana, Rachmaninoff’s Rhapsody on a Theme of Paganini, Tchaikovsky’s “Pathétique” Symphony and much more.

January’s Winter Festival launches a two-season exploration of music inspired by Shakespeare’s divine dramas. Sensational violinist Sarah Chang anchors this season’s festival in a two-week residency, generously sponsored by Bank of America.

Enjoy fabulous concerts performed with virtuosity and passion by the superb players of the NJSO. You’re in for a magical season of music— as you like it!

There’s a lot to love in the 2014–15 season!

Find music you’ll love all year long, from great symphonies to masterful concertos and more. Join Jacques Lacombe and the NJSO for a boundless season of enjoyment!

Winter Festival: Sounds of Shakespeare The Bard’s divine dramas take center stage in the 2015 Winter Festival, highlighted by a two-week residency during which Sarah Chang performs Bernstein’s West Side Story Suite in every NJSO venue. (See page 16 for more about the Winter Festival.)

Guest Artists Audience favorites Christoph König, Xian Zhang, Marc-André Hamelin and Gil Shaham return to NJSO stages.

Family Series Take your kids or grandkids on a series of musical journeys with the Family series! Explore history with a musical time machine and visit the land of make believe—find the details on page 15.

Special Concerts A trio of non-subscription programs includes Handel’s Messiah, two concertos with André Watts and Mendelssohn’s First Piano Concerto. The only way to secure the best seats for these concerts is to add them to your subscription order today! Not eligible for exchanges or bonus vouchers.

Browse through the following pages for more details, open the concert grid in the center of this brochure to find the concerts in your favorite venue and visit us at www.njsymphony.org/subscribe to listen to music clips. There’s plenty to choose— it’s music as you like it!

Love going to concerts, but need a better way to travel?

Leave the driving to us! The NJSO offers luxury coach transportation from several locations throughout New Jersey. For just $5 per concert, take the bus to Thursday and Sunday matinee performances at NJPAC in Newark.

If you are interested in using this transportation option, please visit www.njsymphony.org/bus to complete an online form, or call the Ticket Office at 1.800.ALLEGRO (255.3476).

Please note: At least 25 people are needed to ride the bus, so pickup locations and times will be scheduled near the beginning of the season. These locations are determined by the interest expressed to us by phone or through the online form— please tell us if you’d like to take the symphony bus!

Bus service has been underwritten by a very generous anonymous donor.

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Opening Night: Carmina Burana Carmina Burana Fri, Oct 10 at 7 pm Sat, Oct 11 at 8 pm Sun, Oct 12 at 3 pm

JACQUES LACOMBE

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NJPAC in Newark State Theatre in New Brunswick Mayo Performing Arts Center in Morristown

JACQUES LACOMBE conductor ALINE KUTAN soprano JEAN-FRANCIS MONVOISIN tenor ÉTIENNE DUPUIS baritone WESTMINSTER SYMPHONIC CHOIR Joe Miller, director NEW JERSEY SYMPHONY ORCHESTRA ANTHEIL McKonkey’s Ferry DEBUSSY Nocturnes ORFF Carmina Burana Carmina Burana sets the tone for a sensational season. This monumental work for chorus and orchestra features poetry that celebrates life’s playful pleasures, while its music thrills with earth-shaking sound. Music Director Jacques Lacombe revisits the piece that introduced him to NJSO audiences!

Part of the New Jersey Roots Project, celebrating music inspired by the Garden State.

CELEBRATE A SPECTACULAR OPENING NIGHT ON OCTOBER 10 Enjoy a cocktail party with bountiful hors d’oeuvres and an open bar. A magnificent dinner follows the performance, with opportunities to meet and mingle with Music Director Jacques Lacombe, musicians from the Orchestra and other special guests.

Add event tickets to your Friday subscription, or exchange a subscription ticket from another night to celebrate: Cocktail Party Ticket – Pre-concert party and complimentary parking Subscriber add-on price: $200 per person (includes a tax-deductible contribution of $125) Dinner Ticket – Pre-concert party, post-concert dinner and complimentary parking Subscriber add-on price: $700 per person (includes a tax-deductible contribution of $500) Cocktail and dinner ticket prices above do not include the concert.

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Gil Shaham Plays Mendelssohn Thu, Oct 23 at 1:30 pm Sat, Oct 25 at 8 pm Sun, Oct 26 at 3 pm

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NJPAC in Newark Count Basie Theatre in Red Bank State Theatre in New Brunswick

JACQUES LACOMBE conductor GIL SHAHAM violin NEW JERSEY SYMPHONY ORCHESTRA ROSSINI William Tell Overture MENDELSSOHN Violin Concerto FRANCK Symphony in D minor

GIL SHAHAM

Recipe for magic: mix the exhilarating William Tell Overture with a dynamic, spirited performance from the NJSO and serve for maximum thrills! Musical wizardry continues with Mendelssohn’s brilliant, impetuous Violin Concerto performed by the charismatic Gil Shaham. Franck’s lovely and emotional symphony closes a spellbinding program.

Lacombe Conducts Scheherazade Thu, Oct 30 at 7:30 pm Sat, Nov 1 at 8 pm Sun, Nov 2 at 3 pm

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bergenPAC in Englewood NJPAC in Newark NJPAC in Newark

JACQUES LACOMBE conductor NEW JERSEY SYMPHONY ORCHESTRA STRAVINSKY Petrouchka (1947) RIMSKY-KORSAKOV Scheherazade JACQUES LACOMBE

When it comes to telling tales through music, Russian composers are unparalleled. Just as Scheherazade captivated a king with her stories, Rimsky-Korsakov’s sumptuous tone poem will hold you enthralled. The adventures of the lovelorn puppet Petrouchka spring vividly to life in Stravinsky’s colorful ballet score.

Classic Vienna: Mozart, Strauss Jr. & Schubert Thu, Nov 6 at 1:30 pm Fri, Nov 7 at 8 pm Sat, Nov 8 at 8 pm Sun, Nov 9 at 3 pm

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NJPAC in Newark Richardson Auditorium in Princeton State Theatre in New Brunswick NJPAC in Newark

EUGENE TZIGANE conductor LISE DE LA SALLE piano NEW JERSEY SYMPHONY ORCHESTRA STRAUSS JR. Die Fledermaus Overture MOZART Piano Concerto No. 9 STRAUSS JR. “Artist’s Life” Waltz SCHUBERT Symphony No. 3

LISE DE LA SALLE

Viennese warmth and charm abound in this sparkling program. Johann Strauss Jr., “The Waltz King,” rubs elbows with Mozart, whose Piano Concerto No. 9 is a youthful masterpiece. Schubert’s Third Symphony overflows with melody—alternately playful, tender and profound.

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BRETT DEUBNER viola

“Bright, shimmering strings and forceful brass headed an ardent finale.”

—The Star-Ledger

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ELZBIETA WEYMAN

assistant principal viola

“Music Director Jacques Lacombe delivered not only bold, intelligent [program] choices, but also sure-handed performances.”

—The Star-Ledger

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Chopin Piano Concerto No. 1 Fri, Nov 28 at 8 pm Sat, Nov 29 at 8 pm Sun, Nov 30 at 3 pm

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Richardson Auditorium in Princeton NJPAC in Newark State Theatre in New Brunswick

STEFAN SANDERLING conductor INON BARNATAN piano NEW JERSEY SYMPHONY ORCHESTRA CHOPIN Piano Concerto No. 1 BRAHMS Symphony No. 4

INON BARNATAN

The pyrotechnics of Chopin’s Piano Concerto No. 1 will dazzle in the hands of pianist Inon Barnatan, praised by The Washington Post for “fine music making wedded to astounding technique.” Taking the torch from Chopin, Brahms’ noble Romanticism finds its purest expression in his lush Fourth Symphony.

A Take 6 Holiday with the NJSO Sat, Dec 13 at 8 pm Sun, Dec 14 at 3 pm

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NJPAC in Newark State Theatre in New Brunswick

TAKE 6 JOSEPH JOUBERT conductor NEW JERSEY SYMPHONY ORCHESTRA The syncopated sounds of 10-time Grammy Award-winning ensemble Take 6 will fill you with holiday spirit! This sensational sextet infuses R&B, pop, gospel and more into joyful, groovin’ entertainment, with a program that includes their unique take on seasonal favorites including “Joy to the World” and “Hark! The Herald Angels Sing.” Come early to enjoy caroling in the lobby, and bring a new, unwrapped toy to donate to Toys for Tots.

TAKE 6

POPS

The Dec 14 performance is presented in collaboration with the State Theatre.

Handel’s Messiah Fri, Dec 19 at 7:30 pm Sat, Dec 20 at 7:30 pm Sun, Dec 21 at 3 pm

JACQUES LACOMBE

Richardson Auditorium in Princeton Michael T. Lake PAC in Neptune NJPAC in Newark

JACQUES LACOMBE conductor NATHALIE PAULIN soprano MIREILLE LEBEL mezzo-soprano ISAIAH BELL tenor GORDON BINTNER bass-baritone MONTCLAIR STATE UNIVERSITY SINGERS Heather J. Buchanan, director NEW JERSEY SYMPHONY CHAMBER ORCHESTRA HANDEL Messiah Handel’s Messiah resonates freshly each time it is heard, especially so the exhilarating “Hallelujah Chorus.” Musically superb and emotionally uplifting, the Messiah is a holiday season must-hear for music lovers everywhere.

These performances are approximately 2 hours and 30 minutes in length, including intermission.

The Dec 21 performance is presented in collaboration with the New Jersey Performing Arts Center.

PRICES FOR DEC 19: $80 | $60 | $40 | $20 PRICES FOR DEC 20: $45 | $30 | $15 PRICES FOR DEC 21: $89 | $79 | $59 | $39 | $29 | $25

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Lacombe Conducts Romeo and Juliet Fri, Jan 9 at 8 pm Sat, Jan 10 at 8 pm Sun, Jan 11 at 3 pm

JACQUES LACOMBE

WINTER FESTIVAL

NJPAC in Newark State Theatre in New Brunswick NJPAC in Newark

JACQUES LACOMBE conductor RACHEL STERRENBERG soprano MINGJIE LEI tenor THE SHAKESPEARE THEATRE OF NEW JERSEY Bonnie J. Monte, artistic director NEW JERSEY SYMPHONY ORCHESTRA TCHAIKOVSKY Romeo and Juliet Fantasy-Overture GOUNOD Selections from Romeo and Juliet PROKOFIEV Selections from Romeo and Juliet The NJSO’s Winter Festival celebrates the genius of Shakespeare with music inspired by his greatest plays. The timeless romance of Romeo and Juliet proved irresistible to Tchaikovsky, Prokofiev and Gounod alike, giving rise to a passionate trio of audience favorites.

Sponsored by Herbert & Evelyn Axelrod.

Sarah Chang Plays Bernstein Fri, Jan 16 at 8 pm Sat, Jan 17 at 8 pm Sun, Jan 18 at 3 pm

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Richardson Auditorium in Princeton Count Basie Theatre in Red Bank Mayo Performing Arts Center in Morristown

JACQUES LACOMBE conductor SARAH CHANG violin ELENA PERRONI soprano HEATHER STEBBINS soprano ROY HAGE tenor NEW JERSEY SYMPHONY ORCHESTRA

SARAH CHANG

WINTER FESTIVAL

DVOŘÁK Othello Overture TCHAIKOVSKY Romeo and Juliet Love Duet BARBER Selections from Antony and Cleopatra DELIUS “The Walk to the Paradise Garden” from A Village Romeo and Juliet BERNSTEIN West Side Story Suite In a bold stroke of inspiration, Bernstein transplanted Romeo and Juliet to Hell’s Kitchen to create his West Side Story. Superstar violinist Sarah Chang makes its famous melodies sing and soar. Antony and Cleopatra, another illfated Shakespearean pair, are caught between desire and duty in Barber’s mesmerizing score.

West Side Story with Sarah Chang Thu, Jan 22 at 7:30 pm Sat, Jan 24 at 8 pm Sun, Jan 25 at 3 pm

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bergenPAC in Englewood NJPAC in Newark State Theatre in New Brunswick

JACQUES LACOMBE conductor SARAH CHANG violin NEW JERSEY SYMPHONY ORCHESTRA SARAH CHANG

WINTER FESTIVAL

ELGAR Falstaff KORNGOLD Much Ado About Nothing Suite BERNSTEIN West Side Story Suite Sarah Chang shines in Bernstein’s immortal West Side Story, heard in a luminous arrangement for violin and orchestra. Shakespeare’s countryman Elgar paints a memorable portrait of the jolly rogue Falstaff, who appears in three of the Bard’s plays.

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Sarah Chang’s residency with the NJSO is generously sponsored by Bank of America.

Winter Festival:

Sounds of Shakespeare The centerpiece of this season’s Winter Festival is the two-week residency of violinist Sarah Chang, who performs in every venue.

See page 16 for more information.

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Singin’ in the Rain Sat, Feb 7 at 8 pm Sun, Feb 8 at 3 pm

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CONSTANTINE KITSOPOULOS conductor NEW JERSEY SYMPHONY ORCHESTRA

SINGIN’ IN THE RAIN

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From the iconic puddle-jumping “Singin’ in the Rain” scene to the crisp rendition of “Good Morning” and the tender moments of “You Were Meant for Me,” Gene Kelly, Donald O’Connor and Debbie Reynolds sang and danced their way right to the top of the American Film Institute’s list of greatest movie musicals. The NJSO brings the film’s beloved soundtrack to life while the remastered movie is shown with the original dialogue and vocals intact.

The Feb 8 performance is presented in collaboration with the State Theatre, which will show the film on its 46-foot screen.

Photo by permission of the Gene Kelly Image Trust.

Mozart & Mendelssohn Fri, Feb 27 at 8 pm Sat, Feb 28 at 8 pm Sun, Mar 1 at 3 pm

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NJPAC in Newark Count Basie Theatre in Red Bank NJPAC in Newark

JOHANNES DEBUS conductor BART FELLER flute STACEY SHAMES harp NEW JERSEY SYMPHONY ORCHESTRA MENDELSSOHN The Fair Melusine Overture MOZART Flute and Harp Concerto MENDELSSOHN Symphony No. 3, “Scottish”

BART FELLER

Come and cheer NJSO Principal Flute Bart Feller as he and harpist Stacey Shames take the spotlight in Mozart’s effervescent Flute and Harp Concerto, with melodies that sparkle. Mendelssohn’s intoxicating Third Symphony will transport you to the heathered moors and rugged coastlines of Scotland.

Mahler’s First Symphony: “Titan” Thu, Mar 12 at 1:30 pm Fri, Mar 13 at 8 pm Sat, Mar 14 at 8 pm Sun, Mar 15 at 3 pm

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NJPAC in Newark NJPAC in Newark State Theatre in New Brunswick Mayo Performing Arts Center in Morristown

JACQUES LACOMBE conductor KIRILL GERSTEIN piano NEW JERSEY SYMPHONY ORCHESTRA BERNSTEIN Symphony No. 2, “The Age of Anxiety” MAHLER Symphony No. 1, “Titan”

KIRILL GERSTEIN

Is it a symphony? Is it a concerto? Bernstein’s “Age of Anxiety” combines the best of both genres into a theatrical musical narrative for solo piano and orchestra. It’s enthralling listening, especially with the charismatic Kirill Gerstein at the keyboard. Scored for massive orchestra, Mahler’s First Symphony moves effortlessly between intimacy and grandeur, heralding the arrival of a symphonic master.

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Rachmaninoff & Tchaikovsky Thu, Mar 19 at 7:30 pm Fri, Mar 20 at 8 pm Sat, Mar 21 at 8 pm Sun, Mar 22 at 3 pm

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bergenPAC in Englewood Richardson Auditorium in Princeton Count Basie Theatre in Red Bank State Theatre in New Brunswick

JACQUES LACOMBE conductor SERHIY SALOV piano NEW JERSEY SYMPHONY ORCHESTRA KUBIAN O for a Muse of Fire (World Premiere) RACHMANINOFF Rhapsody on a Theme of Paganini TCHAIKOVSKY Symphony No. 6, “Pathétique”

SERHIY SALOV

Tchaikovsky’s beloved Sixth, “Pathétique,” is a heart-wrenching meditation on the transforming power of love and the inexorable workings of fate.

Beloved for its virtuosic piano writing and especially for the exquisite 18th variation, Rachmaninoff’s Rhapsody surges with an energy that’s stunning.

Closing the New Jersey Roots Project is a commission near and dear to the NJSO family, a new work by Orchestra violinist Darryl Kubian. Like other Winter Festival composers, Kubian found his muse in Shakespeare.

Heart of Motown with Spectrum and the NJSO Sat, Apr 18 at 8 pm Sun, Apr 19 at 3 pm

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NJPAC in Newark State Theatre in New Brunswick

SPECTRUM SARAH HICKS conductor NEW JERSEY SYMPHONY ORCHESTRA With tight, ringing harmonies, slick moves and an utter commitment to the joy of music, Spectrum recreates the sound of Motown. Relive the magic of The Four Tops, The Temptations, Smokey Robinson, The Drifters, The Miracles and other R&B sensations with this high-energy tribute that includes “Just My Imagination,” “My Girl” and “The Way You Do the Things You Do.”

SPECTRUM

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The Apr 19 performance is presented in collaboration with the State Theatre.

König Conducts Dvořák Fri, Apr 24 at 8 pm Sat, Apr 25 at 8 pm Sun, Apr 26 at 3 pm

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NJPAC in Newark Count Basie Theatre in Red Bank NJPAC in Newark

CHRISTOPH KÖNIG conductor STEFAN JACKIW violin NEW JERSEY SYMPHONY ORCHESTRA DOHNÁNYI The Veil of Pierrette DVOŘÁK Romance RAVEL Tzigane DVOŘÁK Symphony No. 5

CHRISTOPH KÖNIG

Magnetic conductor Christoph König leads the NJSO in scores by Czech master Dvořák: his engaging Fifth Symphony—composed in a five-week burst of inspiration—and songful Romance, featuring young violinist Stefan Jackiw, whose playing is “brilliantly skillful and selflessly musical,” according to the Financial Times.

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Zhang Conducts Mozart & Brahms Thu, Apr 30 at 1:30 pm Fri, May 1 at 8 pm Sat, May 2 at 8 pm Sun, May 3 at 3 pm

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NJPAC in Newark Richardson Auditorium in Princeton NJPAC in Newark Mayo Performing Arts Center in Morristown

XIAN ZHANG conductor ERIC WYRICK violin JONATHAN SPITZ cello NEW JERSEY SYMPHONY ORCHESTRA

XIAN ZHANG

BRAHMS Concerto for Violin and Cello STRAUSS Serenade for Winds MOZART Symphony No. 39 Audience favorite Xian Zhang returns to the podium to lead the NJSO in a delectable program. Brahms’ heartfelt Double Concerto puts Concertmaster Eric Wyrick and Principal Cello Jonathan Spitz in the starring roles, while the NJSO winds shine in Strauss’ charming Serenade. Mozart’s 39th is one of his last and greatest symphonies; from its stately opening to its vibrant finale, it gives voice to the composer’s deepest thoughts and emotions.

André Watts with the NJSO Fri, May 15 at 8 pm

NJPAC in Newark

PETER BAY conductor ANDRÉ WATTS piano NEW JERSEY SYMPHONY ORCHESTRA MOZART Così fan tutte Overture BEETHOVEN Piano Concerto No. 3 STRAVINSKY Four Norwegian Moods GRIEG Piano Concerto

ANDRÉ WATTS

André Watts’ storied career began at the age of 16, when Leonard Bernstein chose him to perform on one of his Young People’s Concerts. More than 50 years later, he is still one of our most beloved superstars. His take on Grieg’s passionate concerto and Beethoven’s Third Piano Concerto makes this a concert you’ll remember for years to come.

The concert is presented in collaboration with the New Jersey Performing Arts Center.

PRICES: $119 | $95 | $75 | $49 | $35 | $25

18th Annual UJA Benefit Concert Sun, May 17 at 3 pm

NJPAC in Newark

MICHAEL STERN conductor ALON GOLDSTEIN piano NEW JERSEY SYMPHONY ORCHESTRA PROKOFIEV Overture on Hebrew Themes MENDELSSOHN Piano Concerto No. 1 SMETANA “The Moldau” from Má vlast BRAHMS Finale from Symphony No. 2

MICHAEL STERN

Legendary violinist Isaac Stern performed on the NJSO’s very first UJA benefit concert in 1998. The legacy of the concert is carried on this year by Stern’s son Michael, an accomplished conductor who leads a program rich in cultural gems. It includes Prokofiev’s Overture on Hebrew Themes and the cheerfully triumphant Finale of Brahms’ Second Symphony.

Subscribers to NJPAC Series 6 can choose a package that includes this concert.

PRICES: $87 | $75 | $47 | $36 | $20

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“Enthusiasm and energy were constant features.”

— Musical America

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Broadway Spectacular with the NJSO Sat, May 30 at 8 pm Sun, May 31 at 3 pm

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NJPAC in Newark State Theatre in New Brunswick

TODD ELLISON conductor BETH LEAVEL vocalist CHRISTOPHER SIEBER vocalist NEW JERSEY SYMPHONY ORCHESTRA TODD ELLISON

POPS

Hailed by The New York Times as one of “Broadway’s electric conductors,” Todd Ellison leads a sizzling program of spectacular favorites from such Broadway hits as Carousel, Monty Python’s Spamalot, Shrek the Musical and 42nd Street. Two of the hottest talents on the stage today—Beth Leavel and Christopher Sieber—join Ellison and the NJSO for a sparkling program of showtunes.

The May 31 performance is presented in collaboration with the State Theatre.

All-Beethoven: Fifth Symphony & “Emperor” Concerto Thu, June 4 at 7:30 pm Sat, June 6 at 8 pm Sun, June 7 at 3 pm

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JACQUES LACOMBE conductor MARC-ANDRÉ HAMELIN piano NEW JERSEY SYMPHONY ORCHESTRA MARC-ANDRÉ HAMELIN

BEETHOVEN Coriolan Overture BEETHOVEN Piano Concerto No. 5, “Emperor” BEETHOVEN Symphony No. 5 What could be better than Beethoven’s Fifth? Two Fifths—his iconic symphony and the majestic “Emperor,” Piano Concerto No. 5. Soloist Marc-André Hamelin reigns supreme at the keyboard: “His technical facility is breathtaking …But his sensitivity is also superb,” says The Washington Post. Jacques Lacombe and the Orchestra give a magnificent conclusion to a wondrous season.

There’s a lot to love in the 2014–15 season!

Subscribe now and guarantee your seats for all of these incredible performances!

Venue NJPAC State WWW.NJSYMPHONY.ORG N ST Theatre Key:

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Richardson bergen Count Basie | 1.800.ALLEGRO (255.3476) | Mayo EASY EXCHANGES RA Auditorium B PAC M PAC CB Theatre

NJSO Family Series

Instrumental in Learning

NJSO Family Series presented by Horizon Blue Cross Blue Shield of New Jersey

Discover new worlds, explore classical favorites, take a musical journey and have a great time with your kids or grandkids at the NJSO! Each of these hour-long concerts kicks off with a Pre-Concert Adventure— young ones can learn more about the music, participate in fun hands-on activities and meet musicians.

The Musical Time Machine Sat, Nov 29 at 2 pm

NJPAC in Newark

JEFFREY GROGAN conductor NEW JERSEY SYMPHONY ORCHESTRA Join forces with Maestro Jeff and race through history to stop a clever time traveler! Power up the time machine to keep the time traveler from permanently changing music from Beethoven’s Fifth Symphony, Rossini’s William Tell Overture and Dvořák’s “New World” Symphony!

The Land of Make Believe

The Gretchen Lochner Gonzales Memorial Family Concert Sat, Feb 7 at 2 pm

NJPAC in Newark

GEMMA NEW conductor GREATER NEWARK YOUTH ORCHESTRA NEW JERSEY SYMPHONY ORCHESTRA Just as authors use words, composers use music to tell stories about grand adventures, falling in love, epic battles and so much more, helping create magical worlds in our imaginations. What stories do you hear in Tchaikovsky’s Romeo and Juliet, Bernstein’s West Side Story and music from Harry Potter?

A Hero’s Journey Sat, June 6 at 2 pm

HERO

NJPAC in Newark

JEFFREY GROGAN conductor NEW JERSEY SYMPHONY ORCHESTRA Who are your heroes? They can be anyone from firefighters to the president, from parents to a friend who stands up to a bully. How would music about heroes sound? Imagine your own as you listen to pieces inspired by famous heroes in Copland’s Fanfare for the Common Man, Verdi’s Nabucco Overture and Beethoven’s “Eroica” Symphony.

WWW.NJSYMPHONY.ORG | 1.800.ALLEGRO (255.3476) | EASY EXCHANGES 15

NJSO Signature Events 2015 Winter Festival: Sounds of Shakespeare Jacques Lacombe and the Orchestra begin a two-year project exploring music inspired by or created for the Bard’s divine plays. Actors from The Shakespeare Theatre of New Jersey join the NJSO for the first of three concert weekends.

The centerpiece of this season’s Winter Festival is the two-week residency of violinist Sarah Chang. In addition to performing a suite from Bernstein’s West Side Story for audiences in all six NJSO venues, she will meet and inspire students in two of the NJSO’s education programs. She will visit the young musicians of NJSO CHAMPS (Character, Achievement and Music Project) and will provide a once-in-a-lifetime masterclass for Greater Newark Youth Orchestra students. Sarah Chang’s residency with the NJSO is generously sponsored

by Bank of America.

Find the concert programs on page 8 and visit www.njsymphony.org/winterfestival for Winter Festival updates throughout the year.

Sarah Chang’s residency with the NJSO is generously sponsored by Bank of America.

New Jersey Roots Project Now entering its fifth season, the New Jersey Roots Project focuses on composers who were either born in New Jersey or whose time spent in the Garden State has significantly influenced their artistic identity. See the complete list of New Jersey Roots Project works at www.njsymphony.org/njroots.

New Jersey Roots Project works in 2014–15 With thanks to The Edward T. Cone Foundation CONE Symphony • July 18, 2014 ANTHEIL McKonkey’s Ferry • Oct 10–12 KUBIAN O for a Muse of Fire (World Premiere) • Mar 19–22 Look for this symbol to indicate works included in the New Jersey Roots Project.

Culminating its New Jersey Roots Project, the NJSO will present a special world premiere performance of and conversation about Edward T. Cone’s Symphony at a pre-season event on Friday, July 18, 2014, at Richardson Auditorium in Princeton. Jacques Lacombe and distinguished composer Steven Mackey will explore this work of the much-revered composer-teacher and explain Cone’s impact on generations of composers that followed him. Simultaneously, the NJSO will launch the pilot phase of its Composition Institute, in collaboration with the Cone Foundation and Princeton University. The Institute is geared toward emerging composers and will provide hands-on feedback from Mackey, Lacombe and the NJSO players on works in process. For more information, visit www.njsymphony.org/njroots.

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Gifts that Impact

• Enrich lives through music • Encourage lifelong learning • Engage with our communities Share your love of music today! With your support: • Our music education and community engagement programs will impact the lives of as many as 40,000 students, their families and educators statewide.

• The NJSO’s world-class musicians and phenomenal guest artists will be featured in six of the state’s finest performance venues.

• More than 150,000 New Jerseyans will experience the musical magic of the NJSO this year.

The NJSO’s range of artistic programming and the depth and accessibility of its education and community engagement activities exemplify a distinct style that has distinguished the Orchestra nationally and established it as one of the region’s cultural treasures. We simply could not do all of this without your support.

You have the power to make everything we do possible.

Please make a gift today.

Please indicate the amount of your contribution on the enclosed order form with your subscription purchase, donate online at www.njsymphony.org or call us at 973.735.1730.

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Support that Sustains The NJSO gratefully acknowledges support from the following institutions:

The Horizon Foundation for New Jersey

Pantone 300 blue

Area of isolation

OFFICIAL AIRLINE OF THE NJSO

The

Getty

Education and Community Investment

Grant

The New Jersey Symphony Orchestra gratefully acknowledges the Ann and Gordon Getty Foundation and the League of American Orchestras for their generous support of the NJSO Autism Community Initiative.

The Frank and Lydia Bergen Foundation • Stephen & Mary Birch Foundation • Marjorie Bunnell Charitable Fund • The Charles G. and Edna T. Brundage Foundation • The Thomas and Agnes Carvel Foundation • The Edward T. Cone Foundation • Ann and Gordon Getty Foundation • Robert Wood Johnson 1962 Charitable Trust • The Leavens Foundation, Inc. • The Harold I. and Faye B. Liss Foundation, Inc. • The MCJ Amelior Foundation • Donald and Emily Mulford Fund • David Tepper Charitable Foundation • The Turrell Fund • Lucy and Eleanor S. Upton Foundation • Victoria Foundation

The New Jersey Symphony Orchestra is proud to be the resident orchestra of the New Jersey Performing Arts Center.

The New Jersey Symphony Orchestra is proud to be the resident orchestra of the New Jersey Performing Arts Center.

This program is made possible in part by funds from the New Jersey State Council on the Arts, a Partner Agency of the National Endowment for the Arts.

19

NJPAC in Newark really does have it all—a warm, inviting atmosphere, convenient on-site dining and parking options, spacious lobby areas and superb acoustics for orchestral concerts. Choose from more than 30 classical, pops and family offerings, including performances

by Sarah Chang and Gil Shaham; masterworks including Orff’s Carmina Burana, Handel’s Messiah, Beethoven’s “Emperor” Concerto and Mahler’s First Symphony; a tribute to the music of Motown and the iconic film Singin’ in the Rain screened with live orchestral accompaniment.

Prefer your concerts at Richardson Auditorium in Princeton? The music envelops you in this intimate space, located on the Princeton University campus, directly across from Palmer Square. The NJSO’s five-concert Princeton series features Rachmaninoff’s virtuosic Rhapsody on a Theme of Paganini and Brahms’ gorgeous Double Concerto with Eric Wyrick and Jonathan Spitz.

Fans attending Sunday afternoon performances at Mayo Performing Arts Center in Morristown can relax in the newly renovated lobby space (including additional restrooms and an elevator to the balcony level) before concerts featuring Orff’s Carmina Burana, Mahler’s “Titan” Symphony, Mozart’s Symphony No. 39 and Sarah Chang performing Bernstein’s West Side Story Suite.

Music as you like it, where you like it!

There’s plenty to love at State Theatre in New Brunswick, located in the heart of the New Brunswick arts district. Enjoy Orff’s earth-shaking Carmina Burana, Gil Shaham performing Mendelssohn’s Violin Concerto, two Winter Festival concerts inspired by Shakespeare, Tchaikovsky’s heart-wrenching “Pathétique,” the tight harmonies of Motown and Gene Kelly splashing through puddles in Singin’ in the Rain with live orchestral accompaniment.

Make an evening of it at bergenPAC in Englewood—grab a bite at one of the many eateries in the area, or plan drinks after these four Thursday-night concerts.

Sarah Chang takes center stage with a passionate suite from Bernstein’s West Side Story, and the Orchestra performs Rachmaninoff’s virtuosic Rhapsody on a Theme of Paganini, Rimsky-Korsakov’s Scheherazade and—in the stunning season finale—Beethoven’s Fifth Symphony and “Emperor” Piano Concerto.

Enjoy the NJSO in the ornate surroundings of the Count Basie Theatre in Red Bank, which is conveniently located near great restaurants and free parking. Highlights of the season include Gil Shaham playing Mendelssohn’s brilliant Violin Concerto, Mozart’s sparkling Flute and Harp Concerto, Rachamaninoff’s Rhapsody on a Theme of Paganini and Tchaikovsky’s “Pathétique” Symphony.

Classical 2014–15

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TITLE / CONDUCTOR / ARTISTS

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FRI/SAT 8 pm

THU 1:30 pm SUN 3 pm

SUN 3 pm

SAT 8 pm SUN 3 pm

THU 1:30 pm

FRI 8 pm

SAT 8 pm

1

S 8

PROGRAM

Carmina Burana

JACQUES LACOMBE conductor ALINE KUTAN soprano JEAN-FRANCIS MONVOISIN tenor ÉTIENNE DUPUIS baritone WESTMINSTER SYMPHONIC CHOIR Joe Miller, director NEW JERSEY SYMPHONY ORCHESTRA

ANTHEIL McKonkey’s Ferry DEBUSSY Nocturnes ORFF Carmina Burana

Gil Shaham Plays Mendelssohn

ROSSINI William Tell Overture MENDELSSOHN Violin Concerto FRANCK Symphony in D minor

Lacombe Conducts Scheherazade

STRAVINSKY Petrouchka (1947) RIMSKY-KORSAKOV Scheherazade

Classic Vienna: Mozart, Strauss Jr., & Schubert

STRAUSS JR. Die Fledermaus Overture MOZART Piano Concerto No. 9 STRAUSS JR. “Artist’s Life” Waltz SCHUBERT Symphony No. 3

Chopin Piano Concerto No. 1

CHOPIN Piano Concerto No. 1 BRAHMS Symphony No. 4

Lacombe Conducts Romeo and Juliet WF

TCHAIKOVSKY Romeo and Juliet Fantasy-Overture GOUNOD Selections from Romeo and Juliet PROKOFIEV Selections from Romeo and Juliet

JACQUES LACOMBE conductor GIL SHAHAM violin NEW JERSEY SYMPHONY ORCHESTRA JACQUES LACOMBE conductor NEW JERSEY SYMPHONY ORCHESTRA EUGENE TZIGANE conductor LISE DE LA SALLE piano NEW JERSEY SYMPHONY ORCHESTRA STEFAN SANDERLING conductor INON BARNATAN piano NEW JERSEY SYMPHONY ORCHESTRA

JACQUES LACOMBE conductor RACHEL STERRENBERG soprano MINGJIE LEI tenor THE SHAKESPEARE THEATRE OF NEW JERSEY Bonnie J. Monte, artistic director NEW JERSEY SYMPHONY ORCHESTRA

Sarah Chang Plays Bernstein WF

DVOŘÁK Othello Overture TCHAIKOVSKY Romeo and Juliet Love Duet BARBER Selections from Antony and Cleopatra DELIUS “The Walk to the Paradise Garden” from A Village Romeo and Juliet BERNSTEIN West Side Story Suite

West Side Story with Sarah Chang WF

ELGAR Falstaff KORNGOLD Much Ado About Nothing Suite BERNSTEIN West Side Story Suite

Mozart & Mendelssohn

MENDELSSOHN The Fair Melusine Overture MOZART Flute and Harp Concerto MENDELSSOHN Symphony No. 3, “Scottish”

JACQUES LACOMBE conductor SARAH CHANG violin ELENA PERRONI soprano HEATHER STEBBINS soprano ROY HAGE tenor NEW JERSEY SYMPHONY ORCHESTRA JACQUES LACOMBE conductor SARAH CHANG violin NEW JERSEY SYMPHONY ORCHESTRA JOHANNES DEBUS conductor BART FELLER flute STACEY SHAMES harp NEW JERSEY SYMPHONY ORCHESTRA

Mahler’s First Symphony: “Titan”

BERNSTEIN Symphony No. 2, “The Age of Anxiety” MAHLER Symphony No. 1, “Titan”

Rachmaninoff & Tchaikovsky

KUBIAN O for a Muse of Fire RACHMANINOFF Rhapsody on a Theme of Paganini TCHAIKOVSKY Symphony No. 6, “Pathétique”

König Conducts Dvořák

DOHNÁNYI The Veil of Pierrette DVOŘÁK Romance RAVEL Tzigane DVOŘÁK Symphony No. 5

Zhang Conducts Mozart & Brahms

BRAHMS Concerto for Violin and Cello STRAUSS Serenade for Winds MOZART Symphony No. 39

JACQUES LACOMBE conductor KIRILL GERSTEIN piano NEW JERSEY SYMPHONY ORCHESTRA

JACQUES LACOMBE conductor SERHIY SALOV piano NEW JERSEY SYMPHONY ORCHESTRA CHRISTOPH KÖNIG conductor STEFAN JACKIW violin NEW JERSEY SYMPHONY ORCHESTRA XIAN ZHANG conductor ERIC WYRICK violin JONATHAN SPITZ cello NEW JERSEY SYMPHONY ORCHESTRA

Photo front cover by Tristan Cook | Photo back cover by Fred Stucker

NEW BR

NEWARK

VENUE SERIES

18th Annual UJA Benefit Concert

PROKOFIEV Overture on Hebrew Themes MENDELSSOHN Piano Concerto No. 1 SMETANA “The Moldau” from Má vlast BRAHMS Finale from Symphony No. 2

All-Beethoven: Fifth Symphony & “Emperor” Concerto

BEETHOVEN Coriolan Overture BEETHOVEN Piano Concerto No. 5, “Emperor” BEETHOVEN Symphony No. 5

MICHAEL STERN conductor ALON GOLDSTEIN piano NEW JERSEY SYMPHONY ORCHESTRA

JACQUES LACOMBE conductor MARC-ANDRÉ HAMELIN piano NEW JERSEY SYMPHONY ORCHESTRA

New Jersey Roots Project. See page 16. WF Winter Festival concerts. See page 16.

PATRONS WITH SPECIAL NEEDS: The NJSO is ADA-compliant. For our patrons with special needs, we offer wheelchair-accessible seating and facilities, large-print programs and assisted-listening devices. Please call 1.800.ALLEGRO (255.3476) or 973.624.3713 for details.

WWW.NJSYMPHONY.ORG | 1.800.ALLEGRO (255.3476)

Not all services are available in all locations.

FRI OCT 10 7 PM

FRI OCT 10 7 PM

SAT OCT 11

THU THU OCT 23 OCT 23 SAT NOV 1

SUN OCT 26 SAT NOV 1

SUN NOV 2 SUN NOV 9

SAT NOV 29

SUN JAN 11

FRI JAN 9

SAT JAN 24

FRI FEB 27

SUN NOV 2 SUN NOV 9

THU NOV 6

SAT NOV 29

FRI JAN 9

SUN JAN 11

FRI FEB 27

SAT NOV 8

S NO

SUN NOV 30

SAT JAN 24

SUN MAR 1

S OC

SAT S JAN 10 JA

SUN JAN 25

SUN MAR 1

THU THU FRI FRI MAR 13 MAR 12 MAR 12 MAR 13

S SAT MAR 14 MA

SUN MAR 22

FRI SUN APR 24 APR 26

SAT MAY 2

FRI APR 24

THU THU APR 30 APR 30

SUN APR 26

SAT MAY 2

SUN MAY 17*

SAT SUN JUNE 6 JUNE 7

SUN SAT JUNE 6 JUNE 7

P$

785

729

332

405

425

510

512

3

A$

625

585

262

325

350

423

424

2

B$

390

360

160

200

220

264

304

1

C$

277

270

116

150

174

216

224

1

D$

140

135

60

75

75

96

148

7

*UJA Add the May 17 concert to NJPAC Series 6! Prices for the 7-concert series are $577, $481, $302, $247 and $111.

RUNSWICK

PRINCETON NEW BRUNSWICK MORRISTOWN

PRINCETON ENGLEWOOD MORRISTOWN RED BANK

ENGLEWOOD RED BANK

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SAT 8 pm

SAT SUN8 pm 3 pmSUN 3 pm

FRISAT 8 pm8 pm

SUNSUN 3 pm3 pm

FRI 8 pm

THU SUN 7:30 3 pmpm

SAT 8 pm

THU 7:30 pm

SAT 8 pm

SAT CT 11

SAT OV 8

SAT AN 10

SAT AR 14

SAT OCT 11

SAT SUN OCT 11 OCT 12

SUN SUN OCTOCT 26 26

SUN OCT 12

SUN OCT 26

THU OCT 30

THU OCT 30 SAT FRISAT NOV 8 NOVNOV 7 8

SUN FRI SUN NOV NOV 30 30NOV 28

SAT OCT 25

SAT OCT 25

VENUE NEWARK

Family 2014–15

FRI NOV 7

CONCERTS

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DATE / TIME

Sat 2 pm

TITLE / CONDUCTOR / ARTISTS

SAT NOV 29

The Musical Time Machine

SUN FRI NOV 30 NOV 28

JEFFREY GROGAN conductor NEW JERSEY SYMPHONY ORCHESTRA

The Land of Make Believe

SAT FEB 7

GEMMA NEW conductor GREATER NEWARK YOUTH ORCHESTRA NEW JERSEY SYMPHONY ORCHESTRA

SAT SAT JAN 10 JAN 10

A Hero’s Journey

SAT JUNE 6

JEFFREY GROGAN conductor NEW JERSEY SYMPHONY ORCHESTRA

FRI SUN JAN 16 JAN 18

SUN SUN JANJAN 25 25

FRI SUN JAN 16 JAN 18

SUN JAN 25

SAT JAN 17

SAT JAN 17

ADULTS

$42

KIDS

$24

THU JAN 22

THU JAN 22

SAT FEB 28

SAT FEB 28

POPS 2014–15

NEW BRUNSWICK

VENUE

NEWARK

SERIES

1

2

1

CONCERTS

4

3

4

3

DATE / TIME

Sat 8 pm

Sat 8 pm

Sun 3 pm

Sun 3 pm

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TITLE / CONDUCTOR / ARTISTS

SAT SUN SAT MAR 14 MAR 14MAR 15

A Take 6 Holiday with the NJSO

SUN MAR 15

SAT DEC 13

TAKE 6 JOSEPH JOUBERT conductor NEW JERSEY SYMPHONY ORCHESTRA

Singin’ in the Rain

SUN SUN FRI MAR MAR 22 22MAR 20

FRI MAY 1

SUN FRI THU SAT MAR 22 MAR 20 MAR 19 MAR 21

THU SAT MAR 19 MAR 21

SAT APR 25

SAT APR 25

SUN MAY 3

FRI MAY 1

SUN MAY 3

THU JUNE 4

THU JUNE 4

312

312 512 360 312 317 312

258 317 166 251

258

325

258 424 280 258 251 258

P1 $ 360 P2 $ 280

P1 $ 325

258

P2 $ 208

166

208

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176 304 237 176 197 176

P3 $ 237

76 197

95P3 $

76

95

132

132 224 160 132 126 132

160

126

78

78148

88

74

8878

7478

SAT FEB 7

CONSTANTINE KITSOPOULOS conductor NEW JERSEY SYMPHONY ORCHESTRA

Heart of Motown with Spectrum and the NJSO

SUN DEC 14

SAT FEB 7

SUN FEB 8

SAT SAT SUN APR 18 APR 18 APR 19

SPECTRUM SARAH HICKS conductor NEW JERSEY SYMPHONY ORCHESTRA

SUN FEB 8

SUN APR 19

Broadway Spectacular with the NJSO TODD ELLISON conductor BETH LEAVEL vocalist CHRISTOPHER SIEBER vocalist NEW JERSEY SYMPHONY ORCHESTRA

SAT SAT SUN SUN MAY 30 MAY 30 MAY 31 MAY 31

P$

308

252

308

252

A$

254

201

254

201

B$

180

144

180

144

C$

116

102

116

102

D$

72

57

72

57

CLASSICAL MAPS Balcony

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Count Basie Theatre 99 Monmouth Street, Red Bank

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Mayo Performing Arts Center 100 South Street, Morristown

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Richardson Auditorium Princeton University, Princeton

State Theatre 15 Livingston Avenue, New Brunswick

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POPS | State Theatre 15 Livingston Avenue, New Brunswick