NJSO 2015-16 Season Brochure by New Jersey Symphony

NEW

JERSEY

SYMPHONY

ORCHESTRA

JACQUES LACOMBE Music Director

2015–16 Beethoven Ninth Symphony Vivaldi The Four Seasons Tchaikovsky Violin Concerto Dvorˇák “New World” Symphony Ravel Daphnis and Chloé Suite No. 2

Jacques Farewell Season

Front & back cover by Fred Stucker | Photo pages 2, 3, 4, 5, 13, 14, 15, 20 by Fred Stucker | Inside cover spread by Eric Politzer | Photo pages 6, 7, 8, 10, 17 by Eric Politzer Photo page 16 by Richard Termine | Photo page 19 by Steven Rosen

When Jacques Lacombe first conducted the NJSO in 2008, he made an immediate and deeply personal connection with music lovers in the Garden State. The 2015–16 season celebrates Lacombe’s remarkable tenure as the NJSO’s Music Director, with extraordinary concerts that feature signature programming: • Beethoven’s Ninth Symphony coupled with a ravishing work from American composer Jennifer Higdon • Pianist Jean-Yves Thibaudet and Lacombe dig in to Gershwin’s jazzy Concerto in F • An artistic collaboration with The Shakespeare Theatre of New Jersey in Mendelssohn’s charming A Midsummer Night’s Dream, as part of the Winter Festival, “Sounds of Shakespeare” • A season finale featuring Ravel’s stunning Daphnis and Chloé Suite No. 2 Other highlights throughout the year include Rachmaninoff’s Second Symphony and Third Piano Concerto, Vivaldi’s The Four Seasons, Tchaikovsky’s Violin Concerto and Dvořák’s “New World” Symphony PLUS saxophone superstar Branford Marsalis on Opening Night … and so much more. Don’t miss Jacques Lacombe’s spectacular farewell season with the NJSO!

See yourself at the NJSO this season! This season with Music Director Jacques Lacombe and the NJSO is designed for music lovers in every corner of the Garden State. Every concert, every piece creates a spine-tingling, heart-pounding, joy-inducing memory to cherish for a lifetime. See yourself at any of our six venues where we guarantee listening bliss. Winter Festival: Sounds of Shakespeare Our second season of music inspired by the Bard’s divine dramas brings two blockbusters to the stages of New Jersey: Berlioz’s roiling, magnificent Symphonie fantastique and Mendelssohn’s charming, effervescent A Midsummer Night’s Dream. Special Concerts Brilliant soprano Jessye Norman joins Lacombe and the NJSO for a stirring concert of songs from American life in a one-night-only concert event. And Handel’s Messiah makes a welcome return for the holiday season. New This Season—NJSO POPS in Red Bank! The NJSO brings the top names in entertainment to Red Bank’s Count Basie Theatre as the Orchestra expands its POPS offerings! Enjoy Broadway and TV star Megan Hilty with the NJSO and a salute to music of the “Mad Men” era featuring Cheyenne Jackson in Red Bank. POPS packages at NJPAC in Newark and State Theatre in New Brunswick also include Home Alone: The Movie, Cirque de la Symphonie and a tribute to Bond, James Bond.

Love going to concerts, but want a more relaxing way to arrive? 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 select series at several of our venues. If you are interested in using this transportation option, please visit www.njsymphony.org/bus to complete an online form, or call Patron Services 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 intent expressed, so tell us of your interest, and tell your friends to ride the symphony bus! Bus service has been underwritten by a very generous anonymous donor.

Branford Marsalis Joins the NJSO

Opening Night N

BRANFORD MARSALIS JOINS THE NJSO Fri, Sep 25 at 7:30 pm Sat, Sep 26 at 8 pm Sun, Sep 27 at 3 pm

JACQUES LACOMBE

NJPAC in Newark State Theatre in New Brunswick NJPAC in Newark

JACQUES LACOMBE conductor BRANFORD MARSALIS saxophone NEW JERSEY SYMPHONY ORCHESTRA RAVEL Valses nobles et sentimentales WILLIAMS “Escapades” for saxophone from Catch Me If You Can MILHAUD Scaramouche for alto saxophone MUSSORGSKY Pictures at an Exhibition

BRANFORD MARSALIS

Saxophone giant Branford Marsalis stars in the NJSO’s Opening Weekend, lending his luminous sound to cinematic master John Williams’ “Escapades” and Milhaud’s sprightly Scaramouche. To top it off, he plays the saxophone solo in Mussorgsky’s majestic Pictures at an Exhibition, which never fails to enthrall in Ravel’s colorful orchestration.

CELEBRATE A SPECTACULAR OPENING NIGHT! Join us for our Opening Night Celebration on Friday, September 25! Add an event ticket to your subscription and enjoy additional festivities, including a cocktail party with bountiful hors d’oeuvres and an open bar. A delectable dinner will follow the performance, with opportunities to meet and greet Music Director Jacques Lacombe, Orchestra musicians and other special guests. COCKTAIL PARTY TICKET – Pre-concert party and complimentary parking. Subscriber add-on price: $200 per person (includes a tax-deductible contribution of $90) DINNER TICKET – Pre-concert party, post-concert dinner and complimentary parking. Subscriber add-on price: $700 per person (includes a tax-deductible contribution of $485) Cocktail and dinner ticket prices do not include the concert.

Venue Key:

NJPAC

State

ST Theatre

Richardson

RA Auditorium

bergen

B PAC

Mayo

M PAC

Count Basie

CB Theatre

CIRQUE DE LA SYMPHONIE WITH THE NJSO Sat, Oct 17 at 8 pm Sun, Oct 18 at 3 pm

NJPAC in Newark State Theatre in New Brunswick

GEMMA NEW conductor CIRQUE DE LA SYMPHONIE NEW JERSEY SYMPHONY ORCHESTRA CIRQUE DE LA SYMPHONIE

POPS

Back by popular demand! NJSO Associate Conductor Gemma New conducts as these exceptional artists—acrobats, aerial flyers, contortionists and strongmen— perform dazzling and death-defying choreography and acrobatic feats to classical favorites that will thrill audiences of all ages. The October 18 performance is presented in collaboration with the State Theatre.

THIBAUDET PLAYS GERSHWIN Thu, Oct 22 at 1:30 pm Fri, Oct 23 at 8 pm Sat, Oct 24 at 8 pm Sun, Oct 25 at 3 pm

JEAN-YVES THIBAUDET

M CB

NJPAC in Newark NJPAC in Newark Count Basie Theatre in Red Bank Mayo Performing Arts Center in Morristown

JACQUES LACOMBE conductor JEAN-YVES THIBAUDET piano NEW JERSEY SYMPHONY ORCHESTRA BERNSTEIN Candide Overture GERSHWIN Concerto in F BERNSTEIN Symphonic Dances from West Side Story GERSHWIN (arr. R. R. Bennett) Porgy & Bess: A Symphonic Picture Gershwin and Bernstein: perfect together, especially with charismatic soloist Thibaudet in the mix. Gershwin dared to bring jazz into the concert hall with his sparkling Concerto in F. Bernstein’s supercharged dances from West Side Story will make you want to shout “Mambo,” and memorable tunes from Porgy and Bess— the show that brought us “Summertime”—are guaranteed to delight.

Venue Key:

NJPAC

State

ST Theatre

Richardson

RA Auditorium

bergen

B PAC

Mayo

M PAC

Count Basie

CB Theatre

“Conductor Jacques Lacombe is just absolutely thrilling to watch. He waves his magic wand and the world takes a breath. — Rena Mayer, Fort Lee, NJ Englewood subscriber

RACHMANINOFF’S SECOND SYMPHONY Thu, Oct 29 at 7:30 pm Fri, Oct 30 at 8 pm Sat, Oct 31 at 8 pm Sun, Nov 1 at 3 pm

CHRISTOPH KÖNIG

ST RA

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

CHRISTOPH KÖNIG conductor JONATHAN BISS piano NEW JERSEY SYMPHONY ORCHESTRA BEETHOVEN Piano Concerto No. 2 RACHMANINOFF Symphony No. 2 Here’s an inspired pairing of “twos”! Energetic conductor König is known for his “huge musicality,” and Biss, whom The Guardian calls “a truly world-class pianist,” specializes in Beethoven. Their collaboration on Beethoven’s playful Second Piano Concerto is sure to enchant. Rachmaninoff’s epic Second Symphony, with its particularly gorgeous slow movement, is one of the composer’s finest achievements. N

BEETHOVEN’S NINTH Thu, Nov 5 at 1:30 pm Fri, Nov 6 at 8 pm Sat, Nov 7 at 8 pm Sun, Nov 8 at 3 pm

JACQUES LACOMBE

NJPAC in Newark NJPAC in Newark State Theatre in New Brunswick NJPAC in Newark

JACQUES LACOMBE conductor BARBARA SHIRVIS soprano ELIZABETH BISHOP mezzo-soprano JONATHAN BOYD tenor STEPHEN POWELL baritone WESTMINSTER SYMPHONIC CHOIR Joe Miller, director NEW JERSEY SYMPHONY ORCHESTRA HIGDON blue cathedral BEETHOVEN Symphony No. 9 Beethoven’s glorious Ninth Symphony celebrates the bonds that unite humankind. Tracing a journey from doubt to affirmation, it culminates in the stirring “Ode to Joy.” Higdon’s blue cathedral captures “a feeling of celebration and ecstatic expansion of the soul,” setting the stage perfectly for Beethoven’s masterpiece. This concert will be performed without an intermission.

WWW.NJSYMPHONY.ORG | 1.800.ALLEGRO (255.3476) | EASY EXCHANGES 5

“Lacombe led an evocative, buoyant performance.” — The Star-Ledger

VIVALDI’S FOUR SEASONS Fri, Nov 27 at 8 pm Sat, Nov 28 at 8 pm Sun, Nov 29 at 3 pm

ST RA

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

ERIC WYRICK leader and violin soloist NEW JERSEY SYMPHONY ORCHESTRA ERIC WYRICK

BOCCHERINI Symphony No. 6, “La casa del diavolo” RESPIGHI Ancient Airs and Dances Suite No. 1 VIVALDI The Four Seasons Spend Thanksgiving with the NJSO this season! Vivaldi’s beloved The Four Seasons is perfect at any time of year. With their propulsive rhythms and lilting melodies, they capture the essence of the Baroque style. Respighi updates a variety of Baroque-era dances with the lush timbres of a modern orchestra. Eric Wyrick follows the 18th-century tradition of leading from the concertmaster chair.

HOME ALONE: THE MOVIE Sat, Dec 5 at 8 pm Sun, Dec 6 at 3 pm

NJPAC in Newark State Theatre in New Brunswick

CONSTANTINE KITSOPOULOS conductor NEW JERSEY YOUTH CHORUS Trish Joyce, director NEW JERSEY SYMPHONY ORCHESTRA HOME ALONE: THE MOVIE

POPS

A true holiday favorite, this rollicking comedy classic features legendary composer John Williams’ charming and delightful score, performed live by the NJSO. Watch as Macaulay Culkin stars as Kevin McCallister, an 8-year-old boy who is accidentally left behind when his family leaves for Christmas vacation and must defend his home against two bungling thieves. It’s hard to believe this hilarious and heartwarming holiday romp is 25 years old! © 1990 Twentieth Century Fox Film Corporation. All Rights Reserved. The December 6 performance is presented in collaboration with the State Theatre, which will show the film on its 46-foot screen.

WWW.NJSYMPHONY.ORG | 1.800.ALLEGRO (255.3476) | EASY EXCHANGES 6

N RA

HANDEL’S MESSIAH Fri, Dec 18 at 7:30 pm Sun, Dec 20 at 3 pm

JACQUES LACOMBE

SPECIAL

Richardson Auditorium in Princeton NJPAC in Newark

JACQUES LACOMBE conductor CELENA SHAFER soprano ADRIANA ZABALA mezzo-soprano WILLIAM BURDEN tenor DASHON BURTON bass-baritone MONTCLAIR STATE UNIVERSITY SINGERS Heather J. Buchanan, director NEW JERSEY SYMPHONY CHAMBER ORCHESTRA HANDEL Messiah One of the most magnificent achievements in music, Handel’s Messiah is an annual holiday-season must for music lovers everywhere. Hearing its perfection is always a moving, emotional and resonant experience. DEC 18 PRICES: $80 | $60 | $40 | $25 DEC 20 PRICES: $89 | $79 | $59 | $39 | $29 These performances are approximately 2 hours and 45 minutes in length, including intermission. Presented in collaboration with McCarter Theatre (December 18) and New Jersey Performing Arts Center (December 20).

BEETHOVEN & DANIELPOUR Thu, Jan 14 at 7:30 pm Sat, Jan 16 at 8 pm Sun, Jan 17 at 3 pm

B CB

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

JACQUES LACOMBE conductor LISA PEGHER percussion NEW JERSEY SYMPHONY ORCHESTRA LISA PEGHER

BEETHOVEN Symphony No. 1 DANIELPOUR Percussion Concerto, “The Wounded Healer” (World Premiere) BEETHOVEN Symphony No. 4 Beethoven’s sunny, youthful First Symphony is filled with Mozartean grace, while his cheerful Fourth adds deeper shadings of maturity with its mysterious, questing introduction. Together, they make a fine frame for the always-engaging Danielpour’s multi-hued concerto, with magnetic percussionist Pegher in the spotlight.

Venue Key:

NJPAC

State

ST Theatre

Richardson

RA Auditorium

bergen

B PAC

Mayo

M PAC

Count Basie

CB Theatre

BART FELLER principal flute

Winter Festival: Sounds of Shakespeare N ST

WINTER FESTIVAL: SYMPHONIE FANTASTIQUE Fri, Jan 22 at 8 pm Sat, Jan 23 at 8 pm Sun, Jan 24 at 3 pm

JACQUES LACOMBE

WINTER FESTIVAL

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

JACQUES LACOMBE conductor BERNARD UZAN narrator SYMPHONIC CHORUS OF MANHATTAN SCHOOL OF MUSIC Kent Tritle, director NEW JERSEY SYMPHONY ORCHESTRA BERLIOZ Symphonie fantastique BERLIOZ Lélio The Bard is back! Shakespeare takes an encore in the 2016 Winter Festival, opening with a pair of linked Berlioz scores that pulse with dramatic tension. An obsessive love turns demonic in his Symphonie fantastique, which vividly conjures the Witches’ Sabbath from Macbeth. Its sequel, Lélio, boasts a turn with Jacques at the piano and a finale inspired by The Tempest. N ST RA

WINTER FESTIVAL: A MIDSUMMER NIGHT’S DREAM Fri, Jan 29 at 8 pm Sat, Jan 30 at 8 pm Sun, Jan 31 at 3 pm

JACQUES LACOMBE

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

JACQUES LACOMBE conductor THE SHAKESPEARE THEATRE OF NEW JERSEY Bonnie J. Monte, artistic director Women of the MONTCLAIR STATE UNIVERSITY CHORALE Heather J. Buchanan, director NEW JERSEY SYMPHONY ORCHESTRA MENDELSSOHN A Midsummer Night’s Dream Mendelssohn’s music for A Midsummer Night’s Dream is as magical as Shakespeare’s comedy. Experience them together in this special theatrical presentation: actors from celebrated artistic partner The Shakespeare Theatre of New Jersey perform alongside Mendelssohn’s score, highlighted by the immortal “Wedding March.”

Venue Key:

NJPAC

State

ST Theatre

Richardson

RA Auditorium

bergen

B PAC

Mayo

M PAC

Count Basie

CB Theatre

Winter Festival:

Sounds of Shakespeare

Our second season of music inspired by the Bard’s divine dramas brings two blockbusters to the stages of New Jersey: Berlioz’s roiling, magnificent Symphonie fantastique and Mendelssohn’s charming, effervescent A Midsummer Night’s Dream. WWW.NJSYMPHONY.ORG | 1.800.ALLEGRO (255.3476) | EASY EXCHANGES 9

VALENTINE’S DAY WITH MEGAN HILTY & THE NJSO Fri, Feb 12 at 8 pm Sat, Feb 13 at 8 pm Sun, Feb 14 at 3 pm

N ST CB

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

MEGAN HILTY vocalist TODD ELLISON conductor Celebrate Valentine’s Day with Megan Hilty, known for starring roles in “Smash,” Wicked and 9 to 5: The Musical. Called a “burgeoning blonde bombshell” by The Daily Beast, Hilty’s sensational voice and star power are perfect for a trip through the American Songbook.

MEGAN HILTY

POPS

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

ˇ VISTAS & LANDSCAPES: COPLAND & DVORÁK Thu, Feb 25 at 7:30 pm Sat, Feb 27 at 8 pm Sun, Feb 28 at 3 pm

bergenPAC in Englewood NJPAC in Newark NJPAC in Newark

MIGUEL HARTH-BEDOYA conductor STEPHEN FANG cello NEW JERSEY SYMPHONY ORCHESTRA MIGUEL HARTH-BEDOYA

DVOŘÁK Silent Woods POPPER Hungarian Rhapsody COPLAND Appalachian Spring DVOŘÁK Symphony No. 9, “From the New World” Be transported: when it comes to summoning the spacious vistas of the American landscape, few pieces can rival Copland’s Appalachian Spring and Dvořák’s “New World” Symphony. A different landscape beckons in Silent Woods, inspired by the serene forests of Dvořák’s native Bohemia and performed here by NJSO Associate Principal Cello Stephen Fang.

Venue Key:

NJPAC

State

ST Theatre

Richardson

RA Auditorium

bergen

B PAC

Mayo

M PAC

Count Basie

CB Theatre

ALL-MOZART Fri, Mar 11 at 8 pm Sat, Mar 12 at 8 pm Sun, Mar 13 at 3 pm

M CB

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

PERRY SO conductor ERIC LU piano NEW JERSEY SYMPHONY ORCHESTRA PERRY SO

MOZART Overture and Ballet Music from Idomeneo MOZART Piano Concerto No. 23 MOZART Symphony No. 41, “Jupiter” All Mozart, all sublime. Glimpse eternity in Mozart’s 41st and last symphony, nicknamed “Jupiter” for its grandeur. In another late work, his A Major Piano Concerto, a heartbreakingly tender adagio movement is the centerpiece.

ROMANTIC MASTERWORKS FROM SCHUMANN & BRAHMS Thu, Mar 17 at 1:30 pm Sat, Mar 19 at 8 pm Sun, Mar 20 at 3 pm

N ST

NJPAC in Newark State Theatre in New Brunswick NJPAC in Newark

CHRISTIAN ARMING conductor STEPHEN HOUGH piano NEW JERSEY SYMPHONY ORCHESTRA STEPHEN HOUGH

WAGNER Prelude to Act III from Tristan and Isolde SCHUMANN Piano Concerto BRAHMS Symphony No. 2 Two composers of the Romantic era are linked by a common love. Clara Schumann inspired her husband’s only piano concerto. Brahms, who was championed by Schumann, had the misfortune to fall for Clara, yearning for her until the end of his days. But in a sunny moment, he composed his engaging Second Symphony. N

ZHANG CONDUCTS TCHAIKOVSKY 4 Thu, Apr 7 at 1:30 pm Fri, Apr 8 at 8 pm Sat, Apr 9 at 8 pm Sun, Apr 10 at 3 pm

M CB

NJPAC in Newark NJPAC in Newark Count Basie Theatre in Red Bank Mayo Performing Arts Center in Morristown

XIAN ZHANG conductor JENNIFER FRAUTSCHI violin NEW JERSEY SYMPHONY ORCHESTRA

XIAN ZHANG

TCHAIKOVSKY Marche Slave BARBER Violin Concerto TCHAIKOVSKY Symphony No. 4 Audience favorite Xian Zhang returns to lead the NJSO in an evening of rich, romantic melody. Tchaikovsky’s passionate, foreboding Fourth Symphony evokes the awesome power of Fate to shape human lives. Barber’s Violin Concerto is an American classic, filled with yearning and hope; Frautschi, an electrifying player, takes the solo role.

Venue Key:

NJPAC

State

ST Theatre

Richardson

RA Auditorium

bergen

B PAC

Mayo

M PAC

Count Basie

CB Theatre

N ST CB

MUSIC OF THE “MAD MEN” ERA Fri, Apr 15 at 8 pm Sat, Apr 16 at 8 pm Sun, Apr 17 at 3 pm

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

CHEYENNE JACKSON vocalist THOMAS WILKINS conductor CHEYENNE JACKSON

POPS

Cheyenne Jackson, star of Broadway and TV hits “Glee” and “30 Rock,” takes you back to a time when bossa nova was new, the lounges of Las Vegas were hip and boss dance music was spinning on every hi-fi. Dress in your best “Mad Men” attire and enjoy the slick sounds of the 50s and 60s. The April 17 performance is presented in collaboration with the State Theatre.

N ST RA

HADELICH PLAYS TCHAIKOVSKY

AUGUSTIN HADELICH

Thu, May 12 at 1:30 pm NJPAC in Newark Fri, May 13 at 8 pm Richardson Auditorium in Princeton Sat, May 14 at 8 pm NJPAC in Newark Sun, May 15 at 3 pm State Theatre in New Brunswick JÉRÉMIE RHORER conductor AUGUSTIN HADELICH violin NEW JERSEY SYMPHONY ORCHESTRA MENDELSSOHN The Hebrides Overture TCHAIKOVSKY Violin Concerto BRAHMS Serenade No. 1 For musical lines that truly soar and endlessly delight, few composers can rival Tchaikovsky, whose Violin Concerto is a pinnacle of the repertoire. Augustin Hadelich—who wowed NJSO audiences in his 2012 appearance—dispatches the work’s brilliant solo part with effortless panache.Rustic charm infuses every melody of Brahms’ Serenade No. 1 to bring the concert to a joyful close. N

JESSYE NORMAN WITH THE NJSO Sat, May 21 at 8 pm

NJPAC in Newark

JACQUES LACOMBE conductor JESSYE NORMAN soprano NEW JERSEY SYMPHONY ORCHESTRA The NJSO and NJPAC are thrilled to welcome superstar soprano Jessye Norman, a legendary performer of electrifying magnitude. Her program with Lacombe and the NJSO centers on songs of American life, from the Great American Songbook to Spirituals. Don’t miss the pairing of Norman and Lacombe in this once-in-a-lifetime experience.

JESSYE NORMAN

SPECIAL

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

PRICES: $129 | $99 | $79 | $59 | $39

Venue Key:

NJPAC

State

ST Theatre

Richardson

RA Auditorium

bergen

B PAC

Mayo

M PAC

Count Basie

CB Theatre

ELZBIETA WEYMAN assistant principal viola

“A vital, artistically significant musical organization.” — The Wall Street Journal

WWW.NJSYMPHONY.ORG | 1.800.ALLEGRO (255.3476) | EASY EXCHANGES 13

N ST

BOND & BEYOND Sat, June 4 at 8 pm Sun, June 5 at 3 pm

NJPAC in Newark State Theatre in New Brunswick

MICHAEL KRAJEWSKI conductor DEBBIE GRAVITTE vocalist

DEBBIE GRAVITTE

POPS

The music is Bond, James Bond, as the NJSO takes you into the world of your favorite spy. The legacy of 007 comes alive in a symphonic tribute featuring music from five decades of Bond films, including Casino Royale, Goldfinger, Diamonds are Forever and more. The June 5 concert is presented in collaboration with the State Theatre.

LACOMBE CONDUCTS RACHMANINOFF & RAVEL Thu, June 9 at 7:30 pm Sat, June 11 at 8 pm Sun, June 12 at 3 pm

B CB

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

JACQUES LACOMBE conductor JOYCE YANG piano NEW JERSEY SYMPHONY ORCHESTRA JOYCE YANG

ROGERSON Night and the City RACHMANINOFF Piano Concerto No. 3 RAVEL La Valse RAVEL Daphnis and Chloé Suite No. 2 Jacques Lacombe’s final concerts as Music Director of the NJSO feature some of his favorite pieces, including Ravel’s gorgeous suite from Daphnis and Chloé and the thrilling Third Piano Concerto of Rachmaninoff. It’s your final chance to laud the marvelous Lacombe. Don’t miss these farewell concerts.

Venue NJPAC State Richardson bergen Mayo WWW.NJSYMPHONY.ORG 1.800.ALLEGRO (255.3476) | EASY N ST Theatre | RA B M Key: Auditorium PAC PAC

Count Basie EXCHANGES CB Theatre

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

CHRISTINE TERHUNE viola

Start your kids or grandkids on a lifelong love of orchestral music—and have fun doing it! Explore some of the greatest hits of all time, including Mozart’s Eine kleine Nachtmusik, Gershwin’s “Summertime,” Dvorˇák’s “New World” Symphony and more. 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 crafts and meet musicians. CLASSICAL FAVORITES IN THE FORECAST Sat, Nov 28 at 2 pm

NJPAC in Newark

JEFFREY GROGAN conductor NEW JERSEY SYMPHONY ORCHESTRA Winter, spring, summer or fall, there’s always music in the forecast! Hear how composers depict weather and seasons like the lazy heat of summer, a spring storm or a snowy day. Favorites from Gershwin, Beethoven, Copland and more set the stage for a thunderously good time!

STAR POWER

The Gretchen Lochner Gonzales Memorial Family Concert Sat, Feb 13 at 2 pm

NJPAC in Newark

GEMMA NEW conductor NJSO ACADEMY ORCHESTRA NEW JERSEY SYMPHONY ORCHESTRA Before there were movies and TV shows, there were orchestra concerts, and composers were the biggest stars of the day. Stroll down the NJSO’s Composer Walk of Fame and hear John Williams’ Star Wars and the very best music from Beethoven, Mozart and Tchaikovsky. Rising stars from the NJSO Academy Orchestra join the NJSO to inspire young listeners.

ATHLETES OF THE ORCHESTRA Sat, May 21 at 2 pm

NJPAC in Newark

JEFFREY GROGAN conductor NEW JERSEY SYMPHONY ORCHESTRA The big game is on—meet all the teams of the Orchestra and cheer on your favorite! Will it be the strings, brass, woodwinds or percussion that win the day? “Take Me Out to the Ballgame,” Olympic fanfares and classics from Mozart and Rimsky-Korsakov will make it feel like you and the kids are sitting on the third-base line with a hot dog and a soda.

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

NJPAC Our Partner

New Jersey Performing Arts Center and the NJSO share common goals to ensure a lasting connection between the people of the Garden State and the performing arts. Strong artistic and educational partnerships foster opportunities to impact the lives of area residents and provide robust educational services. Because of this shared commitment, the NJSO is proud to be the resident orchestra of the New Jersey Performing Arts Center. Since its opening on October 18, 1997, NJPAC has attracted nearly 9 million visitors and reached more than a million children with innovative arts education programs. Prudential Hall’s crystalline acoustics are on full display whenever a musician, singer or symphonic orchestra sounds the first note. Beautiful music-making continues to be the foundation of NJPAC programming, which each season accounts for more than 400 plays, recitals, spoken-word performances and other cultural experiences. Among the worldclass performers who have appeared at NJPAC are Joshua Bell, Lang Lang, the Israel Philharmonic, Alvin Ailey American Dance Theater, Bob Dylan, Jerry Seinfeld, Diana Ross, El Gran Combo, Chris Botti, Sting and Aretha Franklin. Many artists and writers have praised NJPAC’s Prudential Hall for its beauty and extraordinary acoustics, among them former New York Times music critic Hans Fantel (one of the “world’s greatest concert halls”) and arts critic Clive Barnes (the “nation’s most glamorous theater”). NJSO and NJPAC are proud to co-present two extraordinary musical events this season: • Handel’s Messiah on December 20 (see p.7) • Jessye Norman on May 21 (see p.12)

“We are so fortunate to have this great talent here in New Jersey!” — Phyllis Rehm, Sparta, NJ, NJSO concertgoer

JOSEPH CAMPAGNA bass 17

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

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

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 • Fox Rothschild • Ann and Gordon Getty Foundation The Hearst Foundations • Robert Wood Johnson 1962 Charitable Trust • The Leavens Foundation, Inc. The Harold I. and Faye B. Liss Foundation, Inc. • Donald and Emily Mulford Fund • The Turrell Fund Lucy and Eleanor S. Upton Foundation • Victoria Foundation • WQXR Programming 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 and by funds from the National Endowment for the Arts.

A Friend in Every Seat

You have the power to make everything we do possible. • Enrich lives through music • Encourage lifelong learning • Strengthen our communities through live music The power of the live orchestral experience brings us together in the concert hall each time the NJSO performs, and nothing is more inspiring to our musicians than looking out from the stage and seeing a friend in every seat. Please consider becoming one of our Symphony Friends this season as we continue our friend-raising and fundraising effort—A Friend in Every Seat.

Share your love of music today! As a Symphony Friend, your support will: • Provide opportunities for people of all ages to learn about and participate in live music.

• Bring people and neighborhoods together through shared musical experiences.

• Ensure the Orchestra’s world-class musicians and phenomenal guest artists perform at six of the state’s finest concert venues.

Please make a gift today. Indicate the amount of your contribution on the enclosed order form with your ticket purchase, donate online at www.njsymphony.org/supportnjso or call 973.735.1730. 19

Connect with the NJSO The reasons you subscribe: great music, delivered with passion, in a venue near your home. The benefits that come with subscription? Perks that make subscribing a simple choice. Subscriber Bonuses • Easy Exchanges: Can’t make a concert after all? Exchange your tickets easily into another of the NJSO’s many concerts. Subscribers usually exchange for free, although fees will apply to seating upgrades and multiple exchanges of the same ticket. • Advance Parking: Vouchers are available for NJPAC performances. Save time by purchasing your parking at NJPAC in advance. Ask about vouchers when you place your subscription order. • Ticket Turn-In: Can’t make a concert at the last minute? Donate your ticket back to the NJSO and receive a tax-deductible acknowledgement. NJSO Accents Inspired by the concerts and designed to inspire you, NJSO Accents are pre- and post-concert events that bring you closer to the music and musicians you love! The Wall Street Journal has observed that the NJSO’s Accent events “attract and retain new audiences and create a more interactive experience for existing ones.” • Classical Conversations: Discover the orchestra experience from a new perspective. This series of casual discussions gives you an up-close and personal look into the music and music-makers performing that day. • Ask a Musician: Get to know NJSO musicians in the lobby or at the edge of the stage during intermission at most concerts. • Additional Events: College Nights, #OrchestraYou, talkback opportunities and more will be scheduled and announced at a later date. Program Notes Online Program notes are available online at www.njsymphony.org—offering you interesting details and fun facts about the music—at least one week before the concert. Online and Email Communications • Concert Reminders: A helpful reminder prior to each of your concerts. Includes links to program notes and artist bios and confirms NJSO Accents information. • Concert Codas: Post-concert emails including excerpts from critical reviews, encore information and a link to the NJSO website where you can discuss your thoughts with other concertgoers. • eNews: Concert information, news of note and special offers. • Social Media: Find us on Facebook to interact with other NJSO fans at www.facebook.com/njsymphony. Follow us on Twitter for real-time updates, special offers and links of interest at @njsymphony. 20

FOUR EASY WAYS TO SUBSCRIBE The choice is yours

By mail: NJSO Subscription Dept., 60 Park Place, 9th Floor, Newark, NJ 07102 By fax: 973.624.0477 Online: www.njsymphony.org/subscribe By phone: 1.800.ALLEGRO (255.3476)

JACQUES LACOMBE MUSIC DIRECTOR

2 01 5 – 1 6 O r d e r F o r m

Name Address City

State

Evening Phone

Day Phone

Zip

SUBSCRIPTIONS (CLASSICAL, POPS & FAMILY) Price Per Number of Venue Series Section Subscription x Seats

= Subtotal

1st

2nd

3rd

Subscription Series Subtotal

SEATING PREFERENCES:

ADDITIONAL CONCERTS & EVENTS

Date Event Venue Section 9/25

Opening Night NJPAC (Cocktail or Dinner Tickets)

Price Number of Per Ticket x Seats

N/A

Handel’s Messiah*

5/21

Jessye Norman

NJPAC

*Please indicate the performance date and venue you wish to attend.

= Subtotal

Additional Tickets Subtotal Processing Fee

Please consider joining the NJSO family of supporters with a gift today.

2 $15 3 4

GRAND TOTAL (add lines 1–4)

r Check enclosed payable to the New Jersey Symphony Orchestra (mail orders only). Charge my: r Visa

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JACQUES LACOMBE MUSIC DIRECTOR

60 Park Place 9th Floor Newark, New Jersey 07102 www.njsymphony.org 1.800.ALLEGRO (255.3476)

ERIC WYRIK

BRENNAN SWEET

concertmaster

associate concertmaster

NEW JERSEY SYMPHONY ORCHESTRA JACQUES LACOMBE Music Director

Season Schedule 2015–16

See yourself at the NJSO this season! Unfold these pages for venue and package information, seating charts and subscription prices.

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 performances by Branford Marsalis, Jonathan Biss and Jean-Yves Thibaudet; masterworks including Mussorgsky’s Pictures at an Exhibition, Beethoven’s Ninth Symphony, Vivaldi’s The Four Seasons and Dvořák’s “New World” Symphony; acrobatic troupe Cirque de la Symphonie, Megan Hilty and family film Home Alone screened with live orchestral accompaniment. Prefer your concerts at Richardson Auditorium in Princeton? Music envelops you in this intimate space, located on the Princeton University campus, directly across from Palmer Square. The NJSO’s five-concert series here features Mendelssohn’s A Midsummer Night’s Dream, Vivaldi’s The Four Seasons and Jonathan Biss performing Beethoven’s Second Piano Concerto.

Fans attending on Sunday afternoons at Mayo Performing Arts Center in Morristown can relax in the recently renovated lobby space before taking in four concerts that include Tchaikovsky’s Fourth Symphony, Berlioz’s Symphonie fantastique, Mozart’s “Jupiter” Symphony and Jean-Yves Thibaudet playing Gershwin’s Concerto in F.

See yourself at the NJSO this season—attend concerts in your favorite location! There’s plenty to love at State Theatre in New Brunswick, located in the heart of the New Brunswick arts district. Enjoy performances by Branford Marsalis, Jonathan Biss and Augustin Hadelich; classical favorites including Beethoven’s Ninth Symphony and Rachmaninoff’s Second Symphony; two Winter Festival concerts inspired by Shakespeare, plus Cheyenne Jackson, Megan Hilty and Home Alone 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. Experience a “Beethoven double”—his First and Fourth Symphonies on the same program—as well as Dvořák’s “New World” Symphony, Ravel’s Daphnis and Chloé and Rachmaninoff’s Second Symphony.

NEW at the Count Basie Theatre in Red Bank this season—two sensational POPS concerts join the lineup of great classical programs in this ornate gem of a theater. Choose from POPS concerts with Megan Hilty and Cheyenne Jackson, plus five incredible classical programs featuring pianists Joyce Yang and Jean-Yves Thibaudet, Mozart’s “Jupiter” Symphony, Tchaikovsky’s Fourth Symphony and Rachmaninoff’s Third Piano Concerto.

NJPAC

VENUE

Classical 2015–16

SERIES

CONCERTS DATE / TIME

TITLE / CONDUCTOR / ARTISTS

FRI/SAT 8 pm

SUN 3 pm THU 1:30 pm

THU 1:30 pm

FRI 8 pm

SAT 8 pm

SUN 3 pm

FRI SEP 25

SUN SEP 27

PROGRAM

Opening Weekend: Branford Marsalis Joins the NJSO

JACQUES LACOMBE conductor BRANFORD MARSALIS saxophone NEW JERSEY SYMPHONY ORCHESTRA

RAVEL Valses nobles et sentimentales WILLIAMS “Escapades” for saxophone from Catch Me If You Can MILHAUD Scaramouche for alto saxophone MUSSORGKY Pictures at an Exhibition

JACQUES LACOMBE conductor JEAN-YVES THIBAUDET piano NEW JERSEY SYMPHONY ORCHESTRA

BERNSTEIN Candide Overture GERSHWIN Concerto in F BERNSTEIN Symphonic Dances from West Side Story GERSHWIN (arr. R. R. Bennett) Porgy & Bess: A Symphonic Picture

Rachmaninoff’s Second Symphony

BEETHOVEN Piano Concerto No. 2 RACHMANINOFF Symphony No. 2

Beethoven’s Ninth

HIGDON blue cathedral BEETHOVEN Symphony No. 9

Thibaudet Plays Gershwin

CHRISTOPH KÖNIG conductor JONATHAN BISS piano NEW JERSEY SYMPHONY ORCHESTRA JACQUES LACOMBE conductor BARBARA SHIRVIS soprano ELIZABETH BISHOP mezzo-soprano JONATHAN BOYD tenor STEPHEN POWELL baritone WESTMINSTER SYMPHONIC CHOIR Joe Miller, director NEW JERSEY SYMPHONY ORCHESTRA

BOCCHERINI Symphony No. 6, “La casa del diavolo” RESPIGHI Ancient Airs and Dances Suite No. 1 VIVALDI The Four Seasons

Beethoven & Danielpour

BEETHOVEN Symphony No. 1 DANIELPOUR Percussion Concerto, “The Wounded Healer” BEETHOVEN Symphony No. 4

Symphonie fantastique WF

BERLIOZ Symphonie fantastique BERLIOZ Lélio

JACQUES LACOMBE conductor LISA PEGHER percussion NEW JERSEY SYMPHONY ORCHESTRA JACQUES LACOMBE conductor BERNARD UZAN narrator SYMPHONIC CHORUS OF MANHATTAN SCHOOL OF MUSIC Kent Tritle, director NEW JERSEY SYMPHONY ORCHESTRA

A Midsummer Night’s Dream WF

JACQUES LACOMBE conductor THE SHAKESPEARE THEATRE OF NEW JERSEY Bonnie J. Monte, artistic director Women of the MONTCLAIR STATE UNIVERSITY CHORALE Heather J. Buchanan, music director NEW JERSEY SYMPHONY ORCHESTRA

DVOŘÁK Silent Woods POPPER Hungarian Rhapsody COPLAND Appalachian Spring DVOŘÁK Symphony No. 9, “From the New World”

All-Mozart

MOZART Overture and Ballet Music from Idomeneo MOZART Piano Concerto No. 23 MOZART Symphony No. 41, “Jupiter”

PERRY SO conductor ERIC LU piano NEW JERSEY SYMPHONY ORCHESTRA

THU OCT 22

SAT OCT 31

SUN NOV 8

THU NOV 5

SAT NOV 28 SUN JAN 17

SUN JAN 17

FRI JAN 22

SAT JAN 30

SAT SUN FEB 27 FEB 28

CHRISTIAN ARMING conductor STEPHEN HOUGH piano NEW JERSEY SYMPHONY ORCHESTRA

Tristan and Isolde SCHUMANN Piano Concerto BRAHMS Symphony No. 2

Zhang Conducts Tchaikovsky 4

TCHAIKOVSKY Marche Slave BARBER Violin Concerto TCHAIKOVSKY Symphony No. 4

FRI APR 8

Hadelich Plays Tchaikovsky

MENDELSSOHN The Hebrides Overture TCHAIKOVSKY Violin Concerto BRAHMS Serenade No. 1

SAT THU THU MAY 14 MAY 12 MAY 12

Lacombe Conducts Rachmaninoff & Ravel

ROGERSON Night and the City RACHMANINOFF Piano Concerto No. 3 RAVEL La Valse RAVEL Daphnis and Chloé Suite No. 2

JÉRÉMIE RHORER conductor AUGUSTIN HADELICH violin NEW JERSEY SYMPHONY ORCHESTRA JACQUES LACOMBE conductor JOYCE YANG piano NEW JERSEY SYMPHONY ORCHESTRA

WF Winter Festival concerts. See page 8. 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. Photo front and back cover by Eric Politzer

SUN NOV 8

FRI NOV 6

SAT NOV 28

Romantic Masterworks From Schumann & Brahms WAGNER Prelude to Act III from

XIAN ZHANG conductor JENNIFER FRAUTSCHI violin NEW JERSEY SYMPHONY ORCHESTRA

FRI OCT 23

MENDELSSOHN A Midsummer Night’s Dream

Vistas & Landscapes: Copland & Dvorˇák MIGUEL HARTH-BEDOYA conductor STEPHEN FANG cello NEW JERSEY SYMPHONY ORCHESTRA

7:30 pm

SAT OCT 31

FRI NOV 6

Vivaldi’s Four Seasons

ERIC WYRICK leader and violin soloist NEW JERSEY SYMPHONY ORCHESTRA

7:30 pm

FRI OCT 23

SUN SEP 27

FRI SEP 25

SUN THU MAR 20 MAR 17

THU APR 7

SUN MAR 20

FRI APR 8

SAT MAY 14

SUN JUNE 12

800

738

415

420

425

516

640

594

330

345

432

400

360

200

205

220

264

280

270

150

155

170

216

160

144

NEW BRUNSWICK

PRINCETON MORRISTOWN

SAT 8 pm SUN 3 pm

SAT 8 pm

SAT SEP 26

SUN 3 pm

5 FRI 8 pm

ENGLEWOOD RED BANK

THU 7:30 pm

SUN 3 pm

5 SAT 8 pm

VENUE

Family 2015–16

DATE / TIME

Sat 2 pm

TITLE / CONDUCTOR / ARTISTS

Classical Favorites in the Forecast

SAT NOV 28

JEFFREY GROGAN conductor NEW JERSEY SYMPHONY ORCHESTRA

Star Power

SAT FEB 13

GEMMA NEW conductor NJSO ACADEMY ORCHESTRA NEW JERSEY SYMPHONY ORCHESTRA

Athletes of the Orchestra

SAT MAY 21

JEFFREY GROGAN conductor NEW JERSEY SYMPHONY ORCHESTRA

SUN OCT 25

SUN NOV 1

SAT OCT 24

THU OCT 29

FRI OCT 30

NJPAC

CONCERTS

ADULTS

$42

KIDS

$24

NJPAC

NEW BRUNSWICK RED BANK

VENUE

POPS 2015–16

SERIES

CONCERTS

DATE / TIME

Sat 8 pm

Sun 3 pm

Fri 8 pm

SAT SAT OCT 17 OCT 17

SUN OCT 18

SAT DEC 5

SUN DEC 6

TITLE / CONDUCTOR / ARTISTS

SAT NOV 7

Cirque de la Symphonie with the NJSO

SAT NOV 7

GEMMA NEW conductor CIRQUE DE LA SYMPHONIE NEW JERSEY SYMPHONY ORCHESTRA

Home Alone: The Movie

CONSTANTINE KITSOPOULOS conductor NEW JERSEY YOUTH CHORUS Trish Joyce, director NEW JERSEY SYMPHONY ORCHESTRA

Valentine’s Day with Megan Hilty and the NJSO

SUN NOV 29

MEGAN HILTY vocalist TODD ELLISON conductor NEW JERSEY SYMPHONY ORCHESTRA

SUN FRI NOV 29 NOV 27

Music of the “Mad Men” Era

CHEYENNE JACKSON vocalist THOMAS WILKINS conductor NEW JERSEY SYMPHONY ORCHESTRA

THU JAN 14

SAT SAT JAN 23 JAN 23

SAT JAN 16

SUN JAN 24

FRI SUN JAN 31 JAN 29

SUN JAN 31

THU FEB 25

FRI SUN MAR 11 MAR 13

SAT MAR 12

SUN APR 10

SAT APR 9

SAT SAT MAR 19 MAR 19

SUN MAY 15

SUN FRI MAY 15 MAY 13

THU SAT JUNE 9 JUNE 11 532

316

324

380

328

P1 $

260

325

444

264

268

290

252

P2 $

168

210

312

176

235

176

P3 $

224

132

140

160

136

132

Bond and Beyond

SAT SAT SUN FEB 13 FEB 13 FEB 14

SUN FRI FEB 14 FEB 12

SAT SAT SUN APR 16 APR 16 APR 17

SUN FRI APR 17 APR 15

SAT SAT SUN SUN JUNE 4 JUNE 4 JUNE 5 JUNE 5

MICHAEL KRAJEWSKI conductor DEBBIE GRAVITTE vocalist NEW JERSEY SYMPHONY ORCHESTRA P$

385

336

385

336

124

P1 $

320

268

320

268

P2 $

225

184

225

184

P3 $

145

136

145

136

CLASSICAL MAPS Balcony

3rd

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2nd

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Second Tier Boxes

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New Jersey Performing Arts Center One Center Street, Newark

Stag

Sta

Count Basie Theatre 99 Monmouth Street, Red Bank

bergenPAC 30 North Van Brunt Street, Englewood

Gallery

Rear Mezzanine

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Front Orchestra

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gh Ri

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Front Orchestra

*All D-section seats are obstructed view.

Sta

Stag

Mayo Performing Arts Center 100 South Street, Morristown

Richardson Auditorium Princeton University, Princeton

State Theatre 15 Livingston Avenue, New Brunswick

POPS MAPS Gallery Balcony

Balcony 3rd

Tie

2nd

1st

Loge

Third Tier Boxes

Tie

Loge

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Tie

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Orchestra

Rear Orchestra First Tier Boxes

Orc

Front Orchestra

Grand Tier Boxes

Sta

POPS | New Jersey Performing Arts Center One Center Street, Newark

Stag

POPS | State Theatre 15 Livingston Avenue, New Brunswick

Stag

POPS | Count Basie Theatre 99 Monmouth Street, Red Bank