Xian Zhang and the New Jersey Symphony break new ground with marvelous performance of Mahler’s Third Symphony
The New Jersey Symphony delivered one of their best concert weekends of the centennial season at NJPAC, delivering two stunning performances of Mahler’s Symphony No. 3 under the baton of Music Director Xian Zhang, along with the powerful vocals of mezzo-soprano Kelley O’Connor and both the Montclair State University Prima Voce and Starry Arts Group Children’s Choir. NJ Advance Media reviewed the Friday performance of the event, calling it ‘radiant’ and saying it was a major reason why the Symphony is as strong as ever with Zhang at the helm.
The world is indeed deep—and so is Mahler 3, the composer’s longest work and one of the longest symphonies in the classical repertoire. And so are Xian Zhang’s musical instincts, as she displayed at New Jersey Performing Arts Center in Newark Friday night ... This may be the high point of Zhang’s tenure here in New Jersey—arguably even more impressive than her ambitious Wagner program of three years ago ... it was clear just how strong the New Jersey Symphony is right now under Zhang’s baton.
James C. Taylor of NJ Advance Media