NYTimes anticipates ‘excellent’ NJSO’s season finale

The New York Times writes:

Good morning, classical fans. Does the start of June have you wanting to range free a little? Not too far from the New York border, some choice performances await ...

You’ve surely heard that they’re looking for a new conductor on the eastern side of the Hudson River, but the excellent New Jersey Symphony Orchestra is also on the market. Jacques Lacombe, who has served with distinction since 2009 and built the ensemble’s sound and repertory, will leave when his contract expires at the end of next season.

So your time to catch Mr. Lacombe is fairly limited. This week he goes up against a looming wall of historical comparisons, as he leads Beethoven, Beethoven and more evergreen Beethoven: the “Coriolan” Overture, Piano Concerto No. 5 (“Emperor”) and Fifth Symphony.

The most standard of standard works, yes, but the pianist Marc-André Hamelin always has sly tricks up his sleeve.