Press preview 2019–20 season
Press preview the NJSO’s newly announced 2019–20 season.
The Star-Ledger writes:
“Taking a break from rehearsing the final shows of this season’s Winter Festival, Music Director Xian Zhang and President & CEO Gabriel van Aalst laid out their 16 weekends of classical concerts, once again focusing on diversity as well as a commitment to new works — especially ones from female composers. Reached after the announcement, Zhang said: ‘The ’19-'20 season is about bringing different art forms, as well as the talent of our NJSO musicians, front and center. This season is about music inspired by poetry, and next season has works from the stage, like our Winter Festival of music from opera and ballet, as well as music that has inspired visuals.’”
New Jersey Stage writes:
“The organization’s 2020 Winter Festival will feature great works from the stage, including Mozart’s Don Giovanni, Prokofiev’s Romeo and Juliet, and scenes from Wagner’s Ring cycle.
“As the world celebrates Beethoven’s 250th birthday, for the first time in history, the NJSO will welcome an artist-in-residence — French-Canadian pianist Louis Lortie — who will perform all five of the composer’s piano concertos! The Beethoven birthday bash will also continue with performances of Beethoven’s Second and Third symphonies.
“Zhang is particularly excited to note that the group’s 2019–2020 line-up will feature the NJSO’s very own bassoonist Robert Wagner, who will present the East Coast premiere of Christopher Rouse’s Bassoon Concerto — a work the NJSO co-commissioned in honor of Wagner’s 40th season with the orchestra.”