Press review Opening Night

The New York Times writes:

The orchestra has plenty to celebrate, foremost the appointment of new leaders: James Roe, formerly the ensemble’s principal oboist, has become its president and chief executive, working in tandem with the chief operating officer, Susan Stucker, the orchestra’s former vice president for operations. Mere frivolity would be acceptable under the circumstances.

But the New Jersey Symphony has long worked just a bit harder to make a mark throughout its home state. Friday’s concert, the start of the gifted and ambitious music director Jacques Lacombe’s fourth season, included Dvorak’s Symphony No. 9 (“From the New World”); a pair of seldom-encountered works by Duke Ellington; and the renowned jazz pianist Geri Allen. Tick off all the boxes: popular war horse, appealing curios, celebrated guest. But in assembling the program, “Promise of the New World,” Mr. Lacombe illuminated deeper ties among the works on the bill, and to a broader societal sphere.

Read the full article at nytimes.com.

The Star-Ledger writes:

That spirit set the tone for the New Jersey Symphony Orchestra’s season opening at the New Jersey Performing Arts Center on Friday, titled “Promise of the New World.”

Led by music director Jacques Lacombe, the program brought together jazz and gospel, classical and new sounds. Messages of unity ran throughout the concert, which included a reading of Dr. Martin Luther King, Jr.’s “I Have a Dream” speech in honor of its 50th anniversary.

Lacombe and the NJSO delivered an appealingly conceived program and a sure-footed performance. Also marking the change of season, James Roe, who acted as principal oboist last season, appeared this time as the orchestra’s president and CEO.

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The smartest stroke of the concert was to include jazz pianist and Montclair resident Geri Allen, who composed “Stone and Streams,” a work for orchestra, chorus, piano and narrator commissioned as part of the orchestra’s New Jersey Roots Project.

Read the full article on nj.com.

Q on Stage writes:

Lacombe invited Montclair native and gifted pianist Geri Allen to perform. Allen is a composer as well, and her “Stone and Streams” was commissioned by NJSO as a World Premiere work whose debut was framed by the Ellington pieces. Antoinette Ellis-Williams provided expert narration that included excerpts from Dr. King’s speech itself and award-winning Afro Blue, the Howard University vocal ensemble under direction of Professor Connaitre Miller, sang beautifully in Allen’s work, which plucked the heartstrings like harp strings. The combination of music and narration brought a tear to my eye when it began and there were few dry eyes in the house by the standing ovation, which the piece received when it was done. Brilliant work, brilliant programming that brings a broad smile every time I recall it. For this “Dream” and New Jersey’s Marriage Equality decision debuting on the same day gives credence to Dr. King’s words that one day we will dwell on the ways we are the same, rather than our present focus on our differences.

Read the full article at qonstage.com.

Examiner.com writes:

Friday, Sept. 27, New Jersey Symphony Orchestra’s 2013-14 season opening-night program packed a punch that brought the heavily-sold audience to its feet. Maestro Jacques Lacombe led the assembled forces of an enlarged orchestra, jazz pianist Geri Allen and Afro Blue, Howard University’s 13-member a cappella jazz chorus directed by Connaitre Miller, in a stirring eclectic program that included a world premiere commission, symphonic works by Duke Ellington and Antonín Dvořák, and traditional American spirituals that were, well, spirited.

Read the full article at examiner.com.