Press review Bartók/Ravel concerts

Princeton Town Topics writes:

Bartok’s five-movement Concerto for Orchestra showed the capabilities of almost all the players in the orchestra, with solid lower strings in the opening movement and wind scales going in many different directions. This piece required vigorous playing from the strings, complemented by sweet timbres from the English horn, bass clarinet, and a pair of harps. Winds were kept busy with solos, including from Ms. Knoll and clarinetist Karl Herman, and pairs of winds effectively brought out the Eastern flavor of the work. A rare movement of double bass exposure in the third movement was contrasted by clean piccolo playing from Kathleen Nester as Mr. Lacombe gently tapered phrase endings amid the full sound of the orchestra. Mr. Lacombe also worked hard to build dynamics slowly, effectively closing the concert with the orchestra in robust form.

Read the full review at towntopics.com.

Q on Stage writes:

The New Jersey Symphony Orchestra continues to bloom and thrive under the baton of Maestro Jacques Lacombe and the 2013-2014 season just gets better and better. Case in point?: the most recent concert featuring Béla Bartók’s Concerto for Orchestra and Lowell Liebermann’s witty and thought-provoking “Barcarolles for a Sinking City” in its world premiere.

Read the full review at qonstage.com.