Star-Ledger praises Pinchas Zukerman’s Winter Festival opener
The NJSO Winter Festival “brings out the best in the Garden State players,” The Star-Ledger writes in its review of the opening performance of the 2017 edition, which features famed violinist and conductor Pinchas Zukerman in three weeks of concerts across the state.
The newspaper praises Zukerman’s performances with both bow and baton, writing:
As [Tchaikovsky’s Serenade Melancolique] unfolded, Zukerman cradled his violin and seemed barely to be touching it, evoking a hummingbird's wings as he created beautiful, quivering, tremolo sounds, before bringing the piece to its quiet conclusion.
[In Tchaikovsky's "Serenade for Strings in C Major"], Zukerman put down his violin and traded it for a proper baton, but there was no less beauty in the string music that followed. Zukerman coaxed rich, luxurious notes from the cellos in the grand notes of the opening movement. The ascending phrases brimmed with intensity; the descending ones gleamed with grandeur … The orchestra as a whole impressed with their cleanly articulated, yet big-hearted sound.
Zukerman brought the piece to its climax with a frenzy that was as natural and graceful as it was crowd pleasing. Not surprisingly, the NJPAC audience roared with approval when he and the band took their bows …
As the rousing finale [of Mendelssohn’s “Italian” Symphony] approached, you could see a distinct smile emerge on the face of Zukerman ... He was clearly pleased. So were we.
» Read the full review at www.nj.com
The Winter Festival continues this weekend, as Zukerman performs Beethoven’s sole Violin Concerto. Guest conductor Christian Vásquez leads a program that also features Saint-Saëns’ Symphony No. 3, “Organ,” and Barber’s Overture to The School for Scandal. (January 20–22 in Princeton, Newark and Morristown.)
In the Festival finale, Zukerman again takes a play/conduct role. The program includes Bach’s Second Violin Concerto, Beethoven’s Symphony No. 3, “Eroica,” and Schoenberg’s Verklärte Nacht (Transfigured Night). (January 26–29 in Englewood, New Brunswick and Newark).
On January 27, Zukerman and the NJSO Chamber Players perform Mendelssohn’s String Quintet No. 2 at a benefit event at the Beacon Hill Club in Summit. A limited number of tickets are available for the up-close-and-personal chamber performance and reception with a meet-and-greet opportunity. Learn more.
» Explore the Winter Festival