Star-Ledger: ‘Zhang dazzles’ in this weekend’s program
The Star-Ledger reviews Xian Zhang’s first concert as NJSO Music Director—a debut that continues with concerts across the state over the next two weeks:
It's official: a woman is in charge.
The 2016 election may still be eleven days away, but on Thursday afternoon at the New Jersey Performing Arts Center, Xian Zhang took the podium as the first female music director in the New Jersey Symphony Orchestra's 94-year history.
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Zhang knows her Tchaikovsky. She knows how to make the big moments crackle, but more than that she knows the architecture of his music. The oboes and deep strings that open the first movement evoked a rolling, thick Russian fog. This led into an elegant entrance of strings, with Zhang setting up properly the sonic tension that runs through the whole piece: emotion versus order.
This understanding, and a clearly articulated account of the score — good balance between sections, firm tempi throughout — made the symphony not only a delight to hear, but a rich experience.
Zhang debut this weekend is being billed as "All Tchaikovsky" and Thursday's concert delivered that in the best sense of the word. It was of course also all about Zhang, but her presence and style indicates a conductor who is more about expressing the music and less about imposing her own personality on the music. That works for Tchaikovsky, but only the future will reveal what she brings to the orchestra with other composers, both old and new.
For now though, Zhang clearly has the attention of her orchestra — and after the three other performances around the state this weekend, she will also have the attention of her audience. At NJPAC on Thursday afternoon, the curtain call after the Tchaikovsky Fifth was even more rapturous than after the concerto. Next weekend, Ms. Zhang returns with a different program.
And so the Zhang dynasty begins. Regardless of how the state votes on Nov. 8, New Jersey is with her.
» Read the full review at www.nj.com
Other outlets also look ahead to this weekend’s performances in Princeton, New Brunswick and Morristown. The Courier News and Home News Tribune feature the concerts in their “Makin Plans: 10 best things to do this weekend” column, and Morristown Green includes Sunday’s performance at the Mayo Performing Arts Center in its weekend preview for the greater Morristown area.
Music Director Xian Zhang in the news
» Superconductor praises Zhang’s Music Director debut
» Listen: WQXR interviews Xian at rehearsal
» The New York Times chats with Zhang about ‘defining her own sound’
» U.S. 1 interviews Xian Zhang about NJ arrival
» The Times of Trenton previews Xian Zhang’s Music Director debut
» The Star-Ledger interviews Zhang ahead of music director debut
» Listen: WWFM interviews Music Director Xian Zhang
» The New York Times anticipates debut of ‘charismatic’ Xian Zhang
» U.S. 1 previews arrival of ‘vibrant’ Xian Zhang
» The Star-Ledger features NJSO in fall arts preview
» Princeton Magazine features Xian Zhang on September cover
» Newark Happening: Xian Zhang to debut as NJSO Music Director
» #TBT: ‘Xian Zhang burst onto the stage like a firecracker’
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Watch a behind-the-scenes “State of the Arts” feature on Zhang and her NJSO arrival, filmed during her week with the Orchestra in April:
» Read press and see highlights from Zhang’s April week with the Orchestra
Xian Zhang’s debut concerts as NJSO Music Director
Zhang conducts a trio of Tchaikovsky scores—Symphony No. 5, Piano Concerto No. 1 and Polonaise from Eugene Onegin—October 27–30 in Newark, Princeton, New Brunswick and Morristown. Pianist Simon Trpčeski joins the Orchestra for Tchaikovsky’s concerto.
She leads a program featuring Beethoven’s Triple Concerto, Haydn’s Symphony No. 102 and Adagio from Piano Trio No. 40 and Strauss’ Suite from Der Rosenkavalier, November 3–6 in Englewood and Newark. The Beethoven concerto features NJSO Concertmaster Eric Wyrick, Principal Cello Jonathan Spitz and pianist Pedja Muzijevic.
» View concert details and purchase tickets