Superconductor praises Zhang’s ‘pure music-making’

Superconductor reviews Xian Zhang’s first concert as NJSO Music Director—a debut that continues with concerts across the state over the next two weeks:

Following a quick address to the audience, she turned on her podium and whipped her new troops to vivid life. The Polonaise sprung to attention, its quick crescendo leading to a display of rhythmic vitality and bright energy. Ms. Zhang’s operatic experience stood her well here, leading this lovely dance and making the music breathe and heave with contributions from strong winds and brass.

For the concerto, the orchestra was joined by pianist Simon Trpçeski. From the opening bars, Mr. Trpçeski demonstrated his understanding that the solo part in this piano is effectively a long monologue for his instrument, discoursing against a flowing and occasionally rushing stream of orchestral accompaniment. Whether submerging himself in the texture of the music or bursting forth in bright solo cadenzas, Mr. Trpçeski showed both technical skill and the ability to convey emotion in music, making the long first movement an involving and compelling narrative.

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[In the Symphony No. 5], Ms. Zhang indulged in four blissful movements of pure music-making. She chose to separate the NJSO horns from their brass brethren, exiling them to the left side of the stage in the interest of creating an antiphonal effect. She was careful with the pauses built in the two outer movements, taking the last full stop before the coda at just six orchestral beats and not allowing the audience to make the potentially performance-ruining mistake of clapping too early. And she showed her confidence in her players by having the orchestra encore the final two sections of the last movement, making sure the audience at her first subscription concert went home happy, and looking forward to more.

» Read the full review at super-conductor.blogspot.com

 

Music Director Xian Zhang in the news

» The Star-Ledger: ‘Xian Zhang dazzles’ in this weekend’s concerts

» 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’

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.

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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