• By Mabel Pais

“What the New Jersey Symphony has established, bringing music to the Garden State in schools and in six different cities, is a sincere accomplishment. And it’s never been better.” – nj.com

The New Jersey Symphony presents Holst’s ‘The Planets’ — An HD Odyssey with Music Director Xian Zhang conducting four performances at three locations in New Jersey.

PROGRAM

FIRST HALF

Opening the program is Caroline Shaw’s ‘The Observatory’ originally premiered by Xian Zhang with the Los Angeles Philharmonic. In 2013, Shaw became the youngest composer to receive the Pulitzer Prize in music. Also in the first half is Ralph Vaughan Williams’ ‘The Lark Ascending,’ which draws inspiration from George Meredith’s 1881 poem of the same name. The piece was originally composed for violin and piano in 1914 and was later reworked for violin and orchestra.

SECOND HALF

The second half of the program is devoted to Gustav Holst’s ‘The Planets’ — An HD Odyssey, a spectacular presentation of Holst’s cosmic masterpiece accompanied by breathtaking images of modern space exploration that showcase our solar system in a film by Duncan Copp, in cooperation with NASA and Jet Propulsion Laboratories.

Nancy Zhou is set to appear in Vaughan Williams’ ‘The Lark Ascending.’ Holst’s ‘Planets’ will also feature Montclair State University Prima Voce, under the leadership of director Heather J. Buchanan.

PRE-PERFORMANCE EVENTS

On Friday, January 31, at 6:30 pm, the Symphony will host a Next Gen cocktail hour at Newark Local Beer prior to the performance. The Next Gen program is a free membership program for young music enthusiasts between the ages of 21 and 40. More information on the Next Gen program: njsymphony.org/nextgen.

A Classical Conversation will take place on Saturday, February 1, at 7 pm at NJPAC and Sunday, February 2, at 2 pm at Mayo Performing Arts Center in Morristown, prior to each performance. Concertgoers will be able to learn more about the music performed by Symphony musicians, guest artists and other engaging insiders.

Holst’s The Planets—An HD Odyssey

New Jersey Symphony Classical

Xian Zhang conductor

Nancy Zhou violin

Montclair State University Prima Voce | Heather J. Buchanan, director

New Jersey Symphony

New Brunswick – Thursday, January 30, 7:30 pm, State Theatre New Jersey

Newark – Friday, January 31, 8 pm, NJPAC

Newark – Saturday, February 1, 8 pm, NJPAC

Morristown – Sunday, February 2, 3 pm, Mayo Performing Arts Center

Caroline Shaw ‘The Observatory’

Ralph Vaughan Williams ‘The Lark Ascending’

Gustav Holst ‘The Planets’ — An HD Odyssey

For more information on concerts and tickets, visit njsymphony.org/events.

TICKETS

For Tickets to the performance, call  1.800.ALLEGRO (255.3476) or visit njsymphony.org/events/detail/holsts-the-planetsan-hd-odyssey

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Xian Zhang

Zhang has an exceptional ear for balance, as well as the ability to draw the softest, most transparent tones imaginable from the orchestra….With such skills and obvious audience appeal, Zhang should prove a valuable addition to the Met’s conduction staff.” – New York Classical Review

2024–25 marks the GRAMMY and Emmy Award-winning conductor Xian Zhang’s ninth season as music director of the New Jersey Symphony. Starting in 2025–26, Zhang will also hold the role of music director at Seattle Symphony. Zhang holds the position of conductor emeritus of Orchestra Sinfonica di Milano, having previously held the position of music director between 2009–2016.

The 2024–25 season sees Zhang return to the Metropolitan Opera in New York to conduct David McVicar’s acclaimed production of Puccini’s Tosca.

Zhang is in high demand as a guest conductor, appearing regularly with Philadelphia Orchestra and Los Angeles Philharmonic, returning to both in 2024–25. Her recording with Philadelphia Orchestra and Time for Three, Letters for The Future (released 2022 on Deutsche Grammophon), won multiple GRAMMY Awards in the Best Contemporary Classical Composition (Kevin Puts’ Contact) and Best Classical Instrumental Solo categories.

Zhang previously served as principal guest conductor of the BBC National Orchestra & Chorus of Wales, the first female conductor to hold a titled role with a BBC orchestra and principal guest conductor of Melbourne Symphony Orchestra. In 2002, she won first prize in the Maazel-Vilar Conductor’s Competition. She was appointed New York Philharmonic’s assistant conductor in 2002, subsequently becoming their associate conductor and the first holder of the Arturo Toscanini Chair. Learn more at xianzhangconductor.com.

Nancy Zhou

Lauded as one of today’s probing musical voices, Nancy Zhou harbors a robust presence that seeks to invigorate appreciation for the art and science of the violin. Her thoughtful musicianship resonates with a global audience in such a way that brings her on stage with leading orchestras and performing artists around the world.

Zhou has collaborated with several Philharmonics and Symphonies around Europe and America. Alongside projects as a soloist, she harbors keen interest in chamber music and music education. She has performed for Music Festivals, she devotes time to a studio as well, teaching students across the globe and presenting masterclasses on fundamental training and cultivating mindful awareness critical to performance.

In recent seasons, Zhou has often championed works outside the traditional oeuvre. In collaboration with the New Jersey Symphony and conductor Xian Zhang, she presented Zhao Jiping’s first violin concerto at Alice Tully Hall. Zhou has toured the US and China performing concertos exploring the intersection of various art forms and, indeed, music and culture.

Zhou recorded her debut album for Orchid Classics featuring solo violin repertoire including Bartók’s Sonata for Solo Violin. The record will be released in June 2025.

American-born, Zhou commenced violin studies with her father, later studying with Miriam Fried at the New England Conservatory while simultaneously pursuing her interest in literature at Harvard University. She is additionally an Associated Artist at the Queen Elisabeth Music Chapel. Learn more at nancyzhouviolin.com

Montclair State University Prima Voce | Heather J. Buchanan, director

Under the direction of Australian-born conductor Heather J. Buchanan since September 2003, the Montclair State University (MSU) choral program has been recognized for successful collaborations with world-renowned artists and celebrated professional musicians in national and international venues.

Prima Voce is an extra-curricular, SSAA (soprano, soprano, alto) project choir at Montclair State University’s John J. Cali School of Music  with membership drawn from University Singers, Chorale and alumnae. The choir is directed by Dr. Heather J. Buchanan, a professor at the school. Pianist Steven W. Ryan is the Montclair choral accompanist.

The New Jersey Symphony

New Jersey Symphony is a GRAMMY and Emmy Award-winning orchestra. Under the direction of the Music Director Xian Zhang, the Symphony performs more than 60 concerts at mainstage venues across the state, including Newark, Princeton, New Brunswick, Red Bank and Morristown as well as schools and public spaces statewide.

Programming at the Symphony reflects an unwavering commitment to diversity, equity and inclusion while providing students across the state unparalleled opportunities to achieve musical excellence through its Youth Orchestra and other outreach programs.

In 2024, the Symphony announced it would continue to deliver its statewide activities from a new, permanent office, rehearsal and concert space in Jersey City, set to open in 2026. For more information about the New Jersey Symphony, visit its website at njsymphony.org.

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(Mabel Pais writes on The Arts and Entertainment, Business, Social Issues, Spirituality, Cuisine, Health & Wellness, and Education)