“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

New Jersey Symphony will present Rachmaninoff’s Symphony No. 2 with Music Director Xian Zhang conducting. The Symphony’s Colton Conducting Fellow Gregory D. McDaniel will conduct Debussy’s ‘Clair de Lune’ and Nico Muhly’s ‘Sounding.’ There will be four performances in locations in New Jersey (see program below).

PROGRAM

Rachmaninoff Symphony No. 2

New Jersey Symphony Classical

Xian Zhang conductor

Gregory D. McDaniel conductor

Adam Tendler piano

New Jersey Symphony

Newark – Thursday, March 13, 1:30 pm, NJPAC

Princeton – Friday, March 14, 8 pm, Richardson Auditorium

Newark – Saturday, March 15, 8 pm, NJPAC

Morristown – Sunday, March 16, 3 pm, Mayo Performing Arts Center

Claude Debussy ‘Clair de Lune’

Nico Muhly ‘Sounding’ for Piano and Orchestra (New Jersey Symphony Co-Commission)

Sergei Rachmaninoff Symphony No. 2

The program starts with Debussy’s ‘Clair de Lune,’ the third movement in his ‘Suite Bergamasque,’ arranged by André Caplet. Originally composed in 1889 and later revised in 1903, ‘Clair de Lune’ was inspired by a poem of the same name by Paul Verlaine and embodies both the beauty and sadness of moonlight. The first half of the program continues with the New Jersey premiere of Nico Muhly’s ‘Sounding,’ which is a co-commission with Vermont Symphony. Adam Tendler played the premiere in Burlington last May and will be featured as the soloist in this program.

The program concludes with Zhang conducting Rachmaninoff’s Symphony No. 2. While composing the symphony, Rachmaninoff was influenced by Tchaikovsky. In the same turn, Eric Carmen’s 1976 hit song ‘Never Gonna Fall in Love Again’ drew inspiration from the Second Symphony’s slow movement.

Thursday, March 13 – Relaxed Performance

The concert on Thursday, March 13, at 1:30 pm at NJPAC will follow a Relaxed Performance format, which is designed to accommodate the differing needs of the Symphony’s patrons. Patrons are encouraged to bring their own sensory manipulatives, noise-reduction headphones and other tools that will allow you to react and enjoy the music in a way that is most natural for you!

For more information about Relaxed Performances and the resources you can expect to be available, visit njsymphony.org/relaxedperformance

Pre-Concert Classical Conversations

Two pre-concert Classical Conversations will take place on Friday, March 14, at 7 pm at Richardson Auditorium in Princeton and Sunday, March 16, at 2 pm at Mayo Performing Arts Center in Morristown. Concertgoers will be able to learn more about the music from Symphony musicians, guest artists, and other engaging insiders.

Concert Prelude

On Saturday, March 15, at 7 pm in the lobby of NJPAC, Newark, New Jersey Symphony Youth Orchestra’s Curtland E. Fields Ensemble will present a Concert Prelude.

TICKETS & MORE INFORMATION

For more information on concerts and tickets, visit njsymphony.org/events or call 1.800.ALLEGRO (255.3476).

Xian Zhang

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.

Learn more at xianzhangconductor.com

Gregory D. McDaniel

Gregory D. McDaniel is a passionate conductor who is active in many different musical surroundings. Learn more at gregorydmcdaniel.com.

Adam Tendler

GRAMMY-nominated pianist Adam Tendler is a recipient of the Lincoln Center Award for Emerging Artists, the Yvar Mikhashoff Prize, and “currently the hottest pianist on the American contemporary classical scene” (Minneapolis Star Tribune), a “remarkable and insightful musician” (LA Times), and a “relentlessly adventurous pianist” (Washington Post) “joyfully rocking out at his keyboard” (New York Times). Tendler is a Yamaha Artist and serves on the piano faculty of NYU.

Learn more at adamtendler.com

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VADIM GLUZMAN PERFORMS BRAHMS’ VIOLIN CONCERTO WITH NJ SYMPHONY

• By Mabel Pais

New Jersey Symphony presents Lina González-Granados conducting alongside Vadim Gluzman as he performs Johannes Brahms’ Violin Concerto in D Major, Op. 77, March 20-22, 2025 in NJ locations.

PROGRAM

Vadim Gluzman Plays Brahms

New Jersey Symphony Classical

Lina González-Granados conductor

Vadim Gluzman violin

New Jersey Symphony

New Brunswick – Thursday, March 20, 7:30 pm, State Theatre New Jersey

Red Bank – Friday, March 21, 8 pm, Count Basie Center for the Arts

Newark – Sunday, March 23, 3 pm, NJPAC

Robert Schumann Overture, Scherzo, and Finale

Gabriela Ortiz Clara

Johannes Brahms Violin Concerto

Robert Schumann’s Overture, Scherzo, and Finale starts off the program. Composed in 1841 and often described as “the symphony without a slow movement,” the high-spirited melodies keep the music upbeat throughout the piece. The program’s first half continues with Mexico City native Gabriela Ortiz’s Clara as it sonically explores the relationship between husband and wife — Robert and Clara Schumann — in its five sections.

The program closes with Brahms’ Violin Concerto. A year after composing his Second Symphony, Brahms completed this concerto in summer 1878. Brahms’ friend Joseph Joachim, one of the great violinists of the 19th century, was instrumental in shaping the solo part of the piece.

Pre-Concert Classical Conversations

Two pre-concert Classical Conversations will take place on Thursday, March 20, at 6:30 pm at State Theatre, NJ in New Brunswick and Saturday, March 22, at 7 pm at Count Basie Center for the Arts in Red Bank. Concertgoers will be able to learn more about the music from Symphony musicians, guest artists, and other engaging insiders.

Pre-Concert Performance

The concert on Sunday, March 23, will open with a performance by the students from the El Sistema New Jersey Alliance, featuring Paterson Music Project, Trenton Music Makers, and United Children’s Music Project.

TICKETS & MORE INFORMATION

For more information on concerts and tickets, visit njsymphony.org/events or call 1.800.ALLEGRO (255.3476). 

Lina González-Granados

Praised for her “rich, heartfelt orchestral sound” (Chicago Sun-Times), “rhythmic vitality” (San Francisco Chronicle), and “raw power” (LA Times), Colombian American conductor Lina González-Granados has distinguished herself nationally and internationally as a singular talent. Learn more at linagonzalezgranados.com.

Vadim Gluzman

Universally recognized among today’s top performing artists, Vadim Gluzman breathes new life and passion into the golden era of the 19th and 20th centuries’ violin tradition. Learn more at vadimgluzman.com.

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. 

For more information about the New Jersey Symphony, visit the website at njsymphony.org or call 1.800.ALLEGRO (255.3476).

Connect with NJ Symphony

Follow NJ Symphony on Facebook, Instagram, TikTok, X, and YouTube.

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