New Jersey Symphony to Perform Bartok's CONCERTO FOR ORCHESTRA, 11/29-12/1

Music Director Jacques Lacombe and the New Jersey Symphony Orchestra present Bartók's Concerto for Orchestra on a program that features the world premiere of a Lowell Liebermann work the NJSO commissioned through its New Jersey Roots Project. Pianist Adam Golka makes his NJSO debut, performing Ravel's Piano Concerto in G Major.

Performances take place on Friday, November 29, (8 pm) at the Richardson Auditorium in Princeton; Saturday, November 30, (8 pm) at the New Jersey Performing Arts Center (NJPAC) in Newark and Sunday, December 1, (3 pm) at the State Theatre in New Brunswick. Classical Conversations about the program begin one hour before the concerts on November 30 and December 1.

"We are looking forward to this project," Lacombe says of giving the world premiere of Liebermann's new orchestral work. "An important aspect of our New Jersey Roots Project is including new music from composers who not only live and work in New Jersey but who also have a great relationship with the state. Liebermann has been living here a long time, and he is an important living American composer."

Lacombe has a special relationship with and affinity for Bartók's Concerto for Orchestra. "I made my debut with a few orchestras with this piece," the music director recollects. "There is so much maturity in the Concerto for Orchestra. Other Bartók works have a more complex structure, but the Concerto for Orchestra has both richness and a clarity that I appreciate very much.

"It's a flashy piece, and the finale is especially difficult for the orchestra. Bartók wanted the tempo to be extremely fast. Because of his musical language, the scales he uses are not the typical ones that musicians have in their fingers. You have to work at them! But once you have mastered them, his system is very organic. It's the kind of piece that once you have it, you have it for life."

Lacombe says the Ravel concerto is "a unique piece because there is something quite classical about it and also something very simple. The very exposed moments for horns and trumpets make an interesting combination with the piano and the sort of jazzy element that is also present. Adam Golka makes his debut with us; he is an up-and-coming artist who I think is headed for a very strong career."

Tickets start at $20 and are available for purchase online at www.njsymphony.org or by phone at 1.800.ALLEGRO (255.3476).

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