NJSO Winter Festival Week II Presents ZUKERMAN & BEETHOVEN VIOLIN CONCERTO, Today

The New Jersey Symphony Orchestra presents Beethoven's Violin Concerto with Pinchas Zukerman, the second program of the three-weekend 2017 Winter Festival, January 20-22 in Princeton, Newark and Morristown. Christian Vásquez conducts a program that also features Saint-Saëns' Symphony No. 3, "Organ," and Barber's Overture to The School for Scandal.

Performances take place on Friday, January 20, at 8 pm at the Richardson Auditorium in Princeton; Saturday, January 21, at 8 pm at the New Jersey Performing Arts Center in Newark; and Sunday, January 22, at 3 pm at the Mayo Performing Arts Center in Morristown.

In a preview of the 2017 Winter Festival crafted around Zukerman, The Asbury Park Press anticipates the performances by the "violinist extraordinaire," writing: "Zukerman is something of a legend in the classical music world, with a nearly half-century career as soloist and conductor. Deutsche Grammophon and Philips recently released a 22-disc set of his complete recordings on those labels, which yet only scratches the surface of his long, productive career."

The legendary violinist takes center stage in Beethoven's violin concerto, a work that, The New York Times writes in a 2014 review, "has been a staple of Mr. Zukerman's repertory since the early days of his career. His rendition ... was distinguished by its languid trills and beautiful, sweet tone" and "highly expressive playing."

The NJSO program opens with Barber's kinetic Overture to The School for Scandal, inspired by a satirical 18th-century Irish play. Saint-Saëns' "Organ" Symphony weaves the titular instrument into the orchestral sound. Organist John Miller, director of music ministries at Newark's Cathedral Basilica of the Sacred Heart, joins the NJSO for these performances.

In a special NJSO Accent event inspired by the Saint-Saëns symphony, Miller will give a demonstration and mini-recital on the Cathedral Basilica of the Sacred Heart's magnificent Schantz organ as part of a pre-concert tour of the Cathedral on January 21. Tickets for the tour and recital are $10 and must be purchased by January 12. Add-on options include a shuttle between NJPAC and the Cathedral, as well as a French-inspired supper at Maize at the Robert Treat Hotel. More information is available at www.njsymphony.org/organtour.

NJSO Accent events also include Classical Conversations before the January 21 and 22 concerts; NJSO Director of Artistic Planning Patrick Chamberlain will chat with Vásquez and Zukerman. A post-concert talkback on January 22 with student mentors in NJSO Academy education programs is inspired by Zukerman's commitment to educating the next generation of musicians.

Spanning three weekends, January 13-29, the 2017 Winter Festival includes performances featuring Zukerman, the festival's Artistic Director, at all six venues at which the NJSO regularly performs-NJPAC in Newark, State Theatre New Jersey in New Brunswick, Count Basie Theatre in Red Bank, Richardson Auditorium in Princeton, Mayo Performing Arts Center in Morristown and bergenPAC in Englewood.

For more information on the Winter Festival and related events, visit www.njsymphony.org/winterfestival.

Don't Miss a New Jersey News Story
Sign up for all the news on the Summer season, discounts & more...