The New Jersey Symphony Orchestra presents Chopin's First Piano Concerto and Brahms' Fourth Symphony, November 28-30 in Princeton, Newark and New Brunswick. Pianist Inon Barnatan makes his NJSO debut performing Chopin's concerto. Guest conductor Stefan Sanderling conducts. On Saturday, November 29, the NJSO hosts Saturday Night Out -- a post-concert champagne and dessert reception for ticketholders who are LGBT community members and friends -- at the New Jersey Performing Arts Center (NJPAC) in Newark.
Of Barnatan's gifts at the piano, The Washington Post observed "the widest variety of touch and dynamics that I've ever heard ... From barely audible, feathery trills to heaven-storming thunderbolts, Barnatan orchestrated every phrase with sovereign mastery... [This was] fine music-making wedded to astounding technique."
Performances take place on Friday, November 28, at 8 pm at the Richardson Auditorium in Princeton; Saturday, November 29, at 8 pm at NJPAC in Newark; and Sunday, November 30, at 3 pm at the State Theatre in New Brunswick. Prelude performances by student musicians from NJSO education programs precede the November 29 and 30 concerts in Newark and New Brunswick, respectively. In a November 30 post-concert talkback fittingly scheduled for Thanksgiving weekend, Sanderling discusses growing up in a family of musicians and the impact that had on his choice of profession.
Music Director Jacques Lacombe says. "This program features major works by two important composers. The Chopin concerto is remarkable, with a delicate touch. Brahms' Fourth Symphony is one of those cathedrals of the repertoire. Yet, in terms of style and language, I don't think that Chopin and Brahms were too far apart from each other. You'll hear two ways to express the heart of Romantic music -- the Chopin is like a fine sculpture, and the Brahms stands more like a monument. I think the two works complement each other very well."
Tickets start at $20 and are available for purchase online at www.njsymphony.org or by phone at 1.800.ALLEGRO (255.3476). Concert tickets purchased using promo code SATURDAYOUT online or by phone include the post-concert reception; current ticketholders can add on the reception by calling Patron Services at 1.800.ALLEGRO.
THE PROGRAM:
Chopin Piano Concerto No. 1
Friday, November 28 at 8 pm | Richardson Auditorium in Princeton
Saturday, November 29 at 8 pm | NJPAC in Newark
Friday, November 30 at 3 pm | State Theatre in New Brunswick
Stefan Sanderling, conductor
Inon Barnatan, piano
New Jersey Symphony Orchestra
CHOPIN Piano Concerto No. 1
BRAHMS Symphony No. 4
Full concert information and program notes are available at www.njsymphony.org/events/detail/chopin-piano-concerto-no-1.
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