NJSO Announces 2019–20 Pops Season

The New Jersey Symphony Orchestra's 2019-20 pops season includes concert performances of two Star Wars films and two Harry Potter films, as well as a Classical Mystery Tour tribute to The Beatles' Sgt. Pepper's Lonely Hearts Club Band.

In celebration of Star Wars Day, single tickets for the NJSO's performances of Star Wars: Return of the Jedi and Star Wars: The Force Awakens go on sale May 4 at 10 am. Classical Mystery Tour tickets also go on sale May 4.

Compose Your Own Series subscriptions are on sale now; patrons can select three or more concerts and save. Tickets are available from the NJSO online at njsymphony.org, by phone at 1.800.ALLEGRO (255.3476) or in person. The NJSO Patron Services office is located at 60 Park Place, Suite 900, in Newark. Hours are Monday-Friday, 9 am-5 pm, and concert Saturdays, 11 am-5 pm.

Star Wars Film Concert Series

Since the release of the first Star Wars movie more than 40 years ago, the Star Wars saga has had a seismic impact on both cinema and culture, inspiring audiences around the world with its mythic storytelling, captivating characters, groundbreaking special effects and iconic musical scores composed by Williams.

The NJSO performs Star Wars: Return of the Jedi in Concert on February 7 at 8 pm at the Count Basie Center for the Arts in Red Bank, February 8 at 2 pm and 7:30 pm at NJPAC in Newark and February 9 at 3 pm at State Theatre New Jersey in New Brunswick. In the spectacular climactic sixth episode of the Star Wars saga, Darth Vader readies the second Death Star to unleash the final blow to the Rebel Alliance. Luke Skywalker joins R2-D2, C-3PO and Princess Leia to free Han Solo from Jabba the Hutt and launch a desperate attack upon the entire Imperial Fleet.

The Orchestra performs Star Wars: The Force Awakens in Concert on April 17 at 8 pm at the Count Basie Center for the Arts, April 18 at 2 pm and 7:30 pm at NJPAC and April 19 at 3 pm at State Theatre New Jersey. Thirty years after the defeat of the Empire, Luke Skywalker has vanished, and a new threat has risen: The First Order, led by the mysterious Supreme Leader Snoke and his enforcer, Kylo Ren. General Leia Organa's military force, the Resistance-and unlikely heroes brought together by fate-are the galaxy's only hope.

Harry Potter Film Concert Series

In 2016, CineConcerts and Warner Bros. Consumer Products announced the Harry Potter Film Concert Series, a global concert tour celebrating the Harry Potter films. Since the world premiere of Harry Potter and the Sorcerer's Stone in Concert in June 2016, more than 1.3 million fans have enjoyed this magical experience from J.K. Rowling's Wizarding World, which is scheduled to include more than 900 performances across more than 48 countries worldwide through 2019.

The NJSO performs Harry Potter and the Half-Blood Prince in Concert on October 26 at 2 pm and 7:30 pm at NJPAC in Newark. Harry becomes a wiz at potions, wins Felix Felicis and uncovers the meaning of Horcruxes in his sixth year at Hogwarts. The NJSO performs Nicholas Hooper's unforgettable score live while the entire film plays in high definition.

The Orchestra performs Harry Potter and the Deathly Hallows Part 1 in Concert on May 30 at 7:30 pm at NJPAC in Newark. In part one of the epic finale to the Harry Potter Film Concert Series, Harry, Ron and Hermione go hunting for Horcruxes and rush to face Voldemort for the last time, with the full film accompanied by the NJSO.

Classical Mystery Tour

On January 26 at 3 pm at NJPAC in Newark, Classical Mystery Tour performs one of the most iconic albums in rock history-Sgt. Pepper's Lonely Hearts Club Band-with the NJSO. The band and Orchestra perform classic songs from "Lucy in the Sky with Diamonds" to "When I'm Sixty-Four" to "A Day in the Life"-plus more of the greatest hits from The Beatles' entire catalogue.

For more information, visit njsymphony.org/pops.

NJPAC co-presents the October 26 and May 30 performances. State Theatre New Jersey co-presents the February 9 and April 19 performances.

Star Wars: Return of the Jedi in Concert and Star Wars: The Force Awakens in Concert presentations licensed by Disney Concerts in association with 20th Century Fox, Lucasfilm Ltd., and Warner/Chappell Music. © 2019 & TM LUCASFILM LTD. ALL RIGHTS RESERVED. © DISNEY

HARRY POTTER characters, names and related indicia are © & Warner Bros. Entertainment Inc. Harry Potter Publishing Rights © JKR. (s19)

New Jersey Symphony Orchestra

Named "a vital, artistically significant musical organization" by The Wall Street Journal, the New Jersey Symphony Orchestra embodies that vitality through its statewide presence and critically acclaimed performances, education partnerships and unparalleled access to music and the Orchestra's superb musicians.

Music Director Xian Zhang-a "dynamic podium presence" The New York Times has praised for her "technical abilities, musicianship and maturity"-continues her acclaimed leadership of the NJSO. The Orchestra presents classical, pops and family programs, as well as outdoor summer concerts and special events. Embracing its legacy as a statewide orchestra, the NJSO is the resident orchestra of the New Jersey Performing Arts Center in Newark and regularly performs at State Theatre New Jersey in New Brunswick, Count Basie Center for the Arts in Red Bank, Richardson Auditorium in Princeton, Mayo Performing Arts Center in Morristown and bergenPAC in Englewood. Partnerships with New Jersey arts organizations, universities and civic organizations remain a key element of the Orchestra's statewide identity.

In addition to its lauded artistic programming, the NJSO presents a suite of education and community engagement programs that promote meaningful, lifelong engagement with live music. Programs include school-time Concerts for Young People; NJSO Youth Orchestras family of student ensembles, led by José Luis Domínguez; and El Sistema-inspired NJSO CHAMPS (Character, Achievement and Music Project). NJSO musicians annually perform original chamber music programs at community events in a variety of settings statewide through the NJSO Community Partners program.

Tickets are available online at njsymphony.org, by phone at 1.800.ALLEGRO (255.3476) or in person. The NJSO Patron Services office is located at 60 Park Place, Suite 900, in Newark. Hours are Monday-Friday, 9 am-5 pm, and concert Saturdays, 11 am-5 pm.

For more information, visit njsymphony.org or email information@njsymphony.org.

The New Jersey Symphony Orchestra's programs are made possible in part by the New Jersey State Council on the Arts, along with many other foundations, corporations and individual donors.

To post a comment, you must register and login.