In Thursday’s (3/5) Star-Ledger (Newark, New Jersey), Bradley Bambarger writes, “With Neeme Järvi’s last concerts as music director this May, the next season was always going to be a transitional one for the New Jersey Symphony Orchestra. The plummeting economy—which has put so much stress on arts organizations dependent on giving from foundations and corporations—has given the NJSO more problems than just finding a new chief conductor. To save money on its 2009-10 schedule, announced today, the orchestra has cut its subscription concerts to 61, down from this season’s 70. … With [NJSO President and CEO Andre] Gremillet insisting that ‘organizational collaborations are the way of the future,’ the NJSO has embarked on a relationship with Opera New Jersey, becoming the company’s house orchestra for its summer festivals. Next February, the NJSO will also co-produce a semi-staged production of Bizet’s ‘Carmen’ with the Princeton-based opera company. The cast will include top mezzo-soprano Denyce Graves in the title role. The NJSO is on a search for its new music director, so next season will bring return visits by some favored candidates (Jacques Lacombe, Arild Remmereit) and first-time engagements for Ludovic Morlot, Lawrence Renes, Giancarlo Guerrero and exciting New York Philharmonic associate conductor Xian Zhang.”
Posted March 5, 2009
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