In Sunday’s (8/15) Asbury Park Press (New Jersey), Carlton Wilkinson laments the absence of New Jersey composers from previous New Jersey Symphony Orchestra programs. “Happily, all that has changed. The new maestro, Canadian Jacques Lacombe, mentioned in his first interviews following his appointment that he wanted to explore the music of New Jersey composers. … Later, in its season announcement, NJSO unveiled a new element it is calling ‘The New Jersey Roots Project.’ The plan sprinkles programs throughout the season with scores by the state’s finest composers. This season alone, the works of Montclair State University Professor Robert Aldridge, former Princeton University composers Roger Sessions and Edward T. Cone, now both deceased, and Tobias Picker, a famous composer of opera and also a former Princeton University student. Also in the mix will be work by Iran-born composer Behzad Ranjbaran, a recipient of the New Jersey State Council on the Arts’ ‘Distinguished Artist’ award. The music of Aldridge, the world premiere of a suite from his 2005 opera ‘Elmer Gantry,’ will be heard on the very first program of the season.”
Posted August 18, 2010
