New Jersey Symphony. Xian Zhang, conductor; Daniil Trifonov, piano. June 8, 2024.

Count Basie Theater, Red Bank, NJ.  Orchestra Center (Seat R120, $68).

Program

Porgy and Bess: A Symphonic Picture (1943) by George Gershwin (1898-1937)/arr. Robert Russell Bennett (1894-1981).

Autumn Days and Nights (2023-24) by Daniel Bernard Roumain (b. 1971).

Concerto in F Major for Piano and Orchestra (1925) by Gershwin.

The numbers from Porgy and Bess included in the suite.

This was the final series for the season.  On tap were two pieces of American classics, a new piece (and a world premiere to boot) by NJ Symphony's resident catalyst Roumain, and the well-known pianist Trifonov.

With due respect to the composer, arranger, and the orchestra's musicianship and talent, the "Symphonic Picture" is best characterized as a crowd pleaser, with the many familiar tunes from Porgy and Bess.  And it served that function well.

This is the last season where Roumain serves as the catalyst at NJ Symphony.  I have encountered the name many times during his tenure, but have heard his music (same composition) only twice.  That piece, "I am a white person who ... Black people," was composed before he came to NJ Symphony.  (The second time had a different orchestration, as I recall.)  He came out to describe his piece, this time there were more social justice elements to his description.  Tonight's was the third time the piece was performed (this being the third concert in the series).  To me the earlier piece was a lot more accessible.  I wasn't sure where the music was going, and why the title "Autumn Days and Nights" was appropriate, especially given DBR's explanation.  He described the last 10 minutes as a passacaglia with various "things" happening over a series of repeated bass notes (calling it a theme can be considered overselling).  That indeed was the case, but "so what?"

DBR being acknowledged after his composition was performed.

After the intermission we heard Gershwin's piano concerto.  I saw Trifonov perform the same concerto with the National Youth Orchestra All Stars earlier this year at Carnegie Hall, conducted by Nezet-Sequin.  For that event I was sitting way up in the balcony; tonight I was in Row R (17th row).  Here I could both see and hear the performance clearly, and it was amazing how Trifonov pulled it off with ease.  Some writeups on the concerto describe the three movements as "fast jazz, blues, and faster jazz" (actual markings are Allegro; Adagio-Andante con moto; Allegro agitato), and there is a lot of truth to that.

For an encore he played Prokofiev: Three Pieces from "Cinderella," Op. 95: II. Gavotte.  I found the title via Google, which also describes it as a "song by Trifonov and Prokofiev."

The concert ended after Trifonov came out and bowed to the audience twice, rather quickly.

I noticed the absence of the principal bass, and one of the members of the violin section.  They often perform as extras at NY Phil concerts.  I saw the bassist at David Geffen Hall on Thursday, so her absence for this series is expected (though not quite explainable), I didn't see the violin player, though.

The concert was reasonably well-attended (by NJ Symphony standards), although there were still quite a few empty seats.  And when I walked up to the balcony during intermission, I noticed many sections were entirely empty.  Such is the state of the art in NJ.