the mommy avenger

Of the entire repertoire of classical concert music, I doubt there is a symphony whose themes have been lifted, adjusted, and plagiarized more than Holst’s The Planets. When modern greats such as John Williams, Bill Conti, and Hans Zimmer base entire award-winning soundtracks on just one of its many leitmotifs, it speaks volumes about the original’s brilliance. While Dies Irae has been borrowed more frequently as a single theme, The Planets has contributed more themes to modern composition than perhaps any other work.  

Among popular programmatic music, The Planets holds its own against Smetana’s due Moldeau Beethoven’s Sixth, Prokofiev’s Peter and the Wolf, or anything by Strauss.  

This was our first time listening to the New Jersey Symphony outside of the New Jersey Performing Arts Center in Newark. The orchestra often brings its performances to different venues across the state, meeting the demand for high-quality concerts among a geographically dispersed population.  

This particular venue is closer to our home, offers more affordable parking, and remains in excellent condition since its construction in 2019. The bathrooms were spotless, fresh, and well-stocked. The auditorium seats, still firm and supportive, were a welcome comfort after a long day. While the hall’s design was simple, it was more than sufficient to project and carry the sound effectively to the audience.  

As we entered the theater, we were greeted by a massive screen illuminated with what appeared to be a high-end Ultra 8K+ projector. The program indicated that the evening’s performance would be accompanied by visual presentations of the planets and other thematic elements. Perhaps knowing that the Philadelphia Orchestra would be performing the same piece this weekend, they enhanced their program with these visuals.  

The concert opened with The Observatory, accompanied by images of the observatory in Southern California. While fine, the piece did not particularly stand out. The visuals were often busier than the music, creating a sense of disconnect.  

Xian Zhang consistently excels in drawing out the emotional best from her musicians, yet in this opening piece, they struggled to find rhythmic unity. The percussion section was noticeably off—not in a way that added to the piece’s intended chaos, but in a way that suggested the musicians needed to listen to each other more closely.  

The second piece was a complete shift in tone. Soloist Nancy Zhou delivered a flawless, clear, and deeply moving performance of The Lark Ascending. Frankly, I would have loved an entire concert featuring her incredible tone and precision. The accompanying visuals complemented the piece beautifully, and the orchestra played with the necessary restraint to let her shine. I was on my feet immediately, joined by other discerning members of the audience. Easily the listening highlight of the night.  

For the headline piece, The Planets, we were treated to breathtaking images from the Hubble and James Webb telescopes, and some digital renderings of the planets perfectly suited to each movement. The visuals definitely enhanced the piece. 

As we sat in the audience, the music swept us away, capturing both the majesty and moodiness of the Greek gods to whom many of the movements pay homage. The Planets is an easy piece to love, with its shifting tones and dramatic contrasts. The New Jersey Symphony played the Mars and Jupiter movements fantastically. 

During the other movements, nearly all of the symphony played very well. A couple musicians had a difficult time (one from the percussion section with rhythm and one in the brass was slightly flat). 

Xian Zhang conducted the right dynamics out of the orchestra and demonstrated significant patience with the audience who were still learning when to clap and how to silences their voices and cell phones. A courtesy this crowd likely needed as they seem inexperienced with professional concert music. 

Overall, they did Holst work justice—while not quite a performance for the history books, it was a thoroughly enjoyable evening at the theater.  

We really enjoyed the State Theatre New Jersey faculty and building, especially the seats which may be the best around.

Check out State Theatre New Jersey for a comfortable, classy yet casual date night or experience in the arts. Be sure to visit New Jersey Symphony’s website for the latest on all upcoming concerts.

^{*we were invited to facilitate a feature, all opinions are our own*}