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By Mabel Pais
“What the New Jersey Symphony has established, bringing music to the Garden State in schools and in six different cities, is a sincere accomplishment. And it’s never been better.” – nj.com
Ludwig van BEETHOVEN’s iconic Fifth Symphony will be performed on February 26, 27 and March 1, 2026 and his equally popular Symphony No. 6, “Pastoral” will have performances on March 27, 28, and 29, 2026 at locations in New Jersey (see details below).
Beethoven composed these symphonies in tandem, and both premiered at the same concert in 1808. An enduring example of the composer’s ingenuity and range of musical styles: the Fifth is legendary for its drama, while the Sixth presents a softer side of his music, an ode to life in the countryside.
Markus Stenz returns to take the podium for Beethoven’s Fifth Symphony paired with Richard Wagner’s Prelude to Act I of ‘Lohengrin.’ Audiences will also hear Kevin Puts’ GRAMMY Award-winning concerto, ‘Contact,’ composed for the genre-defying string trio, Time For Three.
PROGRAM – BEETHOVEN’S FIFTH SYMPHONY
Time For Three Plays ‘Contact’
Markus Stenz conductor
Time For Three guest artists
Ranaan Meyer double bass
Nick Kendall violin
Charles Yang violin
New Jersey Symphony
Richard Wagner Prelude to Act I of ‘Lohengrin’
Kevin Puts ‘Contact’
Ludwig van Beethoven Symphony No. 5
MPAC, Morristown – Thursday, Feb 26 @ 7 pm
NJPAC, Newark – Friday, Feb 27 @ 7:30pm | Sunday – Mar 1 @ 2 pm
NEXT GEN HAPPY HOUR
Prior to the Friday, February 27 performance, the New Jersey Symphony Next Gen program will host a happy hour event at Newark Local Beer at 5:30 pm. The Next Gen program is a membership program for young music enthusiasts between the ages of 21 and 40 to network with other passionate music lovers from across the state. For more information, visit njsymphony.org/nextgen.
Classical Conversation
Friday, February 27, at 6:30 pm and Sunday, March 1, at 1 pm at NJPAC in Newark
Enjoy a lively Classical Conversation before the performance. Learn more about the music from New Jersey Symphony musicians, guest artists and other engaging insiders. Free for all ticketholders!
Access the Event page @ https://njsymphony.org/events/detail/beethovens-fifth-symphony-2026
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BEETHOVEN’S “PASTORAL” SYMPHONY
Discover the storytelling power of classical music!
Beethoven’s “Pastoral” Symphony was one of his only works that depicts very specific scenes and storylines, which NJ Symphony will dive into measure by measure in this concert.
PROGRAM – BEETHOVEN’S “PASTORAL” SYMPHONY
Xian Zhang conductor
Juan Esteban Martinez clarinet
New Jersey Symphony
Wolfgang Amadeus Mozart Divertimento in D Major, K. 136
Wolfgang Amadeus Mozart Clarinet Concerto
Ludwig van Beethoven Symphony No. 6, “Pastoral”
Newark – Friday, Mar 27, 7:30 pm* | Saturday, Mar 28, 7:30 pm
Morristown – Sunday, Mar 29, 2 pm
*Special Concert-Opening Performance
The March 27 concert at NJPAC opens with a special performance by the New Jersey Symphony Youth Orchestra’s Academy Orchestra.
Classical Conversation
Saturday, March 28, at 6:30 pm at NJPAC in Newark and Sunday, March 29, at 1 pm at Mayo Performing Arts Center in Morristown
Enjoy a lively Classical Conversation before the performance. Learn more about the music from New Jersey Symphony musicians, guest artists and other engaging insiders. Free for all ticketholders!
Access the Event Page @ https://njsymphony.org/events/detail/beethovens-pastoral-symphony
TICKETS
Tickets available at njsymphony.org • 1.800.ALLEGRO (255.3476).
Artist Bios
Markus Stenz (markusstenz.com)
Markus Stenz has held several high-profile positions including Principal Conductor of the Netherlands Radio Philharmonic Orchestra, Principal Guest of the Baltimore Symphony Orchestra and most recently Conductor-In-Residence of the Seoul Philharmonic Orchestra. He was General Music Director of the City of Cologne and Gürzenich-Kapellmeister for 11 years, conducting Mozart’s ‘Don Giovanni,’ Wagner’s ‘Ring’ cycle, ‘Lohengrin,’ ‘Tannhäuser,’ and ‘Die Meistersinger von Nürnberg,’ as well as Janáček’s Jenůfa and Katya Kábanová and Eötvös’ ‘Love and other Demons.’ Learn more at https://markusstenz.com.
Time For Three (TF3)
GRAMMY and Emmy-winning ensemble, Time For Three (TF3), defies convention and boundaries by showcasing excellence across different genres, including classical music, Americana, and singer-songwriter. Their unique sound captivates audiences, immersing them in a musical experience that merges various eras, styles, and traditions of Western music. TF3, consisting of Charles Yang (violin, vocals), Nicolas “Nick” Kendall (violin, vocals), and Ranaan Meyer (double bass, vocals), combines their instruments and voices in a remarkable sound, establishing a distinct voice of expression that resonates with listeners worldwide.
TF3’s longstanding history of collaboration with contemporary classical composers continues to thrive. They have worked closely with esteemed artists such as Chris Brubeck and Pulitzer Prize winners William Bolcom and Jennifer Higdon. Their most recent commission, ‘Contact,’ composed by Pulitzer Prize winner Kevin Puts, premiered with the San Francisco Symphony and The Philadelphia Orchestra in the summer of 2022. This extraordinary piece, alongside Jennifer Higdon’s Concerto 4-3, was released on Deutsche Grammophon under the album title, ‘Letters for the Future.’ Conducted by Xian Zhang, the album’s exceptional quality propelled it onto the Billboard top 10 Classical Recordings charts. Additionally, it garnered a nomination for an Opus Klassik award and received a GRAMMY win in the Best Classical Instrumental Solo category. Learn more @ https://tf3.com.
Xian Zhang
2025-26 marks the GRAMMY and Emmy Award-winning conductor Xian Zhang’s 10th season as Music Director of New Jersey Symphony, and her inaugural season as the Music Director of Seattle Symphony with whom she has been a long-term collaborator since her debut in 2008. Zhang has also been appointed Principal Guest Conductor of the NCPA Orchestra in Beijing, beginning this season. Following her tenure as Music Director of Orchestra Sinfonica di Milano between 2009–16, she continues as their Conductor Emeritus.
2025-26 highlights include returns to Philadelphia Orchestra, New York Philharmonic, St. Louis Symphony, and National Arts Centre Ottawa. In Europe, she returns to Netherlands Radio Philharmonic with a performance at the Amsterdam Concertgebouw and makes her debut at Finnish National Opera conducting Tosca. This follows her huge success at The Metropolitan Opera in New York, where she recently conducted Madama Butterfly and Tosca to great acclaim. Read full bio @ https://njsymphony.org/musicians-orchestra/musical-leadership/xian-zhang.
Juan Esteban Martinez
A native of Colombia, Juan Esteban Martinez moved to the Dominican Republic at a young age, where he began to play the clarinet. He is a graduate of the Yale School of Music and the Peabody Conservatory of Music. In 2022, he was the first prize winner of Sphinx Orchestral Partners Auditions (SOPA) Excerpt Competition. Juan has appeared as a soloist numerous times with the National Symphony Orchestra of the Dominican Republic, making his official debut at the age of 15 performing Rossini’s Introduction, Theme and Variations in a traditional concert that was live streamed on national television. He has been a featured soloist with the Caldas Symphony Orchestra in Colombia and the Coeur d’ Alene Symphony. In 2019, he was selected by concert pianist Gabriela Montero to form the Gabriela Montero Ensemble, a group that went on to perform a program of Montero’s original compositions at the prestigious Victoria Hall in Geneva, Switzerland. Read his full bio @ https://njsymphony.org/musicians/detail/juan-esteban-martinez.
New Jersey Symphony
New Jersey Symphony is a GRAMMY and Emmy Award-winning orchestra. Under the direction of Music Director Xian Zhang, the Symphony performs more than 55 mainstage concerts across the state at venues in Newark, Princeton, New Brunswick, Red Bank, and Morristown, as well as at schools and public spaces statewide. Programming at the Symphony reflects an unwavering commitment to diverse communities throughout the state, while providing students unparalleled opportunities to achieve musical excellence through its Youth Orchestra and other education programs. In 2024, the Symphony announced it would continue to deliver its statewide activities from a new, permanent office, rehearsal, and concert space in Jersey City, set to open in 2027. For more information about New Jersey Symphony, visit the website at njsymphony.org.
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Mabel Pais writes on The Arts and Entertainment, Spirituality, Social Issues, Education, Business, Health and Wellness, and Cuisine.
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