New Jersey Symphony is giving gifts all Spring with new dance, new compositions, expert soloists and one of my favorites, playing a soundtrack LIVE with a favorite movie! The weekend of April 9 – 13, we were regaled with the beauty of live musicians playing “The Force Awakens” – yes! When we first meet Rey, Finn and Poe Dameron and under JJ Abrams at the helm, it was an even more thrilling experience with NJ Symphony!

Constantine Kitsopoulos expertly conducted with all the thrills of adventure, intergalactic derring-do and the winsome beauty saving herself! While there were some first-timers in the audience, this was full-on participation for fans. Yup, this means, audience participation - cheering, collective intake of breath and applause at the best of the best. It felt like a group experience even though most of us had never met. Seeing so many of our favorites when they were the ages many of us lifelong fans are now was bittersweet. And how amazing to enjoy Carrie Fisher’s work once again.

While the initial roll-up of what’s happening in the galaxy in the beginning is familiar, I had forgotten the nuances in performances. The moments when Han Solo and Rey are assessing one another, and he feels that frisson that he felt when encountering Luke. Though we know that the only thing relating Luke and Rey is the Force, thus the Force unites us all.

Next up is NJ Symphony joining forces with the music of Led Zeppelin! This is the very model of the modern major Symphony – join us in early May www.njsymphony.org.