(NEW BRUNSWICK, NJ) -- State Theatre New Jersey presents London’s Royal Philharmonic Orchestra (RPO) led by conductor Vasily Petrenko with cello soloist Kian Soltani on Sunday, January 30, 2022 at 3:00pm. Program includes Britten’s Peter Grimes: Four Sea Interludes; Shostakovich’s Cello Concerto No. 1 in C Minor, Op. 35 with cello soloist Kian Soltani; and Rachmaninoff’s Symphonic Dances. Tickets range from $17.50-$70.  

As the Royal Philharmonic Orchestra (RPO) celebrates its 75th anniversary, its mission to enrich lives through orchestral experiences that are uncompromising in their excellence and inclusive in their appeal, places the RPO at the forefront of music-making in the UK and internationally. Typically performing approximately 200 concerts each season and with a worldwide audience of more than half-a-million people, the Orchestra embraces a broad repertoire that enables it to reach the most diverse audience of any British symphony orchestra.  

The RPO collaborates with the most inspiring artists and was thrilled to welcome Vasily Petrenko as its new Music Director in August 2021. His appointment stands as a major landmark in the Orchestra’s history, signaling its determination to broaden the audience for orchestral music while enhancing its reputation as one of the world’s most versatile ensembles. Petrenko made his debut with the RPO at London’s Royal Albert Hall in March 2016 delivering a powerful interpretation of Mahler’s Symphony No.2, ‘Resurrection.’ His rapport with the Orchestra’s players has been reaffirmed with subsequent London performances, and forthcoming plans include a series of Mahler’s choral symphonies at the Royal Albert Hall, the great works of English composers at the Southbank Centre’s Royal Festival Hall, and tours to Germany and leading European festivals. Vasily Petrenko joins a roster of titled conductors that includes Pinchas Zukerman (Principal Guest Conductor), Alexander Shelley (Principal Associate Conductor), and Grzegorz Nowak (Permanent Associate Conductor). 

In addition to the Orchestra’s annual season of concerts in London’s Royal Albert Hall, Southbank Centre’s Royal Festival Hall and its home Cadogan Hall, the RPO is a respected cultural ambassador and enjoys a busy schedule of international touring, performing in the world’s great concerts halls and at prestigious international festivals.  

For tickets, more information, or group discounts, call State Theatre Guest Services at 732-246-SHOW (7469) or visit online at STNJ.org. State Theatre Guest Services, located at 15 Livingston Ave, New Brunswick NJ, is open by phone and email only, Tuesday through Friday from 11:00am to 5:00pm. For in-person purchases, Guest Services is open Tuesday through Friday from 12:00pm to 4:30pm. Additional ticket and transaction fees may apply.

About the Conductor: The 2021–2022 season marks the start of Vasily Petrenko’s tenures as Music Director of the Royal Philharmonic Orchestra and as Artistic Director of the State Academic Symphony Orchestra of Russia (where he held the position of Principal Guest Conductor from 2016–2021). He becomes Conductor Laureate of the Royal Liverpool Philharmonic Orchestra, following his hugely acclaimed 15 year tenure as their Chief Conductor from 2006–2021, and continues as Chief Conductor of the European Union Youth Orchestra. He has also served as Chief Conductor of the Oslo Philharmonic Orchestra, Principal Conductor of the National Youth Orchestra of Great Britain, and Principal Guest Conductor of St Petersburg’s Mikhailovsky Theatre, where he began his career as Resident Conductor (1994–1997).  

About the Soloist: Described by Gramophone as “sheer perfection,” cellist Kian Soltani’s playing is characterized by a depth of expression and technical mastery, alongside a charismatic stage presence, and ability to create an immediate emotional connection with his audience. Rave reviews and invitations to perform at the world's leading concert halls have propelled the 25-year-old musician from rising star to one of the most talked about cellists performing today. Kian Soltani made his international breakthrough at the age of 19 with acclaimed debuts in the Vienna Musikverein's Goldener Saal and at the Hohenems Schubertiade. 

In 2021/22 Soltani has been invited to make debuts with orchestras including the Accademia Nazionale di Santa Cecilia, Czech Philharmonic, ORF Vienna Radio, Orchestra della Svizzera Italiana, WDR, Barcelona, and Pittsburgh Symphony Orchestras. He will return to the London and Israel Philharmonic Orchestras, Vienna Symphony, Staatskapelle Berlin, and Tonhalle Zurich, amongst others. 

IMPORTANT COVID-19 SAFETY REQUIREMENTS: State Theatre has implemented important guidelines to protect the health of our guests, staff, artists, and crew. All patrons must follow these guidelines for entry into the theater. Visit STNJ.org/policies for full information. 

After major renovations, State Theatre New Jersey has reopened and celebrated its 100th Anniversary in December 2021 in a fully renovated theater including newly renovated lobbies, all new restrooms, upgraded HVAC systems, a new elevator for access to all levels, and brand-new theater seats. Originally built as a silent film and vaudeville palace, State Theatre’s historic significance was honored by PBS by featuring it in its documentary series, Treasures of New Jersey, in the fall of 2018. “Treasures of New Jersey: State Theatre New Jersey” can be streamed online. Today, State Theatre is the largest performing arts center in Central New Jersey and has welcomed more than six million people through its doors since reopening as a non-profit performing arts center in 1988. State Theatre New Jersey is a cornerstone of the cultural vitality of Middlesex County and averages a total economic impact on New Brunswick and the surrounding area of more than $18 million a year. The mainstage programs have featured high-caliber artists such as Diana Ross, Tony Bennett, Kevin Hart, Ringo Starr, Melissa Etheridge, John Leguizamo, Harry Connick, Jr., Diana Krall, and Crosby, Stills & Nash. Program offerings include Broadway, orchestra, family, dance, comedy, rock/pop, jazz, Performances for Schools, and Sensory-Friendly Performances. 

State Theatre New Jersey’s programs are made possible by funds from the New Jersey State Council on the Arts, a partner agency of the National Endowment for the Arts. Grant funding has been provided by the Middlesex County Board of County Commissioners through a grant award from the Middlesex County Cultural and Arts Trust Fund.