Nayden Todorov, Principal Conductor
Liya Petrova, Violin
PROGRAM
Mozart, Overture to the Marriage of Figaro Opera
Mozart, Violin Concerto No. 4 in D Major
Mozart, Symphony No. 40 in G minor
In 1945 the Sofia Philharmonic Orchestra became the national orchestra of Bulgaria and has long established itself as one of the leading cultural institutions, representative of the overall contemporary musical culture of the country. The repertoire of the Sofia Philharmonic comprises works from the entire historically available range of music—from classical to contemporary opuses, including premiere performances of numerous works by Bulgarian composers. The orchestra has garnered substantial recognition all over the world. It has guest-performed with great success in the major musical centres across Europe, Asia, and North America, and has received acclaim even from the most demanding of audiences. The Sofia Philharmonic Orchestra was awarded many prestigious accolades including: “Musician of the Year,” “Golden Lyre,” “Golden Stave,” “Golden Quill,” “Crystal Lyre,” the Honorary Sign of Sofia, and the Honorary Sign of the President of Bulgaria. Maestro Nayden Todorov has been the general director of the Sofia Philharmonic since 2017.
Nayden Todorov studied orchestral conducting at the University of Music and Performing Arts in Vienna. In 1996 he made his U.S. debut and short after he was invited by the Israeli Leonard Bernstein Foundation to the Rubin Academy in Jerusalem, where he specialized under Mendi Rodan. In 1997 he founded the Thracian Summer Festival in Plovdiv. A year later, he received his first permanent international engagement in Haifa, Israel, with the North Israel Symphony Orchestra. From 2005-2017 Maestro Todorov was the director of the State Opera in Rousse. In 2006 he made his debut with the Berlin Symphony Orchestra and a year later he conducted the concerts of its tour to the largest cities in Japan. This was followed by debuts at the Tchaikovsky Hall in Moscow and at the Vienna Volksoper. In 2001 he made his debut with the Sofia Philharmonic Orchestra and was elected its director in 2017. Since 2018, as part of the educational policy of the Sofia Philharmonic, Todorov became the host of the classical music program of the Bulgarian National Television. In 2019, for his concerts with the Sofia Philharmonic, he was voted Musician of the Year for the second time by the listeners of the Bulgarian National Radio.
Liya Petrova is a First Prize Winner at the International Carl Nielsen Violin Competition 2016 in Denmark. She is praised for her “Effortless virtuosity” (The Strad) and “Exceptional tonal variety“ (Gramophone). She has won numerous prizes at international competitions including the Concours International de Violon Tibor Varga, the International Louis Spohr Competition, and the Vaclav Huml Competition, among others. As a soloist Petrova has performed with many renowned orchestras such as the Orchestre Philharmonique Luxembourg, the Filharmonie Antwerp, the Orchestre Philharmonique de Monte-Carlo, the Staatskapelle Weimar, the Kansai Philharmonic Orchestra, and others. Her first solo album with the Odense Symphony Orchestra under Kristiina Poska, including Nielsen and Prokofiev first Violin concerto for Orchid Classic Label (2018) brought her international critical acclaim.
A holiday mash-up for the whole family, The Hip Hop Nutcracker returns for another spectacular tour. Directed and choreographed by Tony and Olivier® Award-nominated Jennifer Weber, this contemporary dance spectacle is a re-mixed and re-imagined version of the classic, smashing hip hop dance and Tchaikovsky’s timeless music together into a heart-stirring and inspirational holiday event. The Hip Hop Nutcracker is brought to life by a powerhouse cast of a dozen all-star dancers, a DJ, a violinist, and an MC.
Two iconic singers perform their hits and celebrate America’s 250 birthday! Singer/songwriter Don McLean is best known for the classic hit “American Pie,” as well as “Vincent” and “Castles in the Air.” Country superstar Lee Greenwood has seven top charting singles, including “I.O.U,” “It Turns Me Inside Out,” and the patriotic favorite, “God Bless the U.S.A.”
Join us for a 35mm screening of 1955’s iconic film “Rebel Without a Cause” starring James Dean, Natalie Wood (Academy Award Nominee, Best Supporting Actress), and Sal Mineo (Academy Award Nominee, Best Supporting Actor).
Music and lyrics by Lisa Lambert and Greg Morrison
If you’re feeling all alone in the universe – or even if you’re not – Triangle’s newest musical comedy is for you! Join us as Triangle explores what it means to have friends in high – or should we say “sky”? – places. Extraterrestrial visitors, crazy conspiracy theories, and intergalactic shenanigans power this year’s annual laugh-fest of witty jokes, lavish production numbers, and, of course, Triangle’s famous kickline. Can interplanetary goodwill blossom in the dystopian desert of our current times? Get your Triangle tickets now and learn if Roswell That Ends Well!
Dunbar Repertory Company presents Ntozake Shange’s FOR COLORED GIRLS Who have Considered Suicide/When the Rainbow is Enuf, the groundbreaking “choreopoem” – a spellbinding collection of vivid prose and free verse narratives about and performed by Black women. Directed by Darrell Lawrence Willis, SR.
Singer-songwriter/pianist Bruce Hornsby and NJPAC Jazz Advisor/bassist Christian McBride will jam and chat on the intimate Victoria Theater stage, in celebration of Hornsby’s 2026 album, Indigo Park. The two artists share plenty in common: Musical adventurousness that transcends genre. Constant collaboration with the biggest names on the scene. And many well-earned GRAMMY® Awards between them. Pitchfork hails Hornsby as “a solitary spirit drifting through time, bringing people together and bringing out their best, finding the strange resolution in all the dissonance.”
Marvel at the abundance of New Jersey talent in this awe-inspiring annual performance. Students from high schools across the state will put their artistry and hard work on display in NJPAC’s grand Prudential Hall. Members of the 100-piece orchestra and 350-voice mixed chorus have been selected through a rigorous audition process and will be led by a professional conductor. As a longtime leader in youth arts education, NJPAC is proud to host these students. Come cheer them on!
Being over 40 and the only single person in your family is hard. Being over 40, single, and Indian? That’s a WhatsApp family chat emergency.
A meditative rock odyssey weaving reimagined contemporary songs, stream-of-consciousness poetry and live painting.
(PARAMUS, NJ) -- The Forte Piano Music Company presents a Piano Trio Concert - "Exquisite Contrasts" - Haydn & Schubert on Sunday, November 15, 2026 at 2:30pm. This program brings together two landmarks of the piano trio repertoire, revealing the evolution of the genre from the Classical era to early Romanticism.
(MAHWAH, NJ) -- Come to the Mahwah Museum on Sunday, November 15, 2026 for a discussion of a 29-year friendship, rare memorabilia, and the story behind Les Paul's home with Mahwah Mayor Jim Wysocki from his nearly three-decade friendship with legendary musician and inventor Les Paul. The event begins at 2:00pm.
(NEW BRUNSWICK, NJ) -- The Stress Factory Comedy Club presents Malik Elassal on Sunday, November 15, 2026 with performances at 7:00pm & 9:30pm. His stand-up comedy earned him a spot on Vulture's 2024 "Comedians You Should and Will Know" list.
(ATLANTIC CITY, NJ) -- You can get your holiday shopping done on Sunday, November 15, 2026 when Anchor Rock Club hosts the Atlantic City Punk Rock Flea Market - Holiday Edition. The event runs from noon to 6:00pm.
