CONDUCTING THE CLASSICS: András Keller leads the Concerto Budapest Symphony Orchestra as part of State Theatre New Jersey’s upcoming concert series.

State Theatre New Jersey will present three international orchestras in its classical series this season. Included are the Concerto Budapest Symphony Orchestra on January 14, Lviv National Philharmonic Orchestra of Ukraine on February 17, and Daniel Hope – Zurich Chamber Orchestra on March 21. Tickets for all three concerts are on sale now.

The Concerto Budapest Symphony Orchestra is one of Hungary’s oldest musical ensembles. Young Hungarian pianist Zoltán Fejérvári joins the orchestra as the soloist for Brahms’s Piano Concerto No. 1 in D minor. Conducted by András Keller, the Concerto Budapest’s program also features Dvorák’s New World Symphony.

On February 17, the Lviv National Philharmonic Orchestra of Ukraine will appear. Founded in 1902, it is one of the nation’s largest and most internationally renowned ensembles. The program includes a chamber symphony by Ukrainian composer Yevhen Stankovych; Grieg’s Piano Concerto in A minor with Ukrainian-American piano soloist, Stanislav Khristenko; and Beethoven’s Symphony No. 7 in A Major.

The final orchestra in the Classical Series on March 21 is the 76-year-old Zurich Chamber Orchestra (ZCO), led by music director and violinist Daniel Hope. A protégé of violinist/conductor Yehudi Menuhin, Hope is the first instrumentalist to be named music director of the acclaimed ZCO. Conducting from the violin, Hope leads the orchestra in a program featuring Ralph Vaughan Williams’ The Lark Ascending as well as Elgar’s Introduction and Allegro and Mendelssohn’s D minor violin concerto.

State Theatre New Jersey is located at 15 Livingston Avenue in New Brunswick. Visit Stnj.org for tickets.