BSO Conductor Emeritus Bernard Haitink leads the final series of the 2017-18 season, an all-Brahms program featuring beloved pianist Emanuel Ax in the composer's monumental Piano Concerto No. 2. The turbulent First, the Second Concerto is a magisterial, far-ranging work of symphonic proportions, in four movements rather than a typical concerto's three. Brahms's Symphony No. 2 was composed relatively quickly in 1877, following his extended, years-long effort to complete the long-awaited First. The lilting Second Symphony is generally regarded as the most genial and relaxed of Brahms's four great works in the genre.(Emphasis added.)
The reviews in the Globe and the Intelligencer note that Maestro Haitink is not scheduled to conduct at Symphony Hall next season, and, given his age, it is at least possible that this will prove to be his final concert with the orchestra. That alone is a reason to listen. Beyond that, the concerts this week are the first in which new principal cellist Blaise Déjardin takes his chair at the head of the celli — with a prominent solo in the piano concerto. Both reviews speak highly of the work of all concerned, so this is a concert not to be missed.
WCRB will bring it to you live this evening on air and on line at 8:00 Boston Time (EDST). Even though Brahms is far from my favorite composer, I'm planning to be listenng to this rather than the Red Sox game.
This is the final concert of the subscription season, with Spring Pops taking over Symphony Hall. I haven't looked to see what WCRB will present in the Saturday evening time slot between now and the beginning of the Tanglewood season, but I expect "encore broadcasts." Monday, May 7, will bring the usual encore broadcast of last week's concert of Brahms and Prokofiev; and today's concert will be rebroadcast on May 14 — both at 8:00 p.m.
Enjoy!
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