Friday, August 3, 2018. We begin with approximately five minutes of sheer delight: the Overture to "Ruslan and Ludmila" by Glinka. Then there's a piano concerto by Rachmaninoff. After intermission comes the complete score to Firebird by Stravinsky, which is not as jarring as "The Rite of Spring." The official explanation, along with links to further information, can be found on the performance detail page:
(Some emphasis added.)
Glinka, Rachmaninoff and Stravinsky with Kirill Gerstein
UndersScore Friday ConcertTanglewood
Koussevitzky Music Shed - Lenox, MA - View Map
Patrons will hear comments about the program directly from onstage BSO musician Robert Sheena (English horn).Koussevitzky Artist Kirill Gerstein joins BSO Associate Conductor Ken-David Masur and the BSO for Rachmaninoff's Piano Concerto No. 2, a prime example of the composer's Russian-tinged Romanticism. The program begins with Glinka's infectiously energetic Overture to Ruslan and Ludmila, the second of his two operas. After intermission, Mr. Masur leads the orchestra in a performance of the complete music from Stravinsky's ballet The Firebird, a scintillating score that proved to be the composer's breakout success when the ballet opened in Paris in 1910.
It will be interesting to hear how Robert Sheena handles the introducer's duties at the beginning. At any rate, for me the best part of the concert comes at the beginning. I'll listen to the rest while watching the Red Sox.
Saturday, August 4, 2018. Check out the performance detail page for links to further resources (including performer bios when you click the thumbnail pics). It gives the folloeing synopsis of this evening's progrsam:
(Some emphasis added.)
Bramwell Tovey conducts Bernstein and SibeliusTanglewood
Koussevitzky Music Shed - Lenox, MA - View Map
British conductor Bramwell Tovey leads the BSO in a program that pays tribute to Bernstein as both conductor and composer. First, the orchestra is joined by a cast of outstanding singers-soprano Nadine Sierra, mezzo-soprano Isabel Leonard, mezzo-soprano Kelley O'Connor, tenor Nicholas Phan, baritone Elliot Madore, and bass Eric Owens- for Bernstein's celebratory orchestral song cycle Songfest, composed for the American Bicentennial in 1976. Then, Mr. Tovey leads the BSO in Sibelius's sweeping Symphony No. 2, a staple of Bernstein's conducting repertory.
I've never heard the "Songfest," so I don't know how it will be. The Sibelius is music I like. Unfortunately, it will be played during my brother's weekly call from Japan, but you can enjoy it.
Sunday, August 5, 2018. Apparently the staff ran out of time: the synopsis on the program detail page has a typo and is, as Joe Friday would say, "just the facts," and there are no audio previews for two of the three pieces. Here's what they say:
(Some emphasis added.)
Dima Slobodeniouk conducts Borodin, Wieniawski and Prokofiev featuring Joshua BellTanglewood
Koussevitzky Music Shed - Lenox, MA - View Map
Conductor Dima Slobodeniouk makes his BSO debut Sunday, August 5, leading the orchestra in Borodin's Poloytsian [sic] Dances, Wieniawski's Violin Concerto No. 2, featuring Joshua Bell, and Prokofiev's Symphony No. 5.
The Borodin has long been a staple of the classical radio playlists, so I guess it's pretty popular, but it's not one of my favorites. On the other hand, I have no recollection of the other two pieces, although I may have heard the Prokofiev before. After reading the program note for the Wieniawski, I'm definitely looking forward to hearing it. I'm sure Joshua Bell will give a great performance. The BSO debut of the conductor adds interest to the concert.
In summary, there is music I definitely want to hear, and music I don't care about, but nothing I'm planning to avoid altogether. Hear it all through the on line and on air facilities of WCRB — Friday and Saturday live at 8:00 p.m. RDST, and Sunday via tape delay at 7:00 p.m. Also note all their other offerings, as linked on their webpage.
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