BSO — 2019/05/03

The final concerts of the BSO Symphony Hall season include the world premiere performances of a violin concerto and two familiar works from over a century ago. The orchestra's program detail page has the usual links to background information. Here's how it synopsizes the program:

The Latvian violinist Baiba Skride joins her compatriot Andris Nelsons and the BSO for the world premiere of Grawemeyer Award-winning composer Sebastian Currier's Aether for violin and orchestra, a work co-commissioned by the BSO and the Gewandhaus Orchestra of Leipzig. Two unpredictable musical rogues bookend the new work: Till Eulenspiegel, who in Strauss's tone poem thumbs his nose at the establishment, rides his horse through a market, and comes to no good end; and Stravinsky's puppet-come-to-life Petrushka, whose attempts to win the admiration of a ballerina come to naught. In his second full ballet score for the Ballets Russes, two years before The Rite of Spring, Stravinsky's astonishing musical depictions of a Russian Shrovetide fair further cemented the reputation of the young composer of The Firebird.

(Some emphasis added.)

I was there on Thursday and overall I'd say the concert was okay. The bombast of the Strauss and Stravinsky made the Currier concerto seem tame. Actually, I'd say it was tame, except during the second movement. I was very pleased to hear a brand new piece that was so pleasant, and I'm looking forward to hearing it on the radio. I've thought of "Petrushka" as more musical and easier to take than "Rite of Spring," and I still think so. But listening to it on Thursday, I realized that it definitely sounds like the work of the same man who composed "Rite of Spring" — jagged and cacophonous amid the melodies. "Till Eulenspiegel" also felt more gruff and harsh than merry. In summary, I'd rather hear "Aether" than "Till" or "Petrushka."

The reviews were favorable for all pieces. The one in the Globe hoped "Aether" would be programmed again, and the one in the Musical Intelligencer called for it to be recorded.

I recommend listening to the concert on WCRB at 8:00 p.m on Saturday, May 3, and a repeat broadcast/webstream Monday, May 13, also at 8:00. If you click on the headline about the world premiere, you can hear an interview with Sebastian Currier.

The BSO will open their Tanglewood season on Friday, July 5, and close it on Sunday, August 25. During that period, there will be three concerts broadcast and streamed every weekend, as in past years. On the remaining weekends of May and during June, WCRB will fill the Saturday evening time slot with "encore performances" from the season just ending (and possibly a Pops concert — I haven't found the complete schedule for these weekends).

Enjoy!