BSO/Classical New England — 2020/08/08

This week WCRB takes us back to the Tanglewood concert of August, 3, 2018, which I previewed as follows at the time:

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:

UndersScore Friday ConcertTanglewood
Koussevitzky Music Shed - Lenox, MA - View MapPatrons 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.

(Some emphasis added.)
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.

Glinka, Rachmaninoff and Stravinsky with Kirill Gerstein

The last time the encore was an underscore, WCRB omitted the musician's introduction, so don't be too disappointed if you don't get to hear Robert Sheena at the beginning.

The Intelligencer gave a favorable review, with a minor complaint about balance at the beginning of the Rachmaninoff. The Globe doesn't seem to have reviewed it.

Enjoy.