BSO — 2021/10/23

 WCRB says:

Saturday, October 23, 2021
8:00 PM

Celebrating the composer's 90th birthday, Andris Nelsons leads the Boston Symphony Orchestra in Sofia Gubaidulina's The Light of the End, as well as Rachmaninoff’s powerfully dramatic Third Symphony, Saturday at 8pm.

Andris Nelsons, conductor

Sofia GUBAIDULINA The Light of the End
RACHMANINOFF Symphony No. 3

Hear and read Bernard Haitink's recollection of his first experiences with the BSO.

To hear a preview of Gubaidulina's The Light of the End with Andris Nelsons, click on the player above.

Transcript:

Brian McCreath [00:00:00] I'm Brian McCreath from WCRB, at Symphony Hall with Andris Nelsons. And this really amazing program of two pieces, Sofia Gubaidulina's The Light of the End and Rachmaninoff's Third Symphony. Andris, you're doing a lot of Gubaidulina in the coming year, and you've even recorded this piece, that'll be released this week with the Gewandhaus Orchestra. Tell me about what the qualities are that draw you to her music?

The rest of the transcript and the link to the audio of the interview are on the page.

The BSO says, on the performance detail page:

This all-Russian program led by Andris Nelsons opens with a BSO-commissioned piece by Sofia Gubaidulina, premiered by the orchestra under Kurt Masur’s direction in 2003. The work’s uniquely colorful harmonies and instrumental colors create its expressive drama. The title refers to the bright sound of antique cymbals at its conclusion. These performances celebrate Sofia Gubaidulina’s 90th birthday on October 24, 2021.
Rachmaninoff’s Symphony No. 3 dates from 1936, falling between the Paganini Rhapsody for piano and orchestra and Symphonic Dances. Like those works, the symphony is characterized by scintillating orchestration and Rachmaninoff’s noted gift for long-spun melody and compelling musical narrative.

There is a favorable review, with lots of description of the music — much more than of the playing — in the Intelligencer. The review in the Globe is mildly favorable as well.

I wasn't there on Thursday, so I have no specific impressions. I will say, based on what I read in the reviews, that I don't consider this "must listen" material. I'm a little bit curious to hear how the first piece goes. I'll probably miss the Rachmaninoff during the phone call from my brother in Tokyo, and I don't consider it a tragedy.

If you want to hear it but can't listen tonight, there are the opportunities to listen to it later which I mentioned last week.