BSO — 2021/11/13

 This evening's BSO concert is well worth hearing. I was there on Thursday and really enjoyed it. Here's the synopsis from WCRB:

Saturday, November 13, 2021
8:00 PM

BSO Principal Clarinetist William R. Hudgins is the soloist in Mozart’s timeless Clarinet Concerto, and Roderick Cox leads the Boston Symphony Orchestra in Mendelssohn's "Scottish" Symphony, tonight at 8pm.

Roderick Cox, conductor
William R. Hudgins, clarinet

MOZART Clarinet Concerto
MENDELSSOHN Symphony No. 3, Scottish

To hear a preview with Roderick Cox, including his approach to Mendelssohn's "Scottish" Symphony and the career trajectory that led to his BSO debut, click on the player above, and read the transcript below.

Hear BSO Principal Clarinetist William R. Hudgins describe what makes Mozart's Clarinet Concerto timeless, as well as his earliest experiences of playing in the Boston Symphony: 

bso211113-hudgins-edit.mp3

Transcript of Roderick Cox interview:

Brian McCreath I'm Brian McCreath at Symphony Hall with Roderick Cox, who's here with the Boston Symphony for the very first time

Don't miss the interview with Roderick Cox. You don't expect Otis Redding, much less college drinking games, to come up in something like this. I read the transcript, but I'm sure the audio would be good to hear as well.

The BSO gives a bit more background on their page (not sure what to call it now):

American conductor Roderick Cox, makes his BSO debut leading BSO Principal Clarinet William Hudgins in Mozart’s beloved Clarinet Concerto. One of the composer’s last major works, it was written for his clarinetist friend Anton Stadler, perhaps the greatest master of the instrument of his time. Felix Mendelssohn’s always fresh Symphony No. 3, Scottish, was inspired by a long trip to the British Isles in his early twenties, but it wasn’t until more than a decade later that he finally completed this dramatic but classically balanced symphony.

That page also has links to performer bios and the program notes. As noted there, Ton Koopman was originally scheduled to conduct, but travel restrictions forced him to cancel, and they were able to get Roderick Cox to step in and make his debut with the BSO.

At Thursday's performance it was clear that he knew what he wanted from the orchestra, especially in the Mendelssohn: he wasn't just setting the tempo. He was communicating the dynamics (often seeming to remind them not to get too loud) as well. To me, it seemed to be an auspicious debut.

The review in the Globe was favorable. The one in the Intelligencer also says that Maestro Cox should be brought back for more appearances.

What more do I need to say? I enjoyed it, and I think you will too, if you listen tonight at 8:00 (and/or Monday, Nov. 22, or "on demand" when available).