BSO/Classical New England — 202

 With the Tanglewood season over and the first Saturday evening concert of the Symphony Hall season scheduled for September 28, WCRB has four evenings to fill. Tonight andthe following two weeks they'll give us "encore broadcasts from last season at Symphony Hall, all with artists making their debuts with the orchestra. I don't know what they're planning for September 21.

Here's what they're telling us about this evening's show:

Saturday, August 31, 2024

8:00pm

In an encore broadcast, Joana Mallwitz conducts Kodály’s "Dances of  Galánta" and Schubert's Symphony No. 9. Anna Vinnitskaya, also in her BSO debut, is the soloist in Tchaikovsky’s beloved Piano Concerto No. 1.

Joana Mallwitz, conductor
Anna Vinnitskaya, piano

Zoltán KODÁLY Dances of Galánta 
Pyotr Ilyich TCHAIKOVSKY Piano Concerto No. 1
Franz SCHUBERT Symphony No. 9 in C, "Great"

This concert was originally broadcast on November 4, 2023, and is no longer available on demand.

In an interview with CRB's Brian McCreath, conductor Joana Mallwitz previews the program, reveals which piece of music sparked her desire to be a conductor, and talks about her new position as Chief Conductor of the Konzerthaus Orchestra of Berlin. To listen, use the player above and follow along with the transcript below.

TRANSCRIPT:

Brian McCreath I'm Brian McCreath from WCRB at Symphony Hall with Joana Mallwitz here in Boston for the Boston Symphony for the very first time.

As you see, there is an interview with the conductor, which you can access if you go to the WCRB page. I found it interesting.

The BSO's performance detail page for the concert is still available from last November with all the usual links, which can be useful. There we read:

Boston Symphony Orchestra

Symphony Hall, Boston, MA 

Joana Mallwitz, conductor
Anna Vinnitskaya, piano

KODÁLY Dances of Galánta 
TCHAIKOVSKY Piano Concerto No. 1
Intermission 
SCHUBERT Symphony in C, The Great

German conductor Joana Mallwitz and Russian pianist Anna Vinnitskaya, both in their BSO debuts, perform Pyotr Ilyich Tchaikovsky’s beloved and epic Piano Concerto No. 1, which originally premiered in Boston. The orchestra opens with the lively Dances of Galánta (1933) by Hungarian composer Zoltán Kodály, which combines traditional folk melodies from the composer’s home region with a symphonic context. In closing, Schubert’s towering Symphony in C, The Great, written near the end of his life and premiered a decade after his death by none other than Felix Mendelssohn.

I neglected to write asbout the original performance, but the reviews are also available. The Globe reviewer liked everything. The Musical Intelligencer gives us a review of the Saturday performance as well as the usual one of the preceding Thursday's performance.

This is all pretty standard and popular music, but the reviews indicate that the playing and conducting were special. It should be enjoyable to hear.

Tanglewood — 2024/08/24-25

 Regrettably, I failed to alert you to the Friday evening Tanglewood concert. It began with the Chopin Piano Concerto No. 1, and concluded with Elgar's Enigma Variations. To my taste it may have been the best concert of the weekend. My Dad bought a record of the Chopin (Eduard Kilenyi as soloist), and I always liked it, especially the third movement; and the Enigma is enjoyable. I hope you found it on your own. If not it should become available "on demand" fairly soon.

This the the final week of BSO at Tanglewood. Here's what's still to come.

 I don't fiind anything on WCRB's website about this evening's concert. here's what the BSO says on their performance detail page:

Boston Symphony Orchestra 
Karina Canellakis, conductor 
James Ehnes, violin
Tanglewood Festival Chorus 
 James Burton, conductor

BEETHOVEN The Creatures of Prometheus Overture 
BRAHMS Schicksalslied
-Intermission-
CHAUSSON Poème, for violin and orchestra 
RAVEL Tzigane, for violin and orchestra
RAVEL Daphnis et Chloé, Suite No. 2

Tonight’s concert is generously supported by Rabbi Daniel Freelander and Rabbi Elyse Frishman, in memory of their daughter Devra Freelander.

This evening's performance by the Tanglewood Festival Chorus is supported by the Alan J. and Suzanne W. Dworsky Fund for Voice and Chorus.

Unfortunately, Leonidas Kavakos has had to withdraw from this performance due to a shoulder injury sustained earlier this month, from which a full and complete recovery is anticipated. We are very fortunate that James Ehnes is able to step in on short notice. The program remains unchanged. 

Sat, Aug 24, 2024, 8:00pm EDT

Correction: With another approach, I was able to find the following from WCRB:

Saturday, August 24 , 2024
8:00 PM

Conductor Karina Canellakis returns to Tanglewood to lead the BSO and the Tanglewood Festival Chorus in rhapsodic music by Brahms and Ravel, and violinist James Ehnes is the soloist in Chausson’s “Poème” and Ravel’s “Tzigane.”

Boston Symphony Orchestra
Karina Canellakis, conductor
James Ehnes, violin
Tanglewood Festival Chorus,
James Burton, conductor

Ludwig van BEETHOVEN Overture to The Creatures of Prometheus
Johannes BRAHMS Schiksalslied
Ernest CHAUSSON Poème
Maurice RAVEL Tzigane
RAVEL Daphnis et Chloé, Suite No. 2

If you want to know more about any of those pieces, check out the program notes at the BSO site. IMO none of this is exactly must listen music, but nothing unpleasant either.

The season finale has included the Beethoven 9th for a number of years. This year we get apiece by Bruckner to open the concert. WCRB specifies:

Sunday, August 25, 2024
7:00 PM

In a time-honored Tanglewood tradition, soloists Ambur Braid, Jess Dandy, Elgan Llŷr Thomas, and Davóne Tines join the Boston Symphony Orchestra and the Tanglewood Festival Chorus in Beethoven’s Ninth Symphony and its “Ode to Joy,” conducted by Ludovic Morlot. The concert opens with a sacred motet by Bruckner, titled “Behold a great priest.”

Boston Symphony Orchestra
Ludovic Morlot, conductor
Ambur Braid, soprano
Jess Dandy, contralto
Elgan Llŷr Thomas, tenor
Davóne Tines, bass
Tanglewood Festival Chorus
James Burton, conductor

Anton BRUCKNER Ecce sacerdos magnus
Ludwig van BEETHOVEN Symphony No. 9

Again, the BSO performance detail page offers more information, including links to program notes:

Boston Symphony Orchestra
Ludovic Morlot, conductor (Beethoven)
James Burton, conductor (Bruckner)
Ambur Braid, soprano 
Jess Dandy, contralto 
Elgan Llŷr Thomas, tenor
Davone Tines, bass-baritone
Tanglewood Festival Chorus

BRUCKNER Ecce sacerdos magnus
BEETHOVEN Symphony No. 9

This evening's performance by the Tanglewood Festival Chorus is supported by the Alan J. and Suzanne W. Dworsky Fund for Voice and Chorus.

Regrettably, Hannu Lintu has canceled his Tanglewood appearances, after recently sustaining a leg injury. We are grateful that Ludovic Morlot is available at short notice to conduct the BSO’s performance of Beethoven’s Symphony No. 9.

Sun, Aug 25, 2024

When I was a boy, "Ecce sacerdos magnus (Behold a high priest" was used to accompany the entrance of a bishop into a church and as the opening chant of a Mass honoring a saint who was a bishop. It's unfortunate that the program note doesn't give the text, but this article gives it. Here's a wki article about the piece. It should be interesting. I presume all are at least generally aware of the Beethoven.

As the Tanglewood season ends, there's still good listening this weekend.

Tanglewood — 2024/08/17-18

 I'm sorry I didn't post yesterday I was distracted by the Red Sox game. I hope you thought about Tanglewood without my prompt. If you listened, you heard the Prokofiev Violin Concerto and Tchaikovsky's Fifth Symphony, which should have been enjoyable. This evening at Tanglewood, they're giving "Jurassic Park in Concert." WCRB will rescue us from that with an "encore broadcast" from last summer. Here's their summary:

Saturday, August 17, 2024
8:00 PM

In an encore broadcast, Dutch pianists Lucas and Arthur Jussen are the soloists in Mendelssohn’s Concerto in E minor, and Kazuki Yamada leads the BSO in the Symphonie fantastique by Berlioz.

Kazuki Yamada, conductor
Lucas and Arthur Jussen, pianos

Felix MENDELSSOHN Concerto in E for two pianos and orchestra
Hector BERLIOZ Symphonie fantastique

This concert was originally broadcast on August 6, 2023 and is no longer available on demand.

An "excellent choice," as some waiters seem to say regardless of what you ordered. I'd certainly rather hear this than Jurassic Park. Your opinion may differ.

The BSO's performance detail page no longer has the program notes for the concert, but the performer bios are still linked and could be interesting reading.

The Sunday concert looks quite good as well. Here's what WCRB says:

Sunday, August 18, 2024
7:00 PM

In a Boston Symphony concert from Tanglewood, Yo-Yo Ma is the soloist in Robert Schumann’s Cello Concerto, and BSO Assistant Conductor Earl Lee leads the orchestra in Carlos Simon’s “Fate Now Conquers” and Beethoven's Symphony No. 7.

Boston Symphony Orchestra
Earl Lee, conductor
Yo-Yo Ma, cello

Carlos SIMON Fate Now Conquers
Robert SCHUMANN Cello Concerto
Ludwig van BEETHOVEN Symphony No. 7

To hear a preview of the concert and Earl Lee's reflections on his two years as a BSO Assistant Conductor, use the player above, and read the transcript below:

TRANSCRIPT:

Brian McCreath I'm Brian McCreath at the Koussevitzky Music Shed with Earl Lee, here for his last concert as Assistant Conductor with the Boston Symphony. Earl, thank you for a little bit of your time today

As you see, there's an interview with the conductor which you can read or listen to. I read it, and it's pretty interesting. Hearing might be even better because you can hear what he sings at one point.

The orchestra's performance detail page gives the same basic information along with links to performer bios and program notes:

Tanglewood

Koussevitzky Music Shed, Lenox/Stockbridge, MA 

Boston Symphony Orchestra
Earl Lee, conductor
Yo-Yo Ma, cello

Carlos SIMON Fate Now Conquers
SCHUMANN Cello Concerto
-Intermission-
BEETHOVEN Symphony No. 7

This afternoon’s concert is generously supported by Dr. Dorothy A. Weber, in memory of Stephen R. Weber.

This afternoon's performance by Yo-Yo Ma is generously supported by Nancy and Jay Nichols.

The program note for "Fate Now Conquers " is particularly informative. I'm looking forward to hearing it. Of course the rest of the concert is very popular repertory.

So there are two good concerts in store. Enjoy.

Tanglewood — 2024/08/09-11

 We can hear three more concerts from Tanglewood this weekend.

First let's see WCRB's summary of tonight's:

Friday, August 9, 2024
8:00 PM

Kirill Gerstein is the soloist in Rachmaninoff’s passionate and technically daunting Piano Concerto No. 3, and Alan Gilbert leads the Boston Symphony Orchestra in Stravinsky’s exhilarating - and timeless - The Rite of Spring.

Boston Symphony Orchestra
Alan Gilbert, conductor
Kirill Gerstein, piano

Sergei RACHMANINOFF Piano Concerto No. 3
Igor STRAVINSKY The Rite of Spring

Learn about Kirill Gerstein's recent release, Music in Time of War.

For further information we turn to the BSO performance detail page:

Tanglewood

Koussevitzky Music Shed, Lenox/Stockbridge, MA 

Boston Symphony Orchestra 
Alan Gilbert, conductor 
Kirill Gerstein, piano

RACHMANINOFF Piano Concerto No. 3
-Intermission-
STRAVINSKY The Rite of Spring

Fri, Aug 9, 2024, 8:00pm EDT

Although they don't give the usual blurb, the program notes and performer bios are linked.

I think I'll listen to the Red Sox game instead. I'm not really interested in hearing the Rachmaninoff again, and I find the Stravinsky unenjoyable the story as well as the "music." But maybe you're not familiar with them. If so, by all means give a liusten and see what you think. And of course my opinion doesn't matter if you already have your own.

Saturday pairs Stavinsky with Sibelius. Per WCRB:

Saturday, August 10 , 2024
8:00 PM

In her Boston Symphony debut, conductor Dalia Stasevska leads a program that includes Sibelius’s Canzonetta and Symphony No. 5, as well as Stravinsky’s Violin Concerto, with soloist Leila Josefowicz.

Boston Symphony Orchestra
Dalia Stasevska, conductor
Leila Josefowicz, violin

Jean SIBELIUS (arr. STRAVINKSY) Canzonetta
Igor STRAVINSKY Violin Concerto
SIBELIUS Symphony No. 5

Here's what the BSO gives us:

Tanglewood

Koussevitzky Music Shed, Lenox/Stockbridge, MA 

Boston Symphony Orchestra 
Dalia Stasevska, conductor 
Leila Josefowicz, violin

SIBELIUS (arr. STRAVINSKY) Canzonetta 
STRAVINSKY Violin Concerto 
-Intermission-
SIBELIUS Symphony No. 5

Dalia Stasevska’s performance is supported in part by the Finlandia Foundation National.

Sat, Aug 10, 2024, 8:00pm EDT

I'm definitely looking forward to hearing the Sibelius symphony. Sibelius and Stravinsky lived at the same time, but Sibelius' music is much more taditional. I dont know the Canzonetta and it will be interestin to hear what it'slike in the hands of Stravinsky. The program note about the violin concerto has me interested to hear it; and of course I'm looking forward to the Sibelius symphony.

Here's WCRB's synopsis of the Sunday concert:

Sunday, August 11, 2024
7:00 PM

Conductor James Gaffigan makes his Boston Symphony debut in a program that includes arias from Mozart’s Idomeneo and The Marriage of Figaro and Mahler’s Symphony No. 4 with soprano Elena Villalón, as well as Anna Clyne’s Sound and Fury.

Boston Symphony Orchestra
James Gaffigan, conductor
Elena Villalón, soprano

Anna CLYNE Sound and Fury
Wolfgang Amadeus MOZART “Padre, germani, addio!” from Idomeneo
MOZART “Deh vieni, non tardar” from The Marriage of Figaro
Gustav MAHLER Symphony No. 4

 In addition to the links to program notes and performer bios, the BSO's performance detail page gives the basics thus:

Tanglewood

Koussevitzky Music Shed, Lenox/Stockbridge, MA

Boston Symphony Orchestra

James Gaffigan, conductor

Elena Villalón, soprano

          Anna CLYNE Sound and Fury

          MOZART "Padre, germani, addio!" from Idomeneo

          MOZART “Deh vieni, non tardar” from The Marriage of Figaro

          -Intermission-

          MAHLER Symphony No. 4

 This should be good. I'm not sure quite what to expect from the Clyne, but the rest is definitely worth listening to.

Tanglewood — 2024/08/02-04

 It looks as if the BSO is taking a bit of a breather. Tonight's concert was recorded on July 7, and tomorrow's features the Boston Pops (many of whose members are also members of the BSO).

Tonight we get to hear Renée Fleming along with the BSO. Here's the synopsis from WCRB:

Friday, August 2, 2024
8:00 PM

Andris Nelsons leads the Boston Symphony in a full program of dynamic, graceful, and emotionally riveting works by Richard Strauss, including music from Die Frau ohne Schatten and Der Rosenkavalier, starring the world-renowned singer Renée Fleming.

Boston Symphony Orchestra
Renée Fleming, soprano
Andris Nelsons, conductor

ALL-STRAUSS program, including
Symphonic Fantasy from Die Frau ohne Schatten, Opus 65

Ständchen, Opus 17, No. 2
Befreit, Opus 39, No. 4
Gesang der Apollopriesterin, Opus 33, No. 2

Träumerei im Kamin (“Dreaming by the Fireside”) from Intermezzo, Opus 72

“Die Zeit, die ist ein sonderbar Ding” and “Da geht er hin” from Der Rosenkavalier, Opus 59

Suite from Der Rosenkavalier, Opus 59

Recorded on Jul 7, 2024.

Back in July, I was puzzled as to why they didn't broadcast this on the day it was performed and it's still a bit surprising that they didn't give us this back then and an "encore broadcast" now. Well, this should be worth listening to anyway.

Here's what we get from the BSO's performance detail page:

Tanglewood

Koussevitzky Music Shed, Lenox/Stockbridge, MA 

Boston Symphony Orchestra 
Andris Nelsons, conductor
Renée Fleming, soprano

ALL-STRAUSS PROGRAM
 

Symphonic Fantasy on Die Frau ohne Schatten
Songs with orchestra
"Träumerei im Kamin" from Intermezzo
“Die Zeit” and “Da geht er hin” from Der Rosenkavalier
Suite from Der Rosenkavalier

Experience the lush and expressive romanticism of Richard Strauss under the summer sky with superstar soprano Renée Fleming, one of the greatest contemporary interpreters of Strauss.

This afternoon's concert is generously supported by Drs. Anna L. and Peter B. Davol.

This afternoon's performance by Renée Fleming is generously supported by the MacKenzie Family, dedicated with deepest gratitude to the outstanding Tanglewood Staff and Volunteers.

I can't find a link to the program notes, but the music should still be pleasant.

Saturday is Film Night. WCRB says:

Saturday, August 3, 2024
8:00 PM

From Hollywood’s Golden Age to John Williams’s iconic scores, Film Night with the Boston Pops returns to Tanglewood with a special celebration of Henry Mancini’s 100th birthday, all led by conductors Ken-David Masur and David Newman.

Boston Pops Orchestra
Ken-David Masur and David Newman, conductors

John Williams’ Film Night

KORNGOLD Suite from The Private Lives of Elizabeth and Essex
NORTH Forest Meeting and March from Spartacus
John WILLIAMS Theme from Seven Years in Tibet (Oliver Aldort, cello)
MANCINI Theme from The Pink Panther; March from The Great Waldo Pepper; "Moon River" from Breakfast at Tiffany's
John WILLIAMS "The Duel" from The Adventures of Tintin
BERNSTEIN Suite from On the Waterfront

John WILLIAMS Superman March
John WILLIAMS Celebrating NBC: Olympic Fanfare and Theme; Meet the Press; The Mission Theme (NBC Nightly News); Wide Receiver (Sunday Night Football)
RAKSIN Theme from Laura (Lucia Lin, violin)
John WILLIAMS Three selections from Star Wars: March of the Resistance; Luke and Leia; Throne Room and Finale

In an interview with Brian McCreath from 2016, John Williams discusses what led him to become a composer, why conducting The Boston Pops is so special, and why he believes Star Wars resonates so profoundly with humanity. Listen to the interview with the audio player above, and follow along with the transcript below.

Note: The Star Wars film discussed here is Star Wars: The Force Awakens,from 2015.

TRANSCRIPT:

Brian McCreath I'm Brian McCreath at Symphony Hall. I'm with John Williams, and it is a great pleasure to have the chance to speak with you, John. I've enjoyed the Film Night concerts for years and of course all of the films you've scored. So thank you for taking a few minutes with me.

Note that there is an archival interview with John Williams, who apparently won't be present in person.

Here's what the BSO says:

Tanglewood

Koussevitzky Music Shed, Lenox/Stockbridge, MA 

Boston Pops Orchestra 
Ken-David Masur and David Newman, conductors

John Williams’ Film Night
A beloved highlight of the Tanglewood season, John Williams’ Film Night returns! From Hollywood’s golden age to contemporary favorites, conductors Masur and  Newman, lead the Boston Pops in two memorable evenings of music and film clips, including a special celebration of Henry Mancini’s 100th birthday!

Due to a recent health concern, from which he is expected to make a full recovery, John Williams will be unable to perform in these concerts. Conductor David Newman will conduct the second half of the program in his place. 

Fri, Aug 2, 2024, 8:00pm EDT

Sat, Aug 3, 2024, 8:00pm EDT

Aha! Film Night is both Friday and Saturday, so that's why WCRB isn't giving a live performance on Friday. Again, no program notes on the BSO site, but the music should still be good. Get well soon, Maestro Williams.

Now we come to Sunday. WCRB gives us the basics:

Sunday, August 4, 2024
7:00 PM

In a Boston Symphony concert led by Alan Gilbert, violinist Joshua Bell, pianist Kirill Gerstein, and cellist Steven Isserlis are the soloists in Beethoven's Triple Concerto, a masterpiece that broke new ground in its day. The concert closes with Beethoven’s spirited and buoyant Symphony No. 4.

Boston Symphony Orchestra
Alan Gilbert, conductor
Kirill Gerstein, piano
Joshua Bell, violin
Steven Isserlis, cello

ALL-BEETHOVEN program
Triple Concerto
Symphony No. 4

 And the BSO performance detail page puts it thus:

Tanglewood

Koussevitzky Music Shed, Lenox/Stockbridge, MA 

Boston Symphony Orchestra
Alan Gilbert, conductor
Kirill Gerstein, piano
Joshua Bell, violin
Steven Isserlis, cello 
 

ALL-BEETHOVEN PROGRAM

Triple Concerto
-Intermission-
Symphony No. 4

Joshua Bell, Kirill Gerstein, and Steven Isserlis star on all-Beethoven program that features Beethoven's Triple Concerto, a masterpiece that broke new ground in its day, and Beethoven's Symphony No. 4, a thoughtful, intimate work that opens into jubilation. 

Sun, Aug 4, 2024, 2:30pm EDT

The Triple Concerto has been one of my favorite pieces since I first heard a recording of it decades ago, so I'm really looking forward to hearing it this time. The Symphony No. 4 has a fine opening movement and a second movement that is really beautiful. The third and fourth movements are a bit too boisterous for my taste, so much so that I've called the 4th "Beethoven's worst symphony," which is, of course, faint criticism. Anyway, it's worth listening to, and the concerto is "must listen" IMO. The program notes are worth reading.

Enjoy.