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.