BSO/Classical New England — 2025/08/30

 In the hiatus between the end of the Tanglewood Season and the beginning of the Symphony Hall Season, WCRB once again treats us to "encore broadcasts." This evening it is the concert of October 19, 2024, which they describe as follows: https://www.classicalwcrb.org/show/the-boston-symphony-orchestra/2024-08-16/conductor-xian-zhang-the-bso-and-pianist-jonathan-biss

Saturday, August 30, 2025
8:00 PM

In an encore broadcast, Xian Zhang makes her Symphony Hall debut leading a work she premiered with the New Jersey Symphony in June 2023: Pulitzer Prize-winning Chinese-born composer Chen Yi’s Landscape Impression. Then, Jonathan Biss is the soloist in Robert Schumann’s lyrical and powerful Piano Concerto, and the program closes with Mozart’s elegant Symphony No. 39.

Xian Zhang, conductor
Jonathan Biss, piano

CHEN Yi Landscape Impression
Robert SCHUMANN Piano Concerto
MOZART Symphony No. 39

This concert was originally broadcast on October 19, 2024, and is no longer available on demand.

To hear Jonathan Biss describe the centrality of Schumann's music in his artistic life and how that's reflected in the composer's Piano Concerto, use the player above, and read the transcript below.

INTERVIEW TRANSCRIPT (lightly edited for clarity):

Brian McCreath I'm Brian McCreath at Symphony Hall with Jonathan Biss, who has returned to the Boston Symphony. It's been a little while, but it's really good to have you back, Jonathan, for the Schumann

As you see, there is an interview with the soloist which you can access (transcript or audio) at the WCRB page, Unfortunately, the BSO's own performance detail page https://www.bso.org/events/chen-schumann-mozart?performance=2024-10-17-19%3A30 no longer gives access to the prtogram notes.

There is a brief but entirely favorable review in the Globe. https://www.bostonglobe.com/2024/10/18/arts/xian-zhang-boston-symphony-orchestra-jonathan-biss/?event=event12 I hope you can access it — I had to log in as a subscriber. There is also a satisfied review in the Intelligencer. https://www.classical-scene.com/2024/10/18/dialog-lyricism/  It looks as if I missed writing abouut it.

It seems from the reviews that this is worth listening to.

Tanglewood — 2025/08/24

 I'm sorry I missed posting about yesterday's concert. My high school class 65th reunion, along with staffing the town's Task Force Against Discrimination's booth at the farmers' market, distracted me. If you listened, you got to hear Poulenc's "Gloria"and Holst's "The Planets." If you missed it or want to hear it again, WCRB offers concerts "On demand" for a while.

Tonight we get the traditional end-of-season Beethoven Ninth Symphony. This year it's preceded by the world premiere of "Words and Prayers of My Fathers" by Carlos Simon. Here's the blurb from WCRB: https://www.classicalwcrb.org/show/the-boston-symphony-orchestra/2025-05-27/earl-lee-leads-the-bso-in-beethovens-ode-to-joy

Sunday, August 24, 2025
7:00 PM

For the BSO’s final performance of the Tanglewood season, Earl Lee conducts Beethoven’s Ninth Symphony, with soloists Federica Lombardi, Isabel Signoret, Pene Pati, and Ryan Speedo Green and the Tanglewood Festival Chorus. The concert begins with the world premiere of Words and Prayers of My Fathers by BSO Composer Chair Carlos Simon, commissioned by the BSO and conducted by BSO Choral Director James Burton.

Earl Lee, conductor
James Burton, conductor (Simon)
Federica Lombardi, soprano
Isabel Signoret, mezzo-soprano
Pene Pati, tenor
Ryan Speedo Green, bass-baritone
Tanglewood Festival Chorus

Carlos SIMON Words and Prayers of My Fathers (world premiere; BSO commission)
Ludwig van BEETHOVEN Symphony No. 9

The BSO performance detail page notes that Zubin Mehta is unable to conduct the Beethoven as scheduled. It also gives all the usual links to performer bios and program notes. You may especially want to read the note about "Words and Prayers of My Fathers." https://www.bso.org/events/bso-august-24-zubin-mehta?performance=2025-08-24-14:30

This should be good.

Tanglewood — 2025/08/22

 https://www.classicalwcrb.org/show/the-boston-symphony-orchestra/2025-05-27/keith-lockharts-30th-anniversary-celebration-at-tanglewood

Friday, August 22, 2025
8:00 PM

Celebrate the joy, connection, and unforgettable moments Keith has brought to our orchestra and our community since 1995, with special guests including Lynn Ahrens, Jason Danieley, Ben Folds, Mandy Gonzalez, Bernadette Peters, Guster's Ryan Miller, John Pizzarelli, Brian Stokes Mitchell, and Time for Three.

Boston Pops Orchestra
Keith Lockhart, conductor

Keith Lockhart 30th Anniversary Celebration program

Tanglewood — 2025/08/16-17

 A fairly standard couple of concerts remain for our listening pleasure this weekend. I'm sorry I got distracted and didn't post about the Friday offering.

August 16, 2025

Three front rank nineteenth century composers provided the music for this evening's program. Here's WCRB's description: https://www.classicalwcrb.org/show/the-boston-symphony-orchestra/2025-05-27/handlers-boston-symphony-debut-with-hadelich-at-tanglewood

Saturday, August 16, 2025

8:00 PM

BSO Assistant Conductor Anna Handler makes her Tanglewood and BSO debuts, conducting three major works from the Western classical tradition: Brahms’s Tragic Overture, Schumann’s Symphony No. 4, and Tchaikovsky’s Violin Concerto with GRAMMY-winning violinist Augustin Hadelich.

Anna Handler, conductor
Augustin Hadelich, violin

Johannes BRAHMS Tragic Overture
Robert SCHUMANN Symphony No. 4
Pyotr Ilyich TCHAIKOVSKY Violin Concerto

See details of Augustin Hadelich's performances as the BSO's Artist-in-Residence during the 2025-2026 season.

To hear a preview of this program with conductor Anna Handler, use the player above.

The WCRB page has an audio interview with the conductor which could be interesting. There is no transcript, though.

The BSO's performance detail page https://www.bso.org/events/bso-august-16-augustin-hadelich?performance=2025-08-16-20%3A00 has the usual links to performer bios and program notes.

August 17, 2025

Tomorrow's concert, which we can hear at 7:00 p.m., Boston Time, gives us music by and about Sibelius along with a piano concerto. WCRB's synopsis follows: https://www.classicalwcrb.org/show/the-boston-symphony-orchestra/2025-05-27/thibaudet-and-liszts-second-piano-concerto-at-tanglewood

Sunday, August 17, 2025
7:00 PM

Superstar pianist Jean-Yves Thibaudet joins Dima Slobodeniouk in the Berkshires to perform Liszt’s Piano Concerto No. 2 on a program that also features two works by Sibelius and Threnody, an homage to the Finnish composer, written by William Grant Still.

Dima Slobodeniouk, conductor
Jean-Yves Thibaudet, piano

William Grant STILL Threnody (In Memory of Jan Sibelius) 
Franz LISZT Piano Concerto No. 2
Jean SIBELIUS Valse triste 
SIBELIUS Symphony No. 3

For links to the performer bios and program notes, go to the BSO's performance detail page:

https://www.bso.org/events/bso-august-17-jean-yves-thibau?performance=2025-08-17-14%3A30

These should be two very enjoyable evenings.

Tanglewood — 2025/08/08-10

 A mix of the familiar,  the not-so-familiar, and the new is being presented tonight and Sunday, with two of the greatest string players of ouur time as soloists. In between, we can hear John Williams Film Night on Saturday. We turn once more to WCRB for the basics and the BSO page for fuller descriptions.

August 8, 2025

WCRB tells us: https://www.classicalwcrb.org/show/the-boston-symphony-orchestra/2025-05-27/orozco-estrada-conducts-dvoraks-new-world-at-tanglewood

Friday, August 8, 2025
8:00 PM

Colombian conductor Andrés Orozco-Estrada, principal conductor of the RAI National Symphony Orchestra in Italy, makes his Tanglewood debut conducting Dvořák’s much-beloved Symphony No. 9, From the New World. The inimitable Joshua Bell, who has performed at Tanglewood every year since 1989, is the soloist in Lalo’s spirited Symphonie espagnole.

Andrés Orozco-Estrada, conductor
Joshua Bell, violin

Édouard LALO Symphonie espagnole
Antonín DVOŘÁK Symphony No. 9, From the New World

For more information on Tanglewood concerts, visit the BSO box office.

Now for the link to the orchestra's performance detail page:

https://www.bso.org/events/bso-august-8-joshua-bell?performance=2025-08-08-20%3A00

There you find links to the program notes. Among other things they note that the melody of the slow movement of the Dvořák is the composer's own invention, not a Negro spiritual.

August 9, 2025

Again we look to WCRB for the basics, as well as an interview with the composer which should be interesting reading: https://www.classicalwcrb.org/show/the-boston-symphony-orchestra/2025-05-27/lockhart-leads-the-pops-in-john-williams-film-night

Saturday, August 9, 2025
8:00 PM

A cherished Tanglewood tradition, John Williams’ Film Night returns with a fabulous program of film music highlights specially curated by Maestro Williams himself and featuring Keith Lockhart and the Boston Pops. It’s a special evening of magical music that you won’t want to miss!

Boston Pops Orchestra
John Williams, curator
Keith Lockhart, conductor

Film Night!

For more information on Tanglewood concerts, visit the BSO box office.

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 with the audio player above, and follow the transcript below.

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

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.

Need I say more?

Here's the link to the performance detail page. There are no program notes for individual pieces, but you can find those for the performer bios.

https://www.bso.org/events/boston-pops-august-9?performance=2025-08-09-20%3A00

August 10, 2025

Sunday evening brings us the afternoon concert from Taanglewood, described here by WCRB: https://www.classicalwcrb.org/show/the-boston-symphony-orchestra/2025-05-27/yo-yo-ma-samy-rachid-and-pepins-un-monde-nouveau-at-tanglewood

Sunday, August 10, 2025
7:00 PM

Following his highly acclaimed Tanglewood debut last summer, BSO Assistant Conductor Samy Rachid leads an exciting program featuring the American premiere of French composer Camille Pépin’s Un Monde nouveau, Mendelssohn’s Scottish Symphony, and Saint-Saëns’s Cello Concerto No. 1 with Yo-Yo Ma. It will be the first time that Ma performs this cello concerto at Tanglewood, the piece he performed with the Boston Pops in his 1971 Symphony Hall debut as a 15-year-old prodigy.

Samy Rachid, conductor
Yo-Yo Ma, cello

Camille PÉPIN Un Monde nouveau (American premiere)
Camille SAINT-SÄENS Cello Concerto No. 1
Felix MENDELSSOHN Symphony No. 3, Scottish

I highly recommend going to the performance detail page https://www.bso.org/events/bso-august-10-yo-yo-ma?performance=2025-08-10-14%3A30 and following the link to the notes for Un monde nouveau. I wonder why they didn't program the New  World Symphony on the same evening. Of course the other program notes are also worthwhile.

It promises to be an enjoyable weekend.

T Tanglewood — 2025/08/01-03

 An interesting weekend of music from Tanglewood awaits us on WCRB.

August 1, 2025

This evening at Tanglewood the Boston Pops is playing music from "The Return of the Jedi." WCRB has opted to put together a program of highlights from concerts given earlier this summer which weren't part of the  regular broadcast schedule. Here's the progrem in their words: https://www.classicalwcrb.org/show/the-boston-symphony-orchestra/2025-07-22/yuja-wang-performs-prokofievs-piano-concerto-no-2-at-tanglewood

Friday, August 1, 2025
8:00 PM

Enjoy a medley of performances from the first half of the 2025 Tanglewood Music Center season, including a breathtaking performance of Prokofiev Piano Concerto No. 2 by Yuja Wang.

Tanglewood Music Center Orchestra
Andris Nelsons, Leonard Weiss, and Yiran Zhao, conductors
Yuja Wang, piano

Bedřich SMETANA Vltava (The Moldau), from Ma Vlast
Ludwig van BEETHOVEN Octet for Winds
Maurice RAVEL Suite No. 2 from Daphnis et Chloé
Sergei PROKOFIEV Piano Concerto No. 2
SMETANA Vysehrad (The High Castle), from Ma Vlast

This broadcast was recorded at Tanglewood at various concerts in July, 2025.

I'm especially looking forward to the Smetana and the Beethoven. Vltava is frequently played on the radio and performed in concerts, Vyšehrad less frequently, and the remaining four movements of Má Vlast almost never. It will be good to hear one more part of Smetana's fine orchestral work. The Beethoven Octet is quite pleasant, and especially attractive to me because my late brother was such a dedicated French horn player.

August 2, 2025

Saturday brings early 20th Century Music. Again, per WCRB: https://www.classicalwcrb.org/show/the-boston-symphony-orchestra/2025-05-27/elim-chans-conducts-rachmaninoff-and-korngold-at-tanglewood

Saturday, August 2, 2025
8:00 PM

The first woman to win the prestigious Donatella Flick Conducting Competition, rising star Elim Chan makes her Tanglewood debut conducting Rachmaninoff’s Symphony No. 2 and Korngold’s virtuosic Violin Concerto, with acclaimed violinist Leonidas Kavakos.

Elim Chan, conductor
Leonidas Kavakos, violin

Erich KORNGOLD Violin Concerto
Sergei RACHMANINOFF Symphony No. 2

Hear an interview with Elim Chan, recorded during the week of her BSO debut in January 2022.

For more information on Tanglewood concerts, visit the BSO box office.

Since this is a live performance, the performance detail page of the BSO https://www.bso.org/events/bso-aug-2-leonidas-kavakos?performance=2025-08-02-20:00 is also available. It has links to program notes (Click on the title of the work.) as well as performer bios (Click on the performer's name.).

August 3, 2025

Sunday evening brings us the afternoon concert from Taanglewood, described here by WCRB:

Sunday, August 3, 2025
7:00 PM

In a highlight of the season, a star-studded piano quartet comprised of pianist Emanuel Ax, violinist Leonidas Kavakos, violist Antoine Tamestit, and cellist Yo-Yo Ma perform a special Shed concert of Beethoven’s music. This concert is a sequel to an all-Beethoven chamber program performed by Kavakos, Ma, and Ax in 2023 to a sold-out Shed.

Leonidas Kavakos, violin
Antoine Tamestit, viola
Yo-Yo Ma, cello
Emanuel Ax, piano

All-BEETHOVEN program
Leonore Overture No. 3 (trans. Shai Wosner)
Trio No. 4 in B-flat for piano, violin, and cello, Op. 11
Symphony No. 3, Eroica (trans. Shai Wosner)

WCRB has played a transcription of the first movement of Beethoven's Second Symphony played by these three, and it actually works, do I'm looking forward to hearing the overture and the symphony on this program in the hands of these talented performers.

Consult the BSO performance detail page https://www.bso.org/events/2025-twd-ax-kavakos-ma-tamesit?performance=2025-08-03-14:30 for the links to additional information.

A weekend of music to enjoy.