I'm pressed for time today, and I'll be away next Saturday, so I'll just give the links to the basic ages. This week we have the first concert of the Symphony Hall Season.
Sept. 27.
BSO: https://www.bso.org/events/sep-25-27-mozart-strauss?performance=2025-09-26-13%3A30
Oct. 4.
BSO: https://www.bso.org/events/oct-2-4-debussy-mahler?performance=2025-10-04-20%3A00
I hope WCRB will continue their custom of rebroadcasting theconcerths on the Monday nine days later.
This evening's "encore broadcast" is from February 8 of this year.
WCRB has a link to an interview with the conductor as well as a transcript of it: https://www.classicalwcrb.org/show/the-boston-symphony-orchestra/2024-10-31/stutzmann-conducts-stravinksys-the-firebird
Saturday, September 20, 2025
8:00 PMIn an encore broadcast, French conductor Nathalie Stutzmann makes her Boston Symphony Orchestra conducting debut in a program that begins with Beethoven’s towering Violin Concerto, with soloist Veronika Eberle in her Symphony Hall debut. The concert continues with Ravel's Alborada del gracioso and the suite from Stravinsky’s ballet The Firebird, a Russian folk tale of heroism, magic, and renewal that vaulted the composer to the forefront of modern music.
Nathalie Stutzmann, conductor
Veronika Eberle, violinLudwig van BEETHOVEN Violin Concerto, with cadenzas by Jörg Widmann
Maurice RAVEL Alborada del gracioso
Igor STRAVINSKY The Firebird (1919 suite)This concert was originally broadcast on February 8, 2025, and is no longer available on demand.
Hear a preview of the program with conductor Nathalie Stutzmann by using the audio player above and reading the transcript below.
INTERVIEW TRANSCRIPT:
Brian McCreath I'm Brian McCreath at Symphony Hall with Nathalie Stutzmann, who is back here at Symphony Hall for the first time in quite a while. But now in a brand new role. Nathalie, thank you so much for a little bit of your time today. I appreciate it.
Nathalie Stutzmann You're welcome. It's a pleasure.
There is a bit more in the BSO's performance detail page, but unfortunately, the program notes for each piece are no longer linked. https://www.bso.org/events/stravinsky-firebird?performance=2025-02-06-19%3A30
Nathalie Stutzmann, conductor
Veronika Eberle, violinBEETHOVEN Violin Concerto (with cadenzas by Jörg WIDMANN)
-Intermission-
RAVEL Alborada del gracioso
STRAVINSKY The Firebird (1919 suite)French conductor Nathalie Stutzmann makes her BSO conducting debut with German violinist Veronika Eberle in her Symphony Hall debut in Beethoven’s towering Violin Concerto. Ravel's Alborada del gracioso and Stravinsky’s ballet score The Firebird are both marvels of orchestral brilliance from the 1910s: Ravel’s one of his many Spanish-influenced confections and Stravinsky’s a journey through a Russian folk tale of heroism, magic, and renewal that vaulted the composer to the forefront of modern music.
All of it is standard repertoire, but my favorite is definitely the Beethoven, Even if you can't listen to the whole concert, at least give that a hearing.
There's a review in the Globe from February 7, but I can't log in: password trouble I guess. The Intelligencer has an informative and very favorable review. https://www.classical-scene.com/2025/02/07/eberle-stutzmann-cadenzas-in-consequential-bso-debuts/
It's all wort hearing.
While we wait for live concerts from Symphony Hall, we are treated to an encore broadcast of a concert from last November.
Here's what WCRB says: https://www.classicalwcrb.org/show/the-boston-symphony-orchestra/2024-08-16/lisiecki-jordan-and-tchaikovskys-pathetique
Saturday, September 13, 2025
8:00 PMIn an encore broadcast, Canadian pianist Jan Lisiecki is the soloist in Mozart’s mysterious and stormy Piano Concerto No. 20, infused with operatic drama and expressivity. Tchaikovsky said of his Symphony No. 6, the Pathétique, “I love it as I have never loved any of my musical children.” It was his last completed work, and he led the premiere less than two weeks before his death.
Philippe Jordan, conductor
Jan Lisiecki, pianoW.A. MOZART Piano Concerto No. 20 in D minor, K.466
Pyotr Ilyich TCHAIKOVSKY Symphony No. 6, PathétiqueThis concert was originally broadcast on November 16, 2024, and is no longer available on demand.
In an interview at Symphony Hall, Jan Lisiecki describes the unique qualities and challenges of Mozart's Piano Concerto No. 20. Hear the interview using the player above, and read the transcript below.
INTERVIEW TRANSCRIPT (lightly edited for clarity):
Brian McCreath I'm Brian McCreath at Symphony Hall with Jan Lisiecki, who's back at the hall for the first time in a few years. I think, so Jan, thank you for a little of your time today. I appreciate it.
Jan Lisiecki It's a great
The BSO's program detail page doesn't have links to the program notes, just another sentence or two in the overview: https://www.bso.org/events/tchaikovsky-symphony-6?performance=2024-11-16-20:00
Philippe Jordan, Conductor Jan Lisiecki, Piano
Philippe Jordan, conductor
Jan Lisiecki, pianoMOZART Piano Concerto No. 20 in D minor, K.466
-Intermission-
TCHAIKOVSKY Symphony No. 6, PathétiqueCanadian pianist Jan Lisiecki is the soloist in Mozart’s mysterious and stormy Piano Concerto No. 20 in D minor, which owes much to the composer’s sensitivity to operatic drama and expressivity. This concerto was particularly admired by artists of the Romantic era. Pyotr Ilyich Tchaikovsky said of his poignant Symphony No. 6, Pathétique, “I love it as I have never loved any of my musical children.” It was his last completed work; he led the premiere less than two weeks before his death
Unfortunately, I didn't post about at that time, so I can't give you my opinion of the performance, nor can I find a review in the Globe or the Intelligencer. Perhaps the interview with Brian McCreath on the WCRB page will give some insights. Apart from that, all I can say is the music is standard repertoire, so it should be worth hearing.
Encore broadcast from October 12, 2024.
BSO: https://www.bso.org/events/berlioz-gandolfi-saint-saens?performance=2024-10-12-20:00
My blog back then: https://naturgesetz-music.blogspot.com/2024/10/b-bso-20241012.html
Il was all rewarding to hear, and I recommend listening as closely as you can tp the "Waverly" Overture and "Light Ascending" Both unfold beautifully. The organ console was placed where I could have a clear view of the keyboards, which was interesting to watch. But again, you'll be able to tell when the organ is playing, especially during "Light Ascending."
Intelligencer: https://www.classical-scene.com/2024/10/12/mighty-organ/
Globe: https://www.bostonglobe.com/2024/10/11/arts/boston-symphony-orchestra-organ/
