BSO/Classical New England — 2019/06/15

This week the encore broadcast is the concert of January 5, 2019. I posted about it at the time. Here's the description from the program detail page:

Returning to Symphony Hall for the first time since her tenure as BSO assistant conductor, Korean-born Shiyeon Sung leads a program juxtaposing music of Fanny Mendelssohn-Hensel and her brother Felix, surely one of the most brilliant sibling pairs in music history. Fanny Mendelssohn-Hensel's Overture in C, her only extant work for orchestra alone (though she wrote several works for chorus with orchestra), is an elegant, ten-minute piece dating from 1830. Begun in the same year, her brother's Piano Concerto No. 1 has a turbulent, Romantic energy; Argentinian pianist Ingrid Fliter is soloist, making her subscription series debut. One of the great 19th-century symphonies, Dvořák's by turns bucolic and thrilling Eighth was composed in 1889 and is arguably his most individual symphony, a departure from the Brahms-influenced Germanic style of his Symphony No. 7

(Some emphasis added.)

The reviews were mixed (see my post for links), but Mendelssohns' and Dvořák's music isn't hard to listen to. This should all be enjoyable.

As always, WCRB presents the concert beginning at 8:00 p.m., Boston Time, this evening and June 24. Enjoy!

BSO/Classical New England — 2019/06/08

This week's "encore broadcast" is the concert performed on November 17, 2018. I was busy that week and didn't say anything about it. Here's the blurb from the BSO's program detail page:

Swedish trumpeter Håkan Hardenberger, a longtime collaborator of Andris Nelsons, returns to Symphony Hall as soloist in a concerto composed for him, the Viennese composer HK Gruber's Aerial. Featuring piccolo trumpet and cow's horn as well as standard trumpet, the concerto makes full use of Hardenberger's considerable virtuosity and expressive range. Mahler composed his Fifth Symphony in 1901-02. His first completely instrumental symphony since No. 1, it marked a new, highly individual, and influential approach to writing for orchestra that would carry through the remainder of Mahler's symphonies. The Fifth includes the famous and moving Adagietto movement for strings and harp.

(Some emphasis added.)

Again, I'm pressed for time. but here's a link to the Globe's review from last November, and one to the Boston Musical Intelligencer.

Usual time, usual station. Enjoy!

BSO/Classical New England — 2019/05/25

The encore broadcast this week is from the third week of last season at Symphony Hall — October 27, 2018. My post at the time includes the synopsis from the orchestra's performance detail page

BSO Music Director Andris Nelsons conducts Mahler's all-embracing ninety-minute Symphony No. 2, Resurrection, featuring the Tanglewood Festival Chorus, along with Chinese soprano Ying Fang and Argentine-born mezzo-soprano Bernarda Fink. The fourth movement is a setting of "Urlicht," a poem from Des Knaben Wunderhorn, a source of texts for many of Mahler's songs, and the vast finale includes a setting for chorus and soprano of verses from Klopstock's poem "Resurrection." James Burton will conduct Maija's Einfelde's Lux aeterna, for mixed chorus, the first of two Latvian works performed this year to mark the centenary of the country's independence. 

Please note there will be no intermission for these performances.

as well as links to the usual reviews.
(Emphasis in original.)

Mahler's symphonies from this time are pretty easy to take, so I recommend listening to this one. I don't have a clear recollection of the Einfelde piece that opened the concert, but I vaguely recall it as not bad. As always, tune in to WCRB at 8:00 p.m. this evening and/or Monday, June 3.

BSO/Classical New England — 2019/05/18

This week's encore broadcast is the second concert of last year's Symphony Hall season, originally broadcast October 20, 2018. I posted about it back then, and here's a link to the orchestra's program detail page. There is music of John Harbison, Rachmaninoff, and Prokofiev.

It should be worth hearing, this evening at 8:00 and again on Monday, May 27, over WCRB.

BSO/Classical New England — 2019/05/11

In the first of the "encore broadcasts" which will fill the 8:00 p.m. time slots between now and the BSO opening of the Tanglewood Season, this evening WCRB will retransmit the concert which opened the Symphony Hall season last October. I heard it on October 11 and posted about it at the time, with links to reviews and the BSO's performance detail page.

As you can see, neither the reviewers nor I thought it was the greatest thing since sliced bread, but the Red Sox played this afternoon, so I'll listen until my kid brother calls from Tokyo.

Here's the link to WCRB, where you can hear it, and also learn about lots of other programs they offer.

Let your conscience be your guide, and enjoy as much as you can.

BSO — 2019/05/03

The final concerts of the BSO Symphony Hall season include the world premiere performances of a violin concerto and two familiar works from over a century ago. The orchestra's program detail page has the usual links to background information. Here's how it synopsizes the program:

The Latvian violinist Baiba Skride joins her compatriot Andris Nelsons and the BSO for the world premiere of Grawemeyer Award-winning composer Sebastian Currier's Aether for violin and orchestra, a work co-commissioned by the BSO and the Gewandhaus Orchestra of Leipzig. Two unpredictable musical rogues bookend the new work: Till Eulenspiegel, who in Strauss's tone poem thumbs his nose at the establishment, rides his horse through a market, and comes to no good end; and Stravinsky's puppet-come-to-life Petrushka, whose attempts to win the admiration of a ballerina come to naught. In his second full ballet score for the Ballets Russes, two years before The Rite of Spring, Stravinsky's astonishing musical depictions of a Russian Shrovetide fair further cemented the reputation of the young composer of The Firebird.

(Some emphasis added.)

I was there on Thursday and overall I'd say the concert was okay. The bombast of the Strauss and Stravinsky made the Currier concerto seem tame. Actually, I'd say it was tame, except during the second movement. I was very pleased to hear a brand new piece that was so pleasant, and I'm looking forward to hearing it on the radio. I've thought of "Petrushka" as more musical and easier to take than "Rite of Spring," and I still think so. But listening to it on Thursday, I realized that it definitely sounds like the work of the same man who composed "Rite of Spring" — jagged and cacophonous amid the melodies. "Till Eulenspiegel" also felt more gruff and harsh than merry. In summary, I'd rather hear "Aether" than "Till" or "Petrushka."

The reviews were favorable for all pieces. The one in the Globe hoped "Aether" would be programmed again, and the one in the Musical Intelligencer called for it to be recorded.

I recommend listening to the concert on WCRB at 8:00 p.m on Saturday, May 3, and a repeat broadcast/webstream Monday, May 13, also at 8:00. If you click on the headline about the world premiere, you can hear an interview with Sebastian Currier.

The BSO will open their Tanglewood season on Friday, July 5, and close it on Sunday, August 25. During that period, there will be three concerts broadcast and streamed every weekend, as in past years. On the remaining weekends of May and during June, WCRB will fill the Saturday evening time slot with "encore performances" from the season just ending (and possibly a Pops concert — I haven't found the complete schedule for these weekends).

Enjoy!

BSO — 2019/04/27

Time got away from me. Briefly, I went on Thursday and found this week's concert not unpleasant. Rachmaninov and Shostakovich will never be mistaken for Mozart and Beethoven, but it was tolerable. Reviews were mixed. I think it's worth hearing. If you don't fancy Shostakovich, at least check out the Rachmaninov before intermission.

BSO — 2019/04/20

Here's the scoop from the BSO performance detail page on this week's concert:

Each making his BSO debut, English conductor Andrew Manze and Swiss pianist Francesco Piemontesi join the orchestra for a somewhat rarely heard Mozart concerto, the vivacious No. 19 in F, which the BSO hasn't played in Symphony Hall since 1994. Graźyna Bacewicz was one of Poland's most important composers of the mid-20th century, and one of very few women with an international reputation in that era. Her dynamic and soulful Concerto for String Orchestra won the Polish State Prize in 1950. Mendelssohn's Fifth Symphony, Reformation, is based in part on Martin Luther's hymn "A Mighty Fortress Is Our God." The symphony was written to coincide with the 300th anniversary of a major Reformation event, the Augsburg Confession.

(Some emphasis added.)

The page has links to background information, including conductor and soloist bios. (Click on the photos.)

I wasn't at the Thursday performance because I was at the Holy (Maundy) Thursday Mass at my church. The review in the Globe found flaws, but seemed noncommittal overall. The Boston Musical Intelligencer also finds flaws but also does not scathe.

Was it a "thumb in the eye" to Catholics to choose something so explicitly Protestant as the "Reformation" Symphony for Easter? (I wouldn't figuratively raise a metaphorical eyebrow on an ordinary weekend.) Anyway, it should be interesting and enjoyable, if not thrilling, listening on WCRB this evening and again on April 29, both shows starting at 8:00, Boston Time. I'll be in church for the Easter Vigil this evening, but I hope to catch the replay.

BSO — 2019/04/13

The Dude was supposed to conduct again this week but had to bow out because he aggravated an injury to his hand. For details about changes, we go to the program detail page:

Ken-David Masur, conductor (Berlioz, Ravel)
James Burton, conductor* (Estévez)
Sergio Tiempo, piano*
Aquiles Machado, tenor*
Gustavo Castillo, baritone*
Tanglewood Festival Chorus,        James Burton, conductor

* Indicates BSO debut

BERLIOZ Roman Carnival Overture
RAVEL Piano Concerto in G
ESTÉVEZ Cantata Criolla

Gustavo Dudamel has regretfully withdrawn from this week’s performances with the Boston Symphony Orchestra due to complications from a hand and arm injury sustained from a fall he took last December. Maestro Dudamel's doctor has recommended immediate rest in order to avoid further complications and fully recover from the injury. Dudamel had been scheduled to lead Tuesday’s program of Schumann’s Spring Symphony and Stravinsky’s Rite of Spring, as well as performances of works by Paul Desenne, Ginastera, and Estévez, Thursday, April 11 through Saturday, April 13.

(Some emphasis added and some omitted.)

Since Maestro Burton had prepared the chorus for the Estévez cantata, he was sufficiently familiar with the piece to take over rehearsing and the orchestra and conducting the work in concert. On the other hand, there was not enough time for Maestro Masur to learn and rehears the other pieces planned for the concert, so two more familiar pieces have been substituted.

Of course, the reviewers regret that substitutions were needed. Nevertheless, the review in the Globe is generally favorable. The reviewer for the Intelligencer wasn't happy with the Berlioz and less than fully satisfied with the Ravel but couldn't find fault with the Estévez.

As always, WCRB will present tonight's performance live on radio and the web at 8:00, and as usual they will play their recording in a week and two days, on April 22 at 8:00 p.m. Be sure to note the other features on their website.

BSO — 2019/04/06

Here comes "The Dude." The BSO program detail page has the usual links to background and the following description:

Gustavo Dudamel, the popular Venezuelan music and artistic director of the Los Angeles Philharmonic, makes his BSO subscription series debut with two weeks of concerts-his first BSO appearances since his Tanglewood debut in 2006. This first program ushers in the change of season with two contrasting, spring-related works. Robert Schumann composed his Symphony No. 1, Spring, in 1841 with the encouragement of his new wife Clara; the score is bursting with energy and optimism. Igor Stravinsky's seminal ballet score The Rite of Spring, which premiered in Paris in 1913, was given its American premiere by the BSO in 1924. Depicting an imagined ancient ritual re-awakening of the earth, the score still has the power to thrill and even shock the listener with its raw, protean power.

(Some emphasis added.)

The program wasn't given on Thursday, and as of this writing neither the Globe nor the Intelligencer has a review of the Friday afternoon performance. The pieces are pretty well known. So even without the benefit of reviews, you have a fairly good idea of what you'll be getting. As always, you can listen to the stream over the WCRB website, or, if you're within range of their signal, on 99.5 FM at 8:00 p.m. this evening, with a rebroadcast at the same time on Monday, April 15. By the way, it turns out that on Monday the 8th, last Saturday's program (from Tanglewood) will be transmitted again.