The Symphony Hall subscription season ends with "Roméo et Juliette" by Hector Berlioz. Here's WCRB's synopsis:
Saturday, May 4, 2024
8:00pmEncore broadcast on Monday, May 13
To close the 2023-2024 Boston Symphony season, Andris Nelsons leads one of Hector Berlioz’s most beloved works, Roméo et Juliette. Berlioz described his the piece as a “symphony with choruses,” with the title characters represented both in the orchestra and through the vocal soloists.
Andris Nelsons, conductor
J’Nai Bridges, mezzo-soprano
Nicholas Phan, tenor
John Relyea, bass-baritone
Tanglewood Festival ChorusHector BERLIOZ Roméo et Juliette
Apparently there is no interview with any of the artists, but that's probably not needed for this concert. We can visit the BSO performance detail page for more about the piece and links to performer bios and the program notes:
Boston Symphony Orchestra
Symphony Hall, Boston, MA
Andris Nelsons, conductor
J’Nai Bridges, mezzo-soprano
Nicholas Phan, tenor
John Relyea, bass
Tanglewood Festival Chorus
James Burton, conductorBERLIOZ Roméo et Juliette*
*Sung in French with English supertitle
Friday afternoon's performance by J’Nai Bridges is supported by a gift in loving memory of Alan J. Dworsky.
This week's performances by the Tanglewood Festival Chorus are supported by the Alan J. and Suzanne W. Dworsky Fund for Voice and Chorus.The works of William Shakespeare deeply influenced composer Hector Berlioz. In fact, it was actress Harriet Smithson’s performances of two great Shakespearean heroines — Ophelia in Hamlet and of Juliet inRomeo and Juliet — that captivated the composer and led to their (ill-fated) marriage. As we close the season, Andris Nelsons leads one of Berlioz’s most successful and vibrant compositions, Roméo et Juliette. Berlioz called his Roméoet Juliette a “symphony with choruses,” highlighting the importance of the orchestra and of the work’s overall form. These performances celebrate the role of French repertoire in the BSO’s rich history; the complete symphony and movements from it were frequently programmed by Pierre Monteux, Serge Koussevitzky, Charles Munch, and Seiji Ozawa.
The Friday Preview talk on May 3 will begin at 12:15pm. Admission included with ticket.
Thursday's performance will end around 9:10pm, Friday's performance will end around 3:10pm, and Saturday's performance will end around 9:40pm.
Unfortunately, they don't seem to have provided the text. I've found this link https://www.opera-arias.com/berlioz/romeo-et-juliette/libretto/english/ at "Berlioz Romeo et Juliette libretto."
The Intelligencer has a descriptive review with no complaints. The review in the Globe was also descriptive, with some minor quibbles.
I don't think I've ever heard the full piece, but the love scene is often played on the radio. Based on that and on my overall liking for Berlioz's music, I think you'll like this one a lot.
P.S. From now until the BSO begins its Tanglewood Season in July, WCRB will fill the Saturday evening time slot with encore broadcasts of some of the concerts from last summer. I may not post something about each one of them, but you can find a listing of what they will offer here: https://www.classicalwcrb.org/show/the-boston-symphony-orchestra Enjoy!
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