BSO — 2026/03/07

 Tonight we get an all Brahms concert conducted by the venerable Herbert Blomstedt. WCRB describes the program and offeers an interview with Maestro Blomstedt. https://www.classicalwcrb.org/show/the-boston-symphony-orchestra/2026-03-07/blomstedt-conducts-an-all-brahms-program-with-the-bso

Saturday, March 7, 2026
8:00 PM

Nonagenarian Swedish conductor Herbert Blomstedt returns to Symphony Hall to lead an All-Brahms program, including two choral masterpieces, Nänie and Schicksalslied (Song of Destiny), sung by the Tanglewood Festival Chorus, and and his Fourth Symphony.

Herbert Blomstedt, conductor
Tanglewood Festival Chorus
Lisa Wong, guest choral conductor

All-Johannes BRAHMS program
Schicksalslied, for chorus and orchestra
Nänie, for chorus and orchestra
Symphony No. 4

In a conversation with CRB's Brian McCreath, Herbert Blomstedt describes the relevance of the two choral works by Brahms to today's world, the complementary character of the Symphony No. 4, and what's behind his long-time success as a leader of orchestral musicians. To listen, use the player above, and read the transcript below. 

Learn more about the Boston Symphony Orchestra's 2025-2026 season on their site.

INTERVIEW TRANSCRIPT (lightly edited for clarity):

Brian McCreath I'm Brian McCreath, and I'm with Herbert Blomstedt,

The BSO's performance detail page gives a more extensive introduction as well as providing links to the performer bios and program notes, for which you have to go to the orchestra's page and click on the arrow after the item you want. https://www.bso.org/events/mar-5-7-brahms?performance=2026-03-07-20%3A00

Boston Symphony Orchestra Herbert Blomstedt, Conductor Tanglewood Festival Chorus Lisa Wong, guest choral conductorBRAHMS Schicksalslied*, for chorus and orchestra  BRAHMS Nänie, for chorus and orchestra*       intermissionBRAHMS Symphony No. 4  

*Performed in German with English supertitles

Two choral masterpieces, Brahms’ Nänie (Lament) and Schicksalslied(Song of Destiny), crystallize the haunting beauty of classical poetry set to music, exploring fate, loss, and divine indifference. Brahms’ fourth and final symphony is a work of brooding intensity, a symphonic elegy that balances lyrical warmth with memorable motifs and an explosive grand finale. Initially nervous about the work's reception, Brahms downplayed the symphony, calling it "a bunch of polkas and waltzes.” While dance elements are present, the truth is that these dances form the foundation of a mountain of a piece that capped off Brahms's career.

There is a friendly review https://classical-scene.com/2026/03/06/altar-brahms/ in the Intelligencer. So far, nothing in the Globe.

Who knows how many more years Herbert Blomstedt has left? Enjoy his work while you can.