BSO — 2026/09/26

 I'm sorry I didn't post about last week's concert. I hope you thought to tune in anyway

Two pieces are on the program for this evening's concert from Symphony Hall.WCRB gives us the basics: https://www.classicalwcrb.org/show/the-boston-symphony-orchestra/2026-09-08/nelsons-theboston-symphony-orchestra-and-mahlers-seventh

Saturday, September 26, 2026
8:00 PM

The Russian-born Sofia Gubaidulina was composing her Prologue, a BSO co-commission with the Gewandhausorchester Leipzig, when she passed away in 2025. Eminent Russian composer Elena Firsova has completed it for performance. Also on the program is Mahler’s Seventh Symphony, the only Mahler symphony Andris Nelsons has yet to conduct with the BSO.

Andris Nelsons, conductor 

Sofia GUBAIDULINA/Elena FIRSOVA Prologue for orchestra (Posthumous world premiere; BSO co-commission)
Gustav MAHLER Symphony No. 7

Learn more about the Boston Symphony Orchestra's 2026-2027 season on their site.

In an interview with CRB's Brian McCreath, BSO Concertmaster Nathan Cole describes how he and the orchestra prepare for a world premiere, especially when it expresses the unique musical voice of composer Sofia Gubaidulina, as well as the particular complications of performing Mahler's Symphony No. 7. To listen, 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 Nathan Cole, the Concertmaster of the Boston Symphony.

Now we turrn to the BSO's own page for additional information: https://www.bso.org/events/sep-24-26-mahler-symphony-7?performance=2026-09-26-20:00

Boston Symphony Orchestra Andris Nelsons, conductor GUBAIDULINA/Elena FIRSOVA Prolog for orchestra (world premiere; BSO co-commission)  MAHLER Symphony No. 7  

One of the great composers of the past century, the Russian-born Sofia Gubaidulina infused her intricate, penetrating music with deep spirituality. A frequent collaborator with the BSO and Andris Nelsons, she was composing her Prolog, a BSO co-commission with the Gewandhausorchester Leipzig, when she died; the eminent Russian composer Elena Firsova has completed it for performance. Gustav Mahler’s Seventh Symphony, an intense orchestral journey with moments of sardonic humor, begins somberly and ends in glorious triumph. The Seventh is the only Mahler symphony Andris Nelsons has yet to conduct with the BSO.  

Commission Support

GUBAIDULINA/Elena FIRSOVA Prolog for orchestra 
Prolog for orchestra was co-commissioned by the Boston Symphony Orchestra, Andris Nelsons, Music Director through the generous support of the New Works Fund established by the Massachusetts Cultural Council, a state agency, and by the Gewandhausorchester Leipzig, Andris Nelsons, Gewandhauskapellmeister.

See, especially, the program notes accessible via the arrows which follow the titles. I've skimmed them, and it seems the Gubaidulina/Firsova could be challenging The Mahler should be more conventional.

There is an extensive review in the Intelligencer https://classical-scene.com/2026/09/25/gubaidulinas-mahler/ , but none in the Globe.

Worth hearing, I think.

BSO/Classical New England — 2026/09/12

 This week's encore broadcast is from last October 24. Here's what WCRB says about it: https://www.classicalwcrb.org/show/the-boston-symphony-orchestra/2025-09-09/debussy-and-mahler-with-lorelei-and-the-bso

Saturday, September 12, 2026
8:00 PM

In an encore broadcast, the Boston Symphony Orchestra, joined by soprano Nikola Hillebrand, depict a child's view of heaven in Mahler’s Symphony No. 4. Before that, the Lorelei Ensemble brings Debussy’s impressionist Nocturnesto life.

Andris Nelsons, conductor
Nikola Hillebrand, soprano
Lorelei Ensemble 
Beth Willer, artistic director

Claude DEBUSSY Nocturnes
Gustav MAHLER Symphony No. 4

This concert was originally broadcast on October 4th, 2025, and is not available on demand.

In the second part of a three-part interview, BSO Concertmaster Nathan Cole describes the musical and technical challenges of the violin solo in Mahler's Symphony No. 4. To listen, use the player and read the transcript below.

INTERVIEW TRANSCRIPT

Brian McCreath The second week of the season, as I mentioned, features Mahler's Fourth Symphony, a huge solo in this as well, but challenging in a very, very different way

nHere's how the BSO described it on their performance detail page: https://www.bso.org/events/oct-2-4-debussy-mahler?performance=2025-10-04-20:00

Boston Symphony Orchestra Andris Nelsons, conductor Nikola Hillebrand, soprano Lorelei Ensemble Beth Willer, Artistic DirectorDEBUSSY Nocturnes  MAHLER Symphony No. 4  

The BSO begins the exploration of Boston in 1900 with two pieces that were composed at the same time Symphony Hall was being built.

Influenced by impressionist painting and finished in 1899, Debussy’s three contrasting Nocturnes — Nuages (“Clouds”), Fêtes (“Holidays”), and Sirènes (“Sirens”) — paint magnificently colorful musical scenes, with Boston’s premier all-women vocal group the Lorelei Ensemble joining the orchestra in the haunting final movement.

Composed in 1900, Mahler's Symphony No. 4 lives on the sunnier side of his repertoire, but nonetheless vacillates between morbid and triumphant, seductive and serene. The final movement features solo soprano in a beguiling setting of the folk poem “Heavenly Life."

Go there for the arrows that link the performer bios and program notes, which are still available.

It could all make for enjoyable listening.

9/05BSO/Classical New England — 2026/09/05

 This evening's encore broadcat is from October 25 last year.Here'sWCRB's description: https://www.classicalwcrb.org/show/the-boston-symphony-orchestra/2025-09-10/yuja-wang-prokofiev-and-the-boston-symphony

Saturday, September 5, 2026
8:00 PM

In an encore broadcast, Domingo Hindoyan returns to Symphony Hall to lead the BSO in Bernstein’s Three Dance Episodes from On The Town and Copland’s Third Symphony, widely considered the "greatest American symphony." Acclaimed pianist Yuja Wang joins as the soloist in Prokofiev’s Second Piano Concerto.

Domingo Hindoyan, conductor
Yuja Wang, piano

Leonard BERNSTEIN Three Dance Episodes from On The Town
Sergei PROKOFIEV Piano Concerto No. 2
Aaron COPLAND Symphony No. 3

This concert was originally broadcast on October 25th, 2025, and is not available on demand.

Conductor Domingo Hindoyan talks with CRB's Brian McCreath about the genesis of this program, his interpretation of Bernstein's and Copland's work, and his positions at the Royal Liverpool Philharmonic Orchestra and the Los Angeles Opera. 

INTERVIEW TRANSCRIPT (lightly edited for clarity):

Brian McCreath I'm Brian McCreath at Symphony Hall with Domingo Hindoyan, who's here with the Boston Symphony for the second time. And Mr. Hindoyan

Here's the BSO;s performance detail page with its links and synopsis of the concert: https://www.bso.org/events/oct-23-25-bern-prokofiev-cop?performance=2025-10-25-20:00

Boston Symphony Orchestra Domingo Hindoyan, conductor Yuja Wang, piano BERNSTEIN Three Dance Episodes from On The Town  PROKOFIEV Piano Concerto No. 2       intermissionCOPLAND Symphony No. 3  

Scintillating pianist Yuja Wang joins returning conductor Domingo Hindoyan and the BSO in Sergei Prokofiev’s technically challenging Piano Concerto No. 2, a piece that combines the composer’s sardonic humor with his gift for soaring melody. Two American works from the 1940s bracket the concerto. Leonard Bernstein’s Three Dance Episodes from his 1944 musical On the Town features music referencing such hits as “New York, New York” and the wistful “Lonely Town.” Aaron Copland’s Third Symphony, premiered by the BSO in 1946, includes the uplifting “Fanfare for the Common Man.”

You could do worse than to give it a listen.