BSO — 2026/01/31

 This evening's BSO concert is another in the "E Pluribus Unum" series. There isn't much information available, because the BSO performance detail page for the concert isn't available, which leaves this description from WCRB along with the interview which you can access (audio or transcript) via the WCRB page: https://www.classicalwcrb.org/show/the-boston-symphony-orchestra/2026-01-31/carlos-simons-good-news-mass-with-wilkins-and-the-bso

Saturday, January 31, 2026
8:00 PM

BSO Conductor Thomas Wilkins leads the Boston premiere of Good News Mass, a new co-commission by Composer Chair Carlos Simon that includes narration by librettist and spoken word artist Marc Bamuthi Joseph and vocal contributions by tenor Zebulon Ellis, gospel choruses, and others. Simon’s mass is paired with another work of faith by contemporary composer David Lang. Inspired by the world of Charles Ives and the simplicity of New England hymns, poor hymnal was composed for the Grammy Award-winning vocal ensemble The Crossing, using a wide variety of texts to contemplate how we respond to those in need.

Thomas Wilkins, conductor
Jekalyn Carr, soprano
Melvin Crispel III, alto
Zebulon Ellis, tenor
Marc Bamuthi Joseph, librettist and spoken word artist
The Crossing
Donald Nally, Artistic Director
Gospel Choruses 
Dennis Slaughter, Guest Chorus Director

David LANG Selections from poor hymnal
Carlos SIMON Good News Mass (with video by Melina Matsoukas; BSO co-commission)

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

Carlos Simon talks with CRB's Brian McCreath about Good News Mass, its use of the Hammond B3 organ, the work's relationship to other sacred music, and the very personal origin of one of the hymns embedded in it. To listen, use the player above, and read the transcript below.

TRANSCRIPT (lightly edited for clarity:

Brian McCreath I'm Brian

We do get more information about it all in this review https://www.classical-scene.com/2026/01/31/boston-symphony-orchestra-spreads-the-good-news/ in the Intelligencer.

I wonder what it will mean that the "poor hymanl" is  "inspired by the world of Charles Ives." I've been thinking that Charles Ives should be included in any series about 250 years of aAmerican music, and the series has struck me as too focused on recent and contemporary music and too ready to pull in music from abroad with some tenuous connection to the United States. Well we'll see how this turns out.

Tanglewood — 2025/08/24

 I'm sorry I missed posting about yesterday's concert. My high school class 65th reunion, along with staffing the town's Task Force Against Discrimination's booth at the farmers' market, distracted me. If you listened, you got to hear Poulenc's "Gloria"and Holst's "The Planets." If you missed it or want to hear it again, WCRB offers concerts "On demand" for a while.

Tonight we get the traditional end-of-season Beethoven Ninth Symphony. This year it's preceded by the world premiere of "Words and Prayers of My Fathers" by Carlos Simon. Here's the blurb from WCRB: https://www.classicalwcrb.org/show/the-boston-symphony-orchestra/2025-05-27/earl-lee-leads-the-bso-in-beethovens-ode-to-joy

Sunday, August 24, 2025
7:00 PM

For the BSO’s final performance of the Tanglewood season, Earl Lee conducts Beethoven’s Ninth Symphony, with soloists Federica Lombardi, Isabel Signoret, Pene Pati, and Ryan Speedo Green and the Tanglewood Festival Chorus. The concert begins with the world premiere of Words and Prayers of My Fathers by BSO Composer Chair Carlos Simon, commissioned by the BSO and conducted by BSO Choral Director James Burton.

Earl Lee, conductor
James Burton, conductor (Simon)
Federica Lombardi, soprano
Isabel Signoret, mezzo-soprano
Pene Pati, tenor
Ryan Speedo Green, bass-baritone
Tanglewood Festival Chorus

Carlos SIMON Words and Prayers of My Fathers (world premiere; BSO commission)
Ludwig van BEETHOVEN Symphony No. 9

The BSO performance detail page notes that Zubin Mehta is unable to conduct the Beethoven as scheduled. It also gives all the usual links to performer bios and program notes. You may especially want to read the note about "Words and Prayers of My Fathers." https://www.bso.org/events/bso-august-24-zubin-mehta?performance=2025-08-24-14:30

This should be good.

BSO — 2024/09/28

 The Boston Symphony Orchestra begins its subscription series in Symphony Hall this week, and WCRB will broadcast the Saturday concerts as usual. Here's how they describe this week's offering:

Saturday, September 28, 2024
8:00 PM

The Boston Symphony Orchestra launches its 2024-25 season with an all-American program led by Music Director Andris Nelsons, including works by critically-acclaimed composer Sarah Kirkland Snider and inaugural BSO Composer Chair Carlos Simon. Also, BSO Principal Clarinet William R. Hudgins is the soloist in Aaron Copland’s delightful Clarinet Concerto, contrasted with Samuel Barber’s soulful Adagio for Strings.

Andris Nelsons, conductor
William R. Hudgins, clarinet

Sarah Kirkland SNIDER Forward into Light
Aaron COPLAND Clarinet Concerto
Samuel BARBER Adagio for Strings
Carlos SIMON Wake Up! Concerto for Orchestra

Meet BSO Composer Chair Carlos Simon in an interview with WCRB's Brian McCreath.

Hear a preview of Copland's Clarinet Concerto with William R. Hudgins using the player above, and read the transcript below.

TRANSCRIPT (lightly edited for clarity):

Brian McCreath I'm Brian McCreath at Symphony Hall with Bill Hudgins, Principal Clarinetist of the Boston Symphony.

There was an opening night gala on September 19, but this week the regular season begins. Let's see what the orchestra's performance detail page says.

Andris Nelsons, conductor 
William R. Hudgins, clarinet 

Sarah Kirkland SNIDER Forward into Light 
COPLAND Clarinet Concerto 
BARBER Adagio for Strings 
Carlos SIMON Wake Up: A Concerto for Orchestra 

Music Director Andris Nelsons leads this all-American program including works by inaugural BSO Composer Chair Carlos Simon and recent music by Sarah Kirkland Snider, both of which explore social justice via a musical lens. Two mid-20th-century classics are also featured: BSO Principal Clarinet William R. Hudgins is soloist in Aaron Copland’s delightfully energetic Clarinet Concerto, contrasting with Samuel Barber’s soulful, evergreen Adagio for Strings.

The usual program notes describing the pieces to be performed are linked, as are the performer bios.

The reviews are in. The Intelligencer is blandly approving. The Globe thinks the Copland needed more rehearsal, but is otherwise favorable.

Other than the "Adagio for Strings," this is unfamiliar to me. although I heard the Snider piece when it was performed last spring. This concert hardly qualifies as "must listen," but it could be interesting.

Tanglewood — 2024/08/17-18

 I'm sorry I didn't post yesterday I was distracted by the Red Sox game. I hope you thought about Tanglewood without my prompt. If you listened, you heard the Prokofiev Violin Concerto and Tchaikovsky's Fifth Symphony, which should have been enjoyable. This evening at Tanglewood, they're giving "Jurassic Park in Concert." WCRB will rescue us from that with an "encore broadcast" from last summer. Here's their summary:

Saturday, August 17, 2024
8:00 PM

In an encore broadcast, Dutch pianists Lucas and Arthur Jussen are the soloists in Mendelssohn’s Concerto in E minor, and Kazuki Yamada leads the BSO in the Symphonie fantastique by Berlioz.

Kazuki Yamada, conductor
Lucas and Arthur Jussen, pianos

Felix MENDELSSOHN Concerto in E for two pianos and orchestra
Hector BERLIOZ Symphonie fantastique

This concert was originally broadcast on August 6, 2023 and is no longer available on demand.

An "excellent choice," as some waiters seem to say regardless of what you ordered. I'd certainly rather hear this than Jurassic Park. Your opinion may differ.

The BSO's performance detail page no longer has the program notes for the concert, but the performer bios are still linked and could be interesting reading.

The Sunday concert looks quite good as well. Here's what WCRB says:

Sunday, August 18, 2024
7:00 PM

In a Boston Symphony concert from Tanglewood, Yo-Yo Ma is the soloist in Robert Schumann’s Cello Concerto, and BSO Assistant Conductor Earl Lee leads the orchestra in Carlos Simon’s “Fate Now Conquers” and Beethoven's Symphony No. 7.

Boston Symphony Orchestra
Earl Lee, conductor
Yo-Yo Ma, cello

Carlos SIMON Fate Now Conquers
Robert SCHUMANN Cello Concerto
Ludwig van BEETHOVEN Symphony No. 7

To hear a preview of the concert and Earl Lee's reflections on his two years as a BSO Assistant Conductor, use the player above, and read the transcript below:

TRANSCRIPT:

Brian McCreath I'm Brian McCreath at the Koussevitzky Music Shed with Earl Lee, here for his last concert as Assistant Conductor with the Boston Symphony. Earl, thank you for a little bit of your time today

As you see, there's an interview with the conductor which you can read or listen to. I read it, and it's pretty interesting. Hearing might be even better because you can hear what he sings at one point.

The orchestra's performance detail page gives the same basic information along with links to performer bios and program notes:

Tanglewood

Koussevitzky Music Shed, Lenox/Stockbridge, MA 

Boston Symphony Orchestra
Earl Lee, conductor
Yo-Yo Ma, cello

Carlos SIMON Fate Now Conquers
SCHUMANN Cello Concerto
-Intermission-
BEETHOVEN Symphony No. 7

This afternoon’s concert is generously supported by Dr. Dorothy A. Weber, in memory of Stephen R. Weber.

This afternoon's performance by Yo-Yo Ma is generously supported by Nancy and Jay Nichols.

The program note for "Fate Now Conquers " is particularly informative. I'm looking forward to hearing it. Of course the rest of the concert is very popular repertory.

So there are two good concerts in store. Enjoy.

Tanglewood — 2024/07/13-14

 I didn't get a chance to include last evening's concert in this post. Here's what we have to look forward to today and tomorrow.

Here's WCRB's synopsis of tonight's concert:

    Saturday, July 13, 2024

8:00 PM

Andris Nelsons conducts a Boston Symphony program that includes Beethoven’s Fourth Piano Concerto, with soloist Yuja Wang, as well as two pieces by Duke Ellington and Carlos Simon’s “Warmth from Other Suns.”

Boston Symphony Orchestra
Andris Nelsons, conductor
Yuja Wang, piano

Carlos SIMON Warmth from Other Suns, for string orchestra
Ludwig van BEETHOVEN Piano Concerto No. 4
Duke ELLINGTON Three Black Kings

    ELLINGTON A Tone Parallel to Harlem 

 

If you want to read up on the music, here's a link to the BSO's performance detai page, which has links to the program notes for the various pieces: https://www.bso.org/events/bso-simon-beethoven-featuring-yuja-wang?performance=2024-07-13-20:00

For Sunday, here's the program, per WCRB:

Sunday, July 14, 2024
7:00 PM

Augustin Hadelich is the soloist in Prokofiev’s Violin Concerto No. 2 in a Boston Symphony concert led by Andris Nelsons that also features Dvořák’s Symphony No. 7 and Sarah Kirkland Snider’s Forward Into Light, a meditation on “perseverance, bravery, and alliance.”

Sunday, July 14, 2024
7:00 PM

Augustin Hadelich is the soloist in Prokofiev’s Violin Concerto No. 2 in a Boston Symphony concert led by Andris Nelsons that also features Dvořák’s Symphony No. 7 and Sarah Kirkland Snider’s Forward Into Light, a meditation on “perseverance, bravery, and alliance.”

Boston Symphony Orchestra
Andris Nelsons, conductor
Augustin Hadelich, violin

Sarah KIRKLAND SNIDER Forward into Light 
Sergei PROKOFIEV Violin Concerto No. 2
Antonín DVOŘÁK Symphony No. 7

Here's the linkf or the performance detail page forr Sunday: https://www.bso.org/events/snider-prokofiev-dvorak?performance=2024-07-14-14:30

Note the earlier start time on Sunday.

Some of this is familiar and should be very good. Some of it is new and unfamiliar, so your guess is as good as mine. Enjoy what you can.

BSO/Classical New England — 2023/09/30

 While we wait for the BSO to return to Symphony Hall, WCRB gives us another "encore broadcast," this time from last February:

Saturday, September 30th, 2023
8:00pm

In an encore broadcast, British cellist Sheku Kanneh-Mason makes his Boston Symphony debut with Ernest Bloch’s Schelomo, and Andris Nelsons conducts the world premiere of Carlos Simon’s Four Black American Dances and Beethoven’s poetic Symphony No. 7.

Andris Nelsons, conductor
Sheku Kanneh-Mason, cello

Carlos SIMON Four Black American Dances (world premiere)
Ernest BLOCH Schelomo: Rhapsodie hébraïque, for cello and orchestra
Ludwig van BEETHOVEN Symphony No. 7

This concert was originally broadcast on February 11th, 2023 and is no longer available on demand.

For information about Carlos Simon's Requiem for the Enslaved, visit Hub New Music.

For information about Sheku Kanneh-Mason's Song, visit Decca.

Listen to a preview of Bloch's Schelomo with Sheku Kanneh-Mason with the audio player above, and read the transcript below.

TRANSCRIPT:

Brian McCreath I'm Brian McCreath at Symphony Hall with Sheku Kanneh-Mason,

I posted about it at the time, and I'm confident the links to the BSO page and the reviews still work. Since I hadn't heard the conce4rt previously, I couldn't give any impressions of my own, so those links are your best source for background information. My recollection is that I found it pleasant enough to listen to when I got to hear it. So you might as well listen this evening.

BSO — 2023/02/11

A brand new piece and one we don't hear often, then after intermission a warhorse. Here's WCRB's synopsis and the beginning words on the interview transcript:

Saturday, February 11, 2023
8:00 PM

Encore broadcast on Monday, February 20

British cellist Sheku Kanneh-Mason makes his Boston Symphony debut with Ernest Bloch’s Schelomo, and Andris Nelsons conducts the world premiere of Carlos Simon’s Four Black American Dances and Beethoven’s poetic Symphony No. 7.

Andris Nelsons, conductor
Sheku Kanneh-Mason, cello

Carlos SIMON Four Black American Dances (world premiere)
BLOCH Schelomo: Rhapsodie hébraïque, for cello and orchestra
BEETHOVEN Symphony No. 7

To hear a preview of Bloch's Schelomo with Sheku Kanneh-Mason, use the player above, and read the transcript below.

For information about Carlos Simon's Requiem for the Enslaved, visit Hub New Music.

For information about Sheku Kanneh-Mason's Song, visit Decca.

TRANSCRIPT:

Brian McCreath I'm Brian McCreath at Symphony Hall with Sheku Kanneh-Mason, who's here in Boston for actually the third time, but the first time with the Boston Symphony. Sheku, thanks a lot for your time today. I appreciate it.

Sheku Kanneh-Mason Thank you so much for havin

The BSO performance detail page gives the following brief blurb along with links to the full program notes:

Exciting young English cellist Sheku Kanneh-Mason makes his BSO debut in Ernest Bloch’s 1916 Schelomo ("King Solomon"), in which the expansively melodic cello role represents the voice of the king. Opening the concert is the premiere of a BSO-commissioned work by the talented Washington, D.C.-based composer Carlos Simon. Ludwig van Beethoven’s Symphony No. 7 builds in excitement from its atmospheric introduction through its thrilling finale.

The reviews, both in the Intelligencer and the Globe, are favorable, although the Globe isn't happy with some of the tempi in the Beethoven.

I had a meeting to attend on Thursday, so I missed my chance to hear it then although it was part of my subscription. So I'm especially looking forward to hearing the first half of the concert this evening. I'm confident the Beethoven will be okay despite the critic's quibbles. I'll miss at least part of it because of my brother's call from Tokyo, but that's okay. There will be a chance on the 20th.

Enjoy!

Tanglewood — 2022/07/16-17

 Friday, Jujy 15, 2022.

It seems that the Friday evrning concert at Tanglewood this week is not being given by the BSO themselves. I'm guessing it's Boston Pops. Anyway, whatever it is, WCRB won't be roadcasting it. Nay, rather will they repeat a concert from last summer, which they describe as follows:

Friday, July 15, 2022
8:00 PM

Tonight at 8pm, in an encore broadcast from Tanglewood, the Latvian violinist is the soloist in Sibelius’s majestic Violin Concerto, and Andris Nelsons leads the BSO in Dvorák’s Symphony No. 6.

Recorded on July 11, 2021, at the Koussevitzky Music Shed at Tanglewood

Andris Nelsons, conductor
Baiba Skride, violin

Carlos SIMON Fate Now Conquers
Jean SIBELIUS Violin Concerto
Antonín DVOŘÁK Symphony No. 6

I posted about it back then. Unfortunately the llink ro last summer's performance detail page no longer works, so that preview is unavailable.

The Sibelius and Dvorák are pretty mainstream and should be enjoyable for most of you.

Saturday, July 16, 2021.  It's opera night at Tanglewood. WCRB tells us:

Saturday, July 16, 2022
8:00 PM

Saturday night at 8pm, soprano Nicole Cabell and baritone Ryan McKinny star in Mozart’s timeless opera, joined by the Boston Symphony, Tanglewood Festival Chorus, and a stellar cast of soloists, all led by Andris Nelsons.

Andris Nelsons, conductor
Nicole Cabell, soprano (Donna Elvira)
Michelle Bradley, soprano (Donna Anna)
Janai Brugger, soprano (Zerlina)
Amitai Pati, tenor (Don Ottavio)
Ryan McKinny, baritone (Don Giovanni)
Will Liverman, baritone (Leporello)
Cody Quattlebaum, bass-baritone (Masetto)
Ryan Speedo-Green, bass (Commendatore)

Tanglewood Festival Chorus, James Burton, conductor 

Wolfgang Amadeus MOZART Don Giovanni

See the Boston Symphony's synopsis and program notes for Don Giovanni.

See a libretto and translation of Don Giovanni.

For more information on Tanglewood concerts, visit the BSO box office.

The BSO performance detail page has the usual links, but not one for the full libretto. (For that, go to the WCRB page and try their link.) Mozart is good, and there's lots of good music in this opera. On the other hand, it may seem much of a muchness if they don't cut anything out. Listening without benefit of any action and without surtitles could seem a bit overpowering. My suggestion, if you're not an opera buff, is to relax and let it fill your ears as you go about your business, maybe stopping to listen more intently when something captures your attention. Of course following along word for word with the libretto is fine too — maybe worth a try. 

Sunday, July 17, 2021.   Again we get a bit from WCRB:

Sunday, July 17, 2022
7:00 PM (delayed broadcast of 2:30 PM concert)

Sunday evening at 7pm, pianists Lucas and Arthur Jussen take center stage in the American premiere of Fazil Say’s “Phoenix,” and Andris Nelsons conducts the Boston Symphony Orchestra, Tanglewood Festival Chorus, and soloists in Brahms’s “A German Requiem.”

Andris Nelsons, conductor
Lucas and Arthur Jussen, piano
Ying Fang, soprano
Shenyang, bass-baritone
Tanglewood Festival Chorus, James Burton, conductor

Fazil SAY Phoenix (Anka Kuşu), for piano four-hands and orchestra (American premiere; BSO co- commission)
Johannes BRAHMS A German Requiem 

The BSO performance detail page has more information, including links to the program notes. I haven't checked out the notes for the piano piece, so I have no idea what it will be like, but I'm interested to hear it. The Brahms is massive, and Brahms isn't my favorite cup of metaphorical tea, but there's a reason it stays in the repertoire, so if you're unfamiliar with it, you owe it to yourself to check it out.

Of course, there are no reviews of the concerts which haven't yet been performed, and at this point I want to finish posting, so I'm not going to search for reviews from a year ago. You'll just have to enjoy tonight without them (or do some research on your own).

Tanglewood — 2021/07/10-11

 The Boston Symphony is back, giving live concerts at Tanglewood. WCRB is broadcasting the Saturday concerts live at 8:00 p.m. and the Sunday matinees at 7:00 p.m. Of course, there are no reviews to link for the Tanglewood concerts, since the same programs aren't already performed earlier in the week, as happens at Symphony Hall.

Saturday, July 10, 2021.  For Opening Night we get to enjoy an all-Beethoven concert. The BSO's performance detail page gives some links and summarizes:

Boston Symphony Orchestra
Andris Nelsons, conductor
Emanuel Ax, piano

ALL-BEETHOVEN PROGRAM
Overture to The Creatures of Prometheus
Piano Concerto No. 5, Emperor
Symphony No. 5

(Some emphasis added.)
It's surprising that they don't have the sort of overview we got in pre-Covid days. Maybe there have been staff reductions, and nobody has time to produce the write up. As always, you can click on the link to progrsm notes for a description of each piece. But what's not to like in this program? I'm especially looking forward to the "Emperor" Concerto. Listen on line or on the air at 8:00 p.m. Boston Time to enjoy.

Sunday, July 11, 2021.   The performance detail page   lists the works being given only toward the end.

Carlos SIMON - Fate Now Conquers (2020)
SIBELIUS - Violin Concerto (32 min)
DVOŘÁK - Symphony No. 6

Andris Nelsons conducts and Baiba Skride is the violin soloist. I have no idea what the first piece will be like, but the program note promises that it will be short. The others should be pretty good. Don't forget, the Sunday broadcast is an hour earlier than the one on Saturday — 7:00 p.m.