Jonathan Blumhofer
Julia Fischer’s account of Brahms’s Violin Concerto with the Boston Symphony Orchestra (BSO) this weekend was nothing if not dynamic and impressive.
The main takeaway from this first BSO album under new music director Andris Nelsons is the excellent, exciting Sibelius performance.
Evaluations of a number of intriguing new albums, including praise for a disc of string trios by Eastern European composers performed by Ensemble Epomeo.
After several years in the wilderness, it seems that, on the conducting front at last, the BSO is again in good hands.
The Schumann First formed the capstone to conductor Asher Fisch’s conspicuously satisfying Boston Symphony Orchestra subscription series debut program
Violinist Yevgeny Kutik delivered a performance of the Prokofiev’s Second Violin Concerto that mined the piece’s subversive character but never shied away from its extroverted nature.
What one really wishes is that the Seattle Opera’s Ring Cycle had been released as a DVD.
Feel free to disagree, add to them, come up with your own list, etc. Above all, enjoy!
Tim Page on a generous sampling of Virgil Thomson’s best music criticism – trenchant, outspoken, oftentimes delightfully clever, and always assured.

Music Commentary: Notable Classical Performances of 2014
It’s fun to recall what’s been played locally since January and be reminded just how rich the greater Boston area’s classical music scene really is.
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