Music

Book Review: Wilhelm Furtwängler in Wartime – Reflections on Ian Buruma’s “Stay Alive”

April 16, 2026
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If there is a through-line consolidating Ian Buruma’s account, it is the admonition: Do not rush to judgment.

Musician Interview: Pallbearer Will Add a Dollop of Doom to Widowmaker Brewing’s Hopsmokerfest

April 14, 2026
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Bassist and songwriter Joseph D. Rowland on revisiting “Foundations of Burden,” perfecting Pallbearer’s sound, and bringing heavy atmosphere to an unconventional venue.

Rock Album Review: Joe Jackson’s “Hope and Fury” — Wit, Weariness, and Musical Wanderlust

April 14, 2026
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Joe Jackson revisits familiar sounds with sardonic flair and surprising warmth on his most concise, eclectic album in years.

Classical Music Commentary: What’s Next for the Boston Symphony? — Lessons from the Past

April 14, 2026
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With today’s Boston Symphony in an uproar, lacking direction, attention should be paid to Henry Higginson, who invented the Boston Symphony. He knew what he was doing. He knew how to scout and hire conductors. He knew what music he wanted played. He knew what the orchestra was for.

Music Commentary: Big Ears 2026 — Another View

April 10, 2026
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A diary of shows attended – good, bad, and indifferent — at this year’s Big Ears Festival, as well as comments on some of the non-musical joys and hassles.

Classical Music Commentary: Boston’s Lost Opportunity — How the BSO Board Chose Charles Munch over Leonard Bernstein

April 6, 2026
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In Boston, Leonard Bernstein might have sustained Serge Koussevitzky’s bold adventure—and changed the course of American classical music. Today’s Boston Symphony is adrift

Concert Review: Puscifer Channels Dystopia and Redemption at the Boch Center Wang Theatre

April 6, 2026
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The messaging and its delivery were never self-righteous — Puscifer provoked rather than preached.

Classical Album Reviews: Ferdinand Hiller’s Symphonies — A Major Rediscovery from the Era of Mendelssohn and Schumann

April 6, 2026
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This is one of the most welcome, ear-opening recordings I’ve heard in recent years, easily capable of restoring Ferdinand Hiller to the position he once held as the composer of highly accomplished, enjoyable, and intriguing works.

Music Festival Review: Big Ears 2026 — Guitars, Big Bands, and a World of Unhinged Sounds

April 2, 2026
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Over four days of listening (and walking), we found that the 13th Big Ears reaffirmed its reputation for daring curation—fostering a community of eager listeners always ready to discover something new.

Concert Review: Opera Meets Realpolitik — “Nixon in China” Resonates Amid the BSO’s Own Power Drama

April 1, 2026
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Last Friday night, conductor Andris Nelsons and the musicians came on stage together wearing red carnations as symbols of solidarity. The applause was immediate and fervent.

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