Boston Symphony Orchestra
An alternative to the New York Times’ review of “Porgy and Bess” at the Tanglewood Festival.
Read MoreMost classical music continues to take place out of town at festivals in lovely, pastoral settings throughout New England. And while most of these gatherings have several interesting concerts worth noting, the BSO at Tanglewood still has the lion’s share of ear-worthy happenings. By Susan Miron. Wednesday Concert Series offers free classical music each Wednesday…
Read MoreI’ve been going to BSO Open Rehearsal for some 50 years at Tanglewood and can’t remember ever having as alienating an experience as I and over one thousand other attendees had Wednesday night at Symphony Hall.
Read MoreAccomplished performers coming to New England this month include baritone Sanford Sylvan in Paul Hindemith’s rarely staged opera Cardillac, the highly praised young violinist Noé Inui, and the ensemble Il Giardino Armonico, which will present an evening of music by Venetian Baroque masters. By Susan Miron. February 4 and 11: Celebration of the bicentennial of…
Read MoreI had always thought of January as a musically quiet month, but looking over the concerts I wanted to see, I realized how it is at least as great a month for concertgoing as any other in Boston. I am betting each of the concerts I listed here will be superb. By Susan Miron. January…
Read MoreEvery single player and singer seemed thrilled to be performing this music, absorbed in it, attentive to their masterful conductor and having a good time. It made me think how often that is not the case at symphony concerts. By Helen Epstein There were no star soloists or conductors around on Friday night and since…
Read MoreBy Helen Epstein This Tanglewood season, overshadowed by the absence of ailing maestros James Levine, Seiji Ozawa, and others who have canceled their appearances, has got me thinking about age and illness. There have been some compelling concerts these past two months, including Michael Tilson Thomas’s riveting Mahler renditions, but the absence of a strong…
Read MoreBy Helen Epstein July 30 featured a Russian warhorse program at Tanglewood: Glinka’s “Overture to Ruslan and Ludmila”; Tchaikovsky’s Piano Concerto No. 1 in B-flat minor, and Prokofiev’s Music from the ballet Romeo and Juliet. These are familiar (some might say over-familiar) works for orchestra, but, of course, there’s a reason they’re still being programmed.…
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Arts Commentary: Rich in Creativity — But Nothing Else