Boston Symphony Orchestra

Classical Concert Review: BSO’s Nelsons leads Escaich; Chamber Players Perform Ravel, Gubaidulina, and Beethoven

April 17, 2023
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Andris Nelsons has a fine feel for colorful musical canvases, a talent once again displayed in performances of Thierry Escaich’s Cello Concerto and Rachmaninoff’s Symphony No. 2.

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Classical Concert Review: Earl Lee Conducts The Boston Symphony Orchestra

April 9, 2023
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Earl Lee, the BSO’s assistant conductor, pulled off a memorable debut. Let’s have him back in the subscription series again, and soon.

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Concert Review: Conductor Thomas Adès Takes The Boston Symphony Orchestra To Hell and Back

March 24, 2023
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Conductor and composer Thomas Adès brought more of his intriguing music to Symphony Hall this weekend with two selections from his recent ballet, The Dante Project.

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Classical Concert Review: The Boston Symphony Orchestra Plays Wolfe and Górecki

March 17, 2023
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Brimming with edge-of-seat intensity and fist-waving theatricality, Julia Wolfe’s oratorio “Her Story” is the unequivocal highlight of the current BSO season.

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Classical Concert Review: The Boston Symphony Orchestra Plays Davis, Dawson, and Bonds

March 10, 2023
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While balancing the scales of justice can be difficult work, the effort is an important act of generosity, even love.

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Concert Review: Boston Symphony Orchestra Plays Shostakovich, Brahms, and Mackey

January 27, 2023
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Under the baton of Andris Nelsons, a listless Boston Symphony Orchestra delivered flat renditions of works by Shostakovich and Brahms.

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Concert Review: Boston Symphony Orchestra and Violinist Nicola Benedetti — Dionysian Zest

January 20, 2023
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In the hands of some, Szymanowski’s Second Violin Concerto can be tame and traditional. As conducted by Karina Canellakis, and performed by the BSO and violinist Nicola Benedetti, the piece came off as bold, colorful, and urgent.

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Concert Review: Boston Symphony Orchestra Plays Dello Joio, Stenhammar, Boulanger, and Dvořák

January 13, 2023
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Justin Dello Joio’s Concerto for Piano and Orchestra, written especially for pianist Garrick Ohlsson, creates an emotionally satisfying canvas out of thorny harmonies and astringent lyricism.

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Classical Album Review: Conductor Andris Nelsons’s Over-Sweetened “Strauss”

August 12, 2022
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This is a release that showcases many of Andris Nelsons’ strengths, including his strong sensitivity for instrumental colors, blends, and balances. At the same time, it also demonstrates the conductor’s hit-or-miss nature with the core repertoire.

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Classical Concert Review: Boston Symphony Orchestra plays Strauss and Mozart

October 12, 2021
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Andris Nelsons’s conception of Strauss’s Tod und Verklärung was impressive, marked by strong contrasts of character, flexibility of phrasing, and a commendable grasp of musical space.

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