Boston Symphony Orchestra
Through fresh new works and a welcome toss-up of pieces commissioned during Koussevitzky’s historic tenure, the BSO’s coming season will honor the fullness of the Russian-born conductor’s legacy.
If Andris Nelsons’s direction revealed one thing, it’s that violinist Anne-Sophie Mutter and composer Thomas Adès make a stellar musical pairing.
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.
Earl Lee, the BSO’s assistant conductor, pulled off a memorable debut. Let’s have him back in the subscription series again, and soon.
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.
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.
While balancing the scales of justice can be difficult work, the effort is an important act of generosity, even love.
Under the baton of Andris Nelsons, a listless Boston Symphony Orchestra delivered flat renditions of works by Shostakovich and Brahms.
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.
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.
Arts Commentary: The Kennedy Center and the Boston Symphony Orchestra — A Tale of Two Crises