Mark Volpe and his organization pulled off an impressive feat in creating this season at such short notice. Former Music Director James Levine submitted his resignation only after most symphony orchestras, including the BSO, have established their programming for the next season and published it to waiting subscribers. Add to that the need to corral a feasible number of potential candidates for the open position of Music Director. The Boston Symphony’s 2011-12 season is not only solid and nutritious, it is even rather exciting—apart from the added piquancy of the search. The fall will be mainly given over to guest conductors who have worked with the BSO for many years, or at least a few times in the past. The serious contenders for the permanent position will begin later on.
In the Gala Opening Night Concert, followed by the first regular concert of the season, Anne-Sophie Mutter will play and lead the BSO in all five of Mozart’s violin concertos—a very smart combination of a strong box-office draw and a program that is actually worth hearing, and a gesture especially appropriate for the Boston Symphony.
Assistant Conductor Sean Newhouse will then lead a Britten, Prokofiev and Sibelius program featuring Jean-Efflam Bavouzet, who will play Prokofiev’s Third Piano Concerto. Juanjo Mena, who has been associated with Yo-Yo Ma for some time, will conduct for him, when he plays the Dvořák Cello Concerto, followed by Bartók’s ballet, The Wooden Prince.
Later in October, Kurt Masur, who is entirely familiar to BSO audiences, will conduct an All-Brahms program with the Third Symphony and the Second Piano Concerto, played by Yefim Bronfman—an occasion not to be missed. The following week, another BSO veteran of high caliber, Rafael Frühbeck de Burgos, will conduct the Schumann Violin Concerto for Gidon Kremer and Strauss’ Ein Heldenleben, followed by Haydn symphonies and excerpt from Die Meistersinger with James Morris. After Levine had his go with Act III a few years ago at Tanglewood it will be interesting to hear Frühbeck, especially since he is such an outstanding choral conductor.
Myung-Whun Chung, who will appear in mid-November to conduct Tchaikovsky’s Symphony No. 6, “Pathétique,” can be considered a contender. He has built a stellar reputation in Europe for his electric performances of opera and orchestral music. As strongly as he is associated with L’Opéra national de Paris, the Bayersche Staatsoper, and La Fenice, he has balanced this with his work at Orchestre Philharmonique de Radio France, the Tokyo Philharmonic Orchestra and as Art Director and Principal Conductor of the Seoul Philharmonic Orchestra. He has received universally enthusiastic reviews in our publication. Especially interesting will be the underperformed Barber Piano Concerto with Garrick Ohlsson. Some months ago we offered an excellent performance with Molly Morkoski and the UNC Symphony conducted by Tonu Kalam, which attracted quite a bit of enthusiasm for the work, and Barber’s Symphony No. 1, which Leon Botstein recently conducted during the Bard Music Festival: Sibelius and his World, was bracing.
The BSO’s other assistant conductor, Ludovic Morlot, will then conduct a diverse program of Berlioz, Mozart, Carter, and Bartók. Richard Goode will play the Piano concerto in C, K. 503, and BSO Principle Flutist, Elizabeth Rowe, will return to Carter’s Flute Concerto, which she premiered with the orchestra in February 2010. The evening will close with a Suite from Bartók’s pantomime, The Miraculous Mandarin, presumably closing a cycle of his stage works begun last year (and before that) with Bluebeard’s Castle. The next weekend Morlot will continue the Harbison symphony cycle begun so promisingly by James Levine last year with the Fourth. Ravel’s Daphnis et Chloé, Suite No. 2 and Mahler’s First Symphony are also carryovers from Levine’s favorite repertory. And that should be about enough of the Mahler First in Boston for a good long while!
At the beginning of December, Jiří Bělohlávek will conduct Harbison’s Symphony No. 5, which premiered in April 2008 under Levine, with Gerald Finley singing the poems by Miłosz, Glück, and Rilke. Jonathan Biss will then play Beethoven’s Piano Concerto No. 4, continuing an impressive roster of soloists. Maestro Bělohlávek has conducted at the Metropolitan Opera and presumably formed a connection with Levine through that. Our London summer correspondent, Huntley Dent, has heard him conduct on numerous occasions and has been unimpressed. I heard him conduct Dvořák’s Rusalka at the Met and liked his work quite a lot. It was idiomatic and flowing, with rich, dark colors from the lower strings. The last of this group on December 3, will be the last Symphony Hall concert of 2011. The BSO will be in California playing the Britten-Prokofiev-Sibelius program under Newhouse and the Berlioz-Mozart-Carter-Bartók programs under Morlot, with some changes in Palm Springs and Los Angeles, where Gil Shaham will play Britten’s Violin Concerto.
Beginning on January 5, 2012, the orchestra will be back, and the greater part of the parade of potential music directors will begin, with the 32-year-old Latvian, Andris Nelsons, who took over at short notice for Levine at Carnegie Hall last spring. Nelsons is clearly one of the great conducting talents today, as I heard myself last summer in his Lohegrin at Bayreuth. In addition to a late Haydn Symphony and Strauss’ Zarathustra, he will conduct the American premiere of Turnage’s From the Wreckage, for trumpet and orchestra.
The following week, David Zinman will have the honor of conducting the world premiere of John Harbison’s Symphony No. 6, a BSO commission, intended by James Levine as the capstone to his Harbison cycle.
Riccardo Chailly, who will conduct his first concert on January 19, is perhaps the most obvious successor to James Levine. Presently the Music Director of the Leipzig Gewandhaus Orchestra (Click here for an interview with him), he has learned to nurture the traditions of long-established ensembles. His previous gig, the Concertgebouw Orchestra, has cultivated an eclecticism rather like the BSO’s, with a similarly healthy tradition of world premieres and new commissions. I could also imagine him taking on the educational duties of the Tanglewood Music Center with energy and enthusiasm. His first program will include the suite from Prokofiev’s Love for Three Oranges, Debussy’s rarely performed ballet score, Khamma, and Stravinsky’s Rite of Spring, a twentieth century classic central to both his and Levine’s repertoire. He will follow this with a concert devoted to Mendelssohn’s Lobgesang (Hymn of Praise), a symphony-cantata he composed for the four hundredth anniversary of the invention of moveable type and premiered in June, 1840. With the Gewandhaus Orchestra Chailly has delved deeply into its traditions, much of which revolves around J. S. Bach and Felix Mendelssohn’s revival of his music. Some powerful performances of both have resulted, as well as of, Beethoven, Schumann, and Mahler. Of Mendelssohn Chailly has unearthed fascinating early versions of the Third and Fourth Symphonies, which he has recorded. The rarely-performed Lobgesang is a discovery in itself—a festive work with soloists and chorus in the last movement, reflecting his hommage to Beethoven’s Ninth Symphony, which was still relatively little known, since conductors and orchestras had not yet come to terms with it technically. Riccardo Chailly is a great conductor and a very flexible one, who sees many different aspects in the music he performs, both historically and in simply bringing the music to life. Boston would be lucky to get him.
Charles Dutoit, another senior guest conductor will follow with, most interestingly, Dutilleux’s marvellous work for cello and orchestra, “Tout un monde lointain…” together with Debussy’s La Mer.
After that, Jaap van Zweden will conduct Rachmaninoff’s Symphony No. 2—I don’t know which version—preceded by Beethoven’s Second Piano Concerto, played Emmanuel Ax. I regret that I did not hear van Zweden’s concert with the BSO at Tanglewood this summer, but I did hear him conduct the TMC Orchestra in Tchaikovsky’s Fourth. This elite group of young professionals almost always plays magnificently, but this time they outdid themselves. Van Zweden, curiously resembling in temperament one of the past greats whom he also physically resembles, Erich Kleiber, took on the symphony with a kind of fast tempo and songful line that has been out of fashion for years. Although I’m glad the tyranny of Toscanini is past, I thoroughly enjoyed van Zweden’s performance, above all, because nothing was rushed over or oversimplified. The thrilling thing about this occasion was the fact that the fast tempi were something unexpected by the orchestral fellows, but they worked together with van Zweden to make this the kind of unforgettable performance you—or more likely your parents or grandparents—might have heard. In spite of the fast tempi, nothing seemed rushed, and the orchestra played beautifully, wind solos, brass, and everyone. They seemed to have been thrilled by the rare opportunity to participate in this intensely energetic kind of performance. I hope to hear Jaap van Zweden conduct often in the future. perhaps Boston will steal him away from Dallas, where he has made a powerful impression. Although I was never a great admirer of such fast tempi in the past, I liked the way he did it, and that is what makes the difference.
This past summer, Keith Kibler heard Stéphane Denève conduct the Philadelphia Orchestra in Ravel’s Ma Mère l’Oye Suite and praised it warmly. To this he will add in Boston Stravinsky’s braced Concerto for Piano and Winds with Peter Serkin, which should be interesting as well as beautifully played, along with Shostakovich’s Fifth Symphony. Note that Marcelo Lehninger will take over the final performance on Tuesday, February 21.
The next cluster will consist of Beethoven’s Missa Solemnis conducted by Kurt Masur. Usually a steady pace and clear phrasing lets Beethoven come through more persuasively than a more demonstrative approach, and Masur’s recording with the Leipzig Gewandhaus Orchestra has been one of my favorites for just that reason. The Tanglewood Festival Chorus and an outstanding solo quartet should prove added luxuries. Audiences may well come away from the performance with a feeling that it was the most rewarding performance they’ve heard. Next comes Christoph Eschenbach who is fortunately now a regular at Tanglewood and at Symphony Hall. His program will be entirely French, combining Berlioz and Ravel.
I’m very much looking forward to Juraj Valcuha’s visit, which begins on March 21. He will conduct Kodály’s Dances of Galánta, Dvořák’s Violin Concerto, played by Frank Peter Zimmermann, artist-in-residence at the New York Philharmonic this season, with whom he will play the same work in the same month, but with Dohnányi as conductor. He will conclude the concert with Mendelssohn’s Third Symphony. I have heard Valcuha conduct Le Nozze di Figaro in Munich, a strongly phrased interpretation with carefully considered tempi and balances, some of which were surprising. His conducting was consistently energetic and interesting. This still relatively young Slovakian conductor has appeared with several major European orchestras and opera companies, as well as the Pittsburgh and Cincinnati Symphonies and the LA Philharmonic. This will be a year of major debuts for Valcuha, not only with Boston and New York, but with the Concertgebouw as well.
Following that, the violinist Leonidas Kavakos will play and conduct a nicely balanced program of a Bach concerto, Lutosławski’s Musique funèbre for strings, and Beethoven’s Fourth Symphony. In early April, Christoph von Dohnányi will conduct Brahms’ A German Requiem. A performance of Brahms’ early masterwork is always a significant event, even if James Levine conducted it only a couple of years ago—in fact, one of the triumphs of his Boston career, available as a download from the BSO Digital Music Store.
Esa-Pekka Salonen, former Music Director of the LA Philharmonic, is presumably one of those under consideration. He will conduct Ravel, his own Violin Concerto with Leila Josefowicz, and Stravinsky’s complete Firebird ballet. This should be a must, not least because the Firebird is usually performed as a suite, which doesn’t quite do it justice, not to mention Salonen’s important concerto, played by an specialist in the repertoire.
Bernard Haitink will bring the season to an end with three concerts, all featuring a Beethoven symphony, in the first No. 1 paired with Mendelssohn’s complete incidental music to A Midsummer Night’s Dream (with Layla Claire and Kate Lindsey, and Claire Bloom, narrator), No. 6, “Pastorale,” with Debussy and Mozart’s Piano Concerto in E-flat, K. 482, played by Till Fellner, and finally the Ninth, together with Stravinsky’s splendid A Symphony of Psalms, an effective pairing. For my part, I appreciate Haitink’s straightforward approach more than many of the critics on this site, and I have fond memories of his Beethoven symphony cycle with the Concertgebouw Orchestra in Carnegie Hall years ago. This should be a satisfying conclusion to a season of considerable variety. For my part I hope to be on hand for a good many of these, especially, Chung, Chailly, Nelsons, Salonen, van Zweden, Denève, Eschenbach, Valcuha, and as many of the many distinguished soloists as possible. And of course that final Stravinsky and Beethoven. My chief disappointment was not to see the name of the truly outstanding Jonas Albers among the guest conductors.
September 30, 2011, Friday 6:00 pm
Opening Night at Symphony: All-Mozart Program
Symphony Hall
Anne-Sophie Mutter, violin and conductor
Mozart ‑ Violin Concerto No. 3 in G, K.216
Mozart ‑ Violin Concerto No. 5 in A, K.219
October 1, 2011, Saturday 8:00 pm
All-Mozart Program
Symphony Hall
Anne-Sophie Mutter, violin and conductor
Mozart ‑ Violin Concerto No. 2 in D, K.211
Mozart ‑ Violin Concerto No. 1 in B-flat, K.207
Mozart ‑ Violin Concerto No. 4 in D, K.218
October 6, 2011, Thursday 8:00 pm
Britten, Prokofiev and Sibelius
Symphony Hall
Sean Newhouse, conductor
Jean-Efflam Bavouzet, piano
Britten ‑ Four Sea Interludes, from Peter Grimes
Prokofiev ‑ Piano Concerto No. 3
Sibelius ‑ Symphony No. 2
October 7, 2011, Friday 1:30 pm
Britten, Prokofiev and Sibelius
Symphony Hall
Sean Newhouse, conductor
Jean-Efflam Bavouzet, piano
Britten ‑ Four Sea Interludes, from Peter Grimes
Prokofiev ‑ Piano Concerto No. 3
Sibelius ‑ Symphony No. 2
October 11, 2011, Tuesday 8:00 pm
Britten, Prokofiev and Sibelius
Symphony Hall
Sean Newhouse, conductor
Jean-Efflam Bavouzet, piano
Britten ‑ Four Sea Interludes, from Peter Grimes
Prokofiev ‑ Piano Concerto No. 3
Sibelius ‑ Symphony No. 2
October 13, 2011, Thursday 10:30 am
Dvořák and Bartók (Rehearsal)
Symphony Hall
Juanjo Mena, conductor
Yo-Yo Ma, cello
Dvořák ‑ Cello Concerto
Bartók ‑ The Wooden Prince
October 13, 2011, Thursday 8:00 pm
Dvořák and Bartók
Symphony Hall
Juanjo Mena, conductor
Yo-Yo Ma, cello
Dvořák ‑ Cello Concerto
Bartók ‑ The Wooden Prince
October 14, 2011, Friday 1:30 pm
Dvořák and Bartók
Symphony Hall
Juanjo Mena, conductor
Yo-Yo Ma, cello
Dvořák ‑ Cello Concerto
Bartók ‑ The Wooden Prince
October 15, 2011, Saturday 8:00 pm
Dvořák and Bartók
Symphony Hall
Juanjo Mena, conductor
Yo-Yo Ma, cello
Dvořák ‑ Cello Concerto
Bartók ‑ The Wooden Prince
October 18, 2011, Tuesday 8:00 pm
Dvořák and Bartók
Symphony Hall
Juanjo Mena, conductor
Yo-Yo Ma, cello
Dvořák ‑ Cello Concerto
Bartók ‑ The Wooden Prince
October 20, 2011, Thursday 10:30 am
All-Brahms Program (Rehearsal)
Symphony Hall
Kurt Masur, conductor
Yefim Bronfman, piano
Brahms ‑ Symphony No. 3
Brahms ‑ Piano Concerto No. 2
October 20, 2011, Thursday 8:00 pm
All-Brahms Program
Symphony Hall
Kurt Masur, conductor
Yefim Bronfman, piano
Brahms ‑ Symphony No. 3
Brahms ‑ Piano Concerto No. 2
October 21, 2011, Friday 1:30 pm
All-Brahms Program
Symphony Hall
Kurt Masur, conductor
Yefim Bronfman, piano
Brahms ‑ Symphony No. 3
Brahms ‑ Piano Concerto No. 2
October 22, 2011, Saturday 8:00 pm
All-Brahms Program
Symphony Hall
Kurt Masur, conductor
Yefim Bronfman, piano
Brahms ‑ Symphony No. 3
Brahms ‑ Piano Concerto No. 2
October 26, 2011, Wednesday 7:30 pm
Schumann and Strauss (Rehearsal)
Symphony Hall
Rafael Frühbeck de Burgos, conductor
Gidon Kremer, violin
Schumann ‑ Violin Concerto
Strauss ‑ Ein Heldenleben
October 27, 2011, Thursday 8:00 pm
Schumann and Strauss
Symphony Hall
Rafael Frühbeck de Burgos, conductor
Gidon Kremer, violin
Schumann ‑ Violin Concerto
Strauss ‑ Ein Heldenleben
October 28, 2011, Friday 1:30 pm
Schumann and Strauss
Symphony Hall
Rafael Frühbeck de Burgos, conductor
Gidon Kremer, violin
Schumann ‑ Violin Concerto
Strauss ‑ Ein Heldenleben
October 29, 2011, Saturday 8:00 pm
Schumann and Strauss
Symphony Hall
Rafael Frühbeck de Burgos, conductor
Gidon Kremer, violin
Schumann ‑ Violin Concerto
Strauss ‑ Ein Heldenleben
November 1, 2011, Tuesday 7:00 pm
Schumann and Strauss
Symphony Hall
Rafael Frühbeck de Burgos, conductor
Gidon Kremer, violin
Schumann ‑ Violin Concerto
Strauss ‑ Ein Heldenleben
November 3, 2011, Thursday 10:30 am
Haydn and Wagner (Rehearsal)
Symphony Hall
Rafael Frühbeck de Burgos, conductor
James Morris, bass
Tanglewood Festival Chorus
John Oliver, conductor
Haydn ‑ Symphony No. 1
Haydn ‑ Symphony No. 100, Military
Wagner ‑ Excerpts from Die Meistersinger von Nürnberg
November 3, 2011, Thursday 8:00 pm
Haydn and Wagner
Symphony Hall
Rafael Frühbeck de Burgos, conductor
James Morris, bass
Tanglewood Festival Chorus
John Oliver, conductor
Haydn ‑ Symphony No. 1
Haydn ‑ Symphony No. 100, Military
Wagner ‑ Excerpts from Die Meistersinger von Nürnberg
November 4, 2011, Friday 1:30 pm
Haydn and Wagner
Symphony Hall
Rafael Frühbeck de Burgos, conductor
James Morris, bass
Tanglewood Festival Chorus
John Oliver, conductor
Haydn ‑ Symphony No. 1
Haydn ‑ Symphony No. 100, Military
Wagner ‑ Excerpts from Die Meistersinger von Nürnberg
November 5, 2011, Saturday 8:00 pm
Haydn and Wagner
Symphony Hall
Rafael Frühbeck de Burgos, conductor
James Morris, bass
Tanglewood Festival Chorus
John Oliver, conductor
Haydn ‑ Symphony No. 1
Haydn ‑ Symphony No. 100, Military
Wagner ‑ Excerpts from Die Meistersinger von Nürnberg
November 10, 2011, Thursday 8:00 pm
Weber, Barber and Tchaikovsky
Symphony Hall
Myung-Whun Chung, conductor
Garrick Ohlsson, piano
Weber ‑ Overture to Der Freischütz
Barber ‑ Piano Concerto
Tchaikovsky ‑ Symphony No. 6, Pathétique
November 11, 2011, Friday 7:00 pm
Weber, Barber and Tchaikovsky
Symphony Hall
Myung-Whun Chung, conductor
Garrick Ohlsson, piano
Weber ‑ Overture to Der Freischütz
Barber ‑ Piano Concerto
Tchaikovsky ‑ Symphony No. 6, Pathétique
November 12, 2011, Saturday 12:00 pm
Family Concert
Symphony Hall
Federico Cortese, conductor
Boston Youth Symphony Orchestra
Prokofiev ‑ Peter and the Wolf
November 12, 2011, Saturday 8:00 pm
Weber, Barber and Tchaikovsky
Symphony Hall
Myung-Whun Chung, conductor
Garrick Ohlsson, piano
Weber ‑ Overture to Der Freischütz
Barber ‑ Piano Concerto
Tchaikovsky ‑ Symphony No. 6, Pathétique
November 17, 2011, Thursday 9:30 am
High School Open Rehearsal
Symphony Hall
Ludovic Morlot, conductor
Richard Goode, piano
Elizabeth Rowe, flute
Berlioz ‑ Roman Carnival Overture
Mozart ‑ Piano Concerto No. 25 in C, K.503
Carter ‑ Flute Concerto
Bartók ‑ Suite from The Miraculous Mandarin
High School Open Rehearsals:
November 17, 2011, Thursday 8:00 pm
Berlioz, Mozart, Carter and Bartók
Symphony Hall
Ludovic Morlot, conductor
Richard Goode, piano
Elizabeth Rowe, flute
Berlioz ‑ Roman Carnival Overture
Mozart ‑ Piano Concerto No. 25 in C, K.503
Carter ‑ Flute Concerto
Bartók ‑ Suite from The Miraculous Mandarin
November 19, 2011, Saturday 8:00 pm
Berlioz, Mozart, Carter and Bartók
Symphony Hall
Ludovic Morlot, conductor
Richard Goode, piano
Elizabeth Rowe, flute
Berlioz ‑ Roman Carnival Overture
Mozart ‑ Piano Concerto No. 25 in C, K.503
Carter ‑ Flute Concerto
Bartók ‑ Suite from The Miraculous Mandarin
November 22, 2011, Tuesday 8:00 pm
Berlioz, Mozart, Carter and Bartók
Symphony Hall
Ludovic Morlot, conductor
Richard Goode, piano
Elizabeth Rowe, flute
Berlioz ‑ Roman Carnival Overture
Mozart ‑ Piano Concerto No. 25 in C, K.503
Carter ‑ Flute Concerto
Bartók ‑ Suite from The Miraculous Mandarin
November 25 2011, Friday 1:30 pm,
Harbison, Ravel and Mahler
Symphony Hall
Ludovic Morlot, conductor
Harbison ‑ Symphony No. 4
Ravel ‑ Daphnis et Chloé, Suite No. 2
Mahler ‑ Symphony No. 1
November 26, 2011, Saturday 8:00 pm
Harbison, Ravel and Mahler
Symphony Hall
Ludovic Morlot, conductor
Harbison ‑ Symphony No. 4
Ravel ‑ Daphnis et Chloé, Suite No. 2
Mahler ‑ Symphony No. 1
November 29, 2011, Tuesday 8:00 pm
Harbison, Ravel and Mahler
Symphony Hall
Ludovic Morlot, conductor
Harbison ‑ Symphony No. 4
Ravel ‑ Daphnis et Chloé, Suite No. 2
Mahler ‑ Symphony No. 1
December 1, 2011, Thursday 10:30 am
Beethoven and Harbison (Rehearsal)
Symphony Hall
Jiří Bělohlávek, conductor
Jonathan Biss, piano
Sasha Cooke, mezzo-soprano
Gerald Finley, baritone
Harbison ‑ Symphony No. 5
Beethoven ‑ Piano Concerto No. 4
Beethoven ‑ Leonore Overture No. 3
December 1, 2011, Thursday 8:00 pm
Beethoven and Harbison
Symphony Hall
Jiří Bělohlávek, conductor
Jonathan Biss, piano
Sasha Cooke, mezzo-soprano
Gerald Finley, baritone
Harbison ‑ Symphony No. 5
Beethoven ‑ Piano Concerto No. 4
Beethoven ‑ Leonore Overture No. 3
December 2, 2011, Friday 1:30 pm
Beethoven and Harbison
Symphony Hall
Jiří Bělohlávek, conductor
Jonathan Biss, piano
Sasha Cooke, mezzo-soprano
Gerald Finley, baritone
Harbison ‑ Symphony No. 5
Beethoven ‑ Piano Concerto No. 4
Beethoven ‑ Leonore Overture No. 3
December 3, 2011, Saturday 8:00 pm
Beethoven and Harbison
Symphony Hall
Jiří Bělohlávek, conductor
Jonathan Biss, piano
Sasha Cooke, mezzo-soprano
Gerald Finley, baritone
Harbison ‑ Symphony No. 5
Beethoven ‑ Piano Concerto No. 4
Beethoven ‑ Leonore Overture No. 3
January 4, 2012, Wednesday 7:30 pm
Haydn, Turnage and Strauss (Rehearsal)
Symphony Hall
Andris Nelsons, conductor
Håkan Hardenberger, trumpet
Haydn ‑ Symphony No. 90
Turnage ‑ From the Wreckage, for trumpet and orchestra (American premiere)
Strauss ‑ Thus spake Zarathustra
January 5, 2012, Thursday 8:00 pm
Haydn, Turnage and Strauss
Symphony Hall
Andris Nelsons, conductor
Håkan Hardenberger, trumpet
Haydn ‑ Symphony No. 90
Turnage ‑ From the Wreckage, for trumpet and orchestra (American premiere)
Strauss ‑ Thus spake Zarathustra
January 6, 2012, Friday 1:30 pm
Haydn, Turnage and Strauss
Symphony Hall
Andris Nelsons, conductor
Håkan Hardenberger, trumpet
Haydn ‑ Symphony No. 90
Turnage ‑ From the Wreckage, for trumpet and orchestra (American premiere)
Strauss ‑ Thus spake Zarathustra
January 7, 2012, Saturday 8:00 pm
Haydn, Turnage and Strauss
Symphony Hall
Andris Nelsons, conductor
Håkan Hardenberger, trumpet
Haydn ‑ Symphony No. 90
Turnage ‑ From the Wreckage, for trumpet and orchestra (American premiere)
Strauss ‑ Thus spake Zarathustra
January 12, 2012, Thursday 8:00 pm
Weber, Beethoven, Harbison and Strauss
Symphony Hall
David Zinman, conductor
Leif Ove Andsnes, piano
Weber ‑ Overture to Euryanthe
Beethoven ‑ Piano Concerto No. 1
Harbison ‑ Symphony No. 6 (world premiere; BSO commission)
Strauss ‑ Till Eulenspiegel’s Merry Pranks
January 13, 2012, Friday 1:30 pm
Weber, Beethoven, Harbison and Strauss
Symphony Hall
David Zinman, conductor
Leif Ove Andsnes, piano
Weber ‑ Overture to Euryanthe
Beethoven ‑ Piano Concerto No. 1
Harbison ‑ Symphony No. 6 (world premiere; BSO commission)
Strauss ‑ Till Eulenspiegel’s Merry Pranks
January 14, 2012, Saturday 8:00 pm
Weber, Beethoven, Harbison and Strauss
Symphony Hall
David Zinman, conductor
Leif Ove Andsnes, piano
Weber ‑ Overture to Euryanthe
Beethoven ‑ Piano Concerto No. 1
Harbison ‑ Symphony No. 6 (world premiere; BSO commission)
Strauss ‑ Till Eulenspiegel’s Merry Pranks
January 17, 2012, Tuesday 8:00 pm
Weber, Beethoven, Harbison and Strauss
Symphony Hall
David Zinman, conductor
Leif Ove Andsnes, piano
Weber ‑ Overture to Euryanthe
Beethoven ‑ Piano Concerto No. 1
Harbison ‑ Symphony No. 6 (world premiere; BSO commission)
Strauss ‑ Till Eulenspiegel’s Merry Pranks
January 19, 2012, Thursday 8:00 pm
Prokofiev, Debussy and Stravinsky
Symphony Hall
Riccardo Chailly, conductor
Prokofiev ‑ Suite from The Love of Three Oranges
Debussy ‑ Khamma
Stravinsky ‑ The Rite of Spring
January 20, 2012, Friday 1:30 pm
Prokofiev, Debussy and Stravinsky
Symphony Hall
Riccardo Chailly, conductor
Prokofiev ‑ Suite from The Love of Three Oranges
Debussy ‑ Khamma
Stravinsky ‑ The Rite of Spring
January 21, 2012, Saturday 8:00 pm
Prokofiev, Debussy and Stravinsky
Symphony Hall
Riccardo Chailly, conductor
Prokofiev ‑ Suite from The Love of Three Oranges
Debussy ‑ Khamma
Stravinsky ‑ The Rite of Spring
January 24, 2012, Tuesday 8:00 pm
Prokofiev, Debussy and Stravinsky
Symphony Hall
Riccardo Chailly, conductor
Prokofiev ‑ Suite from The Love of Three Oranges
Debussy ‑ Khamma
Stravinsky ‑ The Rite of Spring
January 26, 2012, Thursday 8:00 pm
All-Mendelssohn Program
Symphony Hall
Riccardo Chailly, conductor
Carolyn Sampson, soprano
Camilla Tilling, soprano
Mark Padmore, tenor
Tanglewood Festival Chorus
John Oliver, conductor
Mendelssohn ‑ Lobgesang (Hymn of Praise)
January 27, 2012, Friday 7:00 pm
All-Mendelssohn Program
Symphony Hall
Riccardo Chailly, conductor
Carolyn Sampson, soprano
Camilla Tilling, soprano
Mark Padmore, tenor
Tanglewood Festival Chorus
John Oliver, conductor
Mendelssohn ‑ Lobgesang (Hymn of Praise)
January 28, 2012, Saturday 8:00 pm
All-Mendelssohn Program
Symphony Hall
Riccardo Chailly, conductor
Carolyn Sampson, soprano
Camilla Tilling, soprano
Mark Padmore, tenor
Tanglewood Festival Chorus
John Oliver, conductor
Mendelssohn ‑ Lobgesang (Hymn of Praise)
January 31, 2012, Tuesday 8:00 pm
All-Mendelssohn Program
Symphony Hall
Riccardo Chailly, conductor
Carolyn Sampson, soprano
Camilla Tilling, soprano
Mark Padmore, tenor
Tanglewood Festival Chorus
John Oliver, conductor
Mendelssohn ‑ Lobgesang (Hymn of Praise)
February 2, 2012, Thursday 10:30 am
Strauss, Dutilleux and Debussy (Rehearsal)
Symphony Hall
Charles Dutoit, conductor
Gautier Capuçon, cello
Mendelssohn ‑ Suite from Le Bourgeois Gentilhomme
Dutilleux ‑ Tout un monde lointain… for cello and orchestra
Debussy ‑ La Mer
February 2, 2012, Thursday 8:00 pm
Strauss, Dutilleux and Debussy
Symphony Hall
Charles Dutoit, conductor
Gautier Capuçon, cello
Mendelssohn ‑ Suite from Le Bourgeois Gentilhomme
Dutilleux ‑ Tout un monde lointain… for cello and orchestra
Debussy ‑ La Mer
February 3, 2012, Friday 1:30 pm
Strauss, Dutilleux and Debussy
Symphony Hall
Charles Dutoit, conductor
Gautier Capuçon, cello
Mendelssohn ‑ Suite from Le Bourgeois Gentilhomme
Dutilleux ‑ Tout un monde lointain… for cello and orchestra
Debussy ‑ La Mer
February 4, 2012, Saturday 8:00 pm
Strauss, Dutilleux and Debussy
Symphony Hall
Charles Dutoit, conductor
Gautier Capuçon, cello
Mendelssohn ‑ Suite from Le Bourgeois Gentilhomme
Dutilleux ‑ Tout un monde lointain… for cello and orchestra
Debussy ‑ La Mer
February 8, 2012, Wednesday 8:00 pm
Beethoven and Rachmaninoff
Symphony Hall
Jaap van Zweden, conductor
Emanuel Ax, piano
Beethoven ‑ Piano Concerto No. 2
Rachmaninoff ‑ Symphony No. 2
February 9, 2012, Thursday 8:00 pm
Beethoven and Rachmaninoff
Symphony Hall
Jaap van Zweden, conductor
Emanuel Ax, piano
Beethoven ‑ Piano Concerto No. 2
Rachmaninoff ‑ Symphony No. 2
February 10, 2012, Friday 1:30 pm
Beethoven and Rachmaninoff
Symphony Hall
Jaap van Zweden, conductor
Emanuel Ax, piano
Beethoven ‑ Piano Concerto No. 2
Rachmaninoff ‑ Symphony No. 2
February 11, 2012, Saturday 8:00 pm
Beethoven and Rachmaninoff
Symphony Hall
Jaap van Zweden, conductor
Emanuel Ax, piano
Beethoven ‑ Piano Concerto No. 2
Rachmaninoff ‑ Symphony No. 2
February 16, 2012, Thursday 8:00 pm
Ravel, Stravinsky and Shostakovich
Symphony Hall
Stéphane Denève, conductor
Peter Serkin, piano
Ravel ‑ Mother Goose Suite
Stravinsky ‑ Concerto for Piano and Winds
Shostakovich ‑ Symphony No. 5
February 17, 2012, Friday 1:30 pm
Ravel, Stravinsky and Shostakovich
Symphony Hall
Stéphane Denève, conductor
Peter Serkin, piano
Ravel ‑ Mother Goose Suite
Stravinsky ‑ Concerto for Piano and Winds
Shostakovich ‑ Symphony No. 5
February 18, 2012, Saturday 8:00 pm
Ravel, Stravinsky and Shostakovich
Symphony Hall
Stéphane Denève, conductor
Peter Serkin, piano
Ravel ‑ Mother Goose Suite
Stravinsky ‑ Concerto for Piano and Winds
Shostakovich ‑ Symphony No. 5
February 21, 2012, Tuesday 8:00 pm
Ravel, Stravinsky and Shostakovich
Symphony Hall
Marcelo Lehninger, conductor
Peter Serkin, piano
Ravel ‑ Mother Goose Suite
Stravinsky ‑ Concerto for Piano and Winds
Shostakovich ‑ Symphony No. 5
February 23, 2012, Thursday 8:00 pm
All-Beethoven Program
Symphony Hall
Kurt Masur, conductor
Christine Brewer, soprano
Michelle DeYoung, mezzo-soprano
Simon O’Neill, tenor
Eric Owens, bass-baritone
Tanglewood Festival Chorus
John Oliver, conductor
Beethoven ‑ Missa Solemnis
February 24, 2012, Friday 7:00 pm
All-Beethoven Program
Symphony Hall
Kurt Masur, conductor
Christine Brewer, soprano
Michelle DeYoung, mezzo-soprano
Simon O’Neill, tenor
Eric Owens, bass-baritone
Tanglewood Festival Chorus
John Oliver, conductor
Beethoven ‑ Missa Solemnis
February 25, 2012, Saturday 8:00 pm
All-Beethoven Program
Symphony Hall
Kurt Masur, conductor
Christine Brewer, soprano
Michelle DeYoung, mezzo-soprano
Simon O’Neill, tenor
Eric Owens, bass-baritone
Tanglewood Festival Chorus
John Oliver, conductor
Beethoven ‑ Missa Solemnis
March 2, 2012, Friday 7:00 pm
Berlioz and Ravel
Symphony Hall
Christoph Eschenbach, conductor
Cédric Tiberghien, piano
Berlioz ‑ Overture to Benvenuto Cellini
Ravel ‑ Piano Concerto in G
Berlioz ‑ Symphonie fantastique
March 3, 2012, Saturday 8:00 pm
Berlioz and Ravel
Symphony Hall
Christoph Eschenbach, conductor
Cédric Tiberghien, piano
Berlioz ‑ Overture to Benvenuto Cellini
Ravel ‑ Piano Concerto in G
Berlioz ‑ Symphonie fantastique
March 14, 2012, Wednesday 10:00 am
BSO Youth Concerts:”The Beat Goes On: A Musical Look at Perseverance, Pace, and Pulse in Music”
Symphony Hall
Thomas Wilkins, conductor
March 14, 2012, Wednesday 11:50 am
BSO Youth Concerts:” The Beat Goes On: A Musical Look at Perseverance, Pace, and Pulse in Music”
Symphony Hall
Thomas Wilkins, conductor
March 15, 2012, Thursday 10:00 am
BSO Youth Concerts:” The Beat Goes On: A Musical Look at Perseverance, Pace, and Pulse in Music”
Symphony Hall
Thomas Wilkins, conductor
March 16, 2012, Friday 10:00 am
BSO Youth Concerts:” The Beat Goes On: A Musical Look at Perseverance, Pace, and Pulse in Music”
Symphony Hall
Thomas Wilkins, conductor
March 16, 2012, Friday 11:50 am
BSO Youth Concerts:” The Beat Goes On: A Musical Look at Perseverance, Pace, and Pulse in Music”
Symphony Hall
Thomas Wilkins, conductor
March 17, 2012, Saturday 10:15 am
Family Concert
Symphony Hall
Thomas Wilkins, conductor
March 17, 2012, Saturday 11:00 am
Family Concert
Symphony Hall
Thomas Wilkins, conductor
March 21, 2012, Wednesday 7:30 pm
Kodály, Dvořák and Mendelssohn (Rehearsal)
Symphony Hall
Juraj Valcuha, conductor
Frank Peter Zimmermann, violin
Kodály ‑ Dances of Galánta
Dvořák ‑ Violin Concerto
Mendelssohn ‑ Symphony No. 3, Scottish
March 22, 2012, Thursday 8:00 pm
Kodály, Dvořák and Mendelssohn
Symphony Hall
Juraj Valcuha, conductor
Frank Peter Zimmermann, violin
Kodály ‑ Dances of Galánta
Dvořák ‑ Violin Concerto
Mendelssohn ‑ Symphony No. 3, Scottish
March 23, 2012, Friday 1:30 pm
Kodály, Dvořák and Mendelssohn
Symphony Hall
Juraj Valcuha, conductor
Frank Peter Zimmermann, violin
Kodály ‑ Dances of Galánta
Dvořák ‑ Violin Concerto
Mendelssohn ‑ Symphony No. 3, Scottish
March 24, 2012, Saturday 8:00 pm
Kodály, Dvořák and Mendelssohn
Symphony Hall
Juraj Valcuha, conductor
Frank Peter Zimmermann, violin
Kodály ‑ Dances of Galánta
Dvořák ‑ Violin Concerto
Mendelssohn ‑ Symphony No. 3, Scottish
March 27, 2012, Tuesday 8:00 pm
Bach, Lutosławski and Beethoven
Symphony Hall
Leonidas Kavakos, violin and conductor
J. S. Bach ‑ Concerto in D minor for violin, strings, and continuo, BWV 1052
LutosƗawski ‑ Musique funèbre for strings
Beethoven ‑ Symphony No. 4
March 29, 2012, Thursday 8:00 pm
Bach, Lutosławski and Beethoven ‑ Symphony Hall
Leonidas Kavakos, violin and conductor
J. S. Bach ‑ Concerto in D minor for violin, strings, and continuo, BWV 1052
LutosƗawski ‑ Musique funèbre for strings
Beethoven ‑ Symphony No. 4
March 30, 2012, Friday 1:30 pm
Bach, Lutosławski and Beethoven ‑ Symphony Hall
Leonidas Kavakos, violin and conductor
J. S. Bach ‑ Concerto in D minor for violin, strings, and continuo, BWV 1052
LutosƗawski ‑ Musique funèbre for strings
Beethoven ‑ Symphony No. 4
March 31, 2012, Saturday 8:00 pm
Bach, Lutosławski and Beethoven
Symphony Hall
Leonidas Kavakos, violin and conductor
J. S. Bach ‑ Concerto in D minor for violin, strings, and continuo, BWV 1052
LutosƗawski ‑ Musique funèbre for strings
Beethoven ‑ Symphony No. 4
April 5, 2012, Thursday 8:00 pm
All-Brahms Program
Symphony Hall
Christoph von Dohnányi, conductor
Anna Prohaska, soprano
Hanno Müller-Brachmann, bass-baritone
Tanglewood Festival Chorus
John Oliver, conductor
Brahms ‑ A German Requiem
April 6, 2012, Friday 1:30 pm
All-Brahms Program
Symphony Hall
Christoph von Dohnányi, conductor
Anna Prohaska, soprano
Hanno Müller-Brachmann, bass-baritone
Tanglewood Festival Chorus
John Oliver, conductor
Brahms ‑ A German Requiem
April 7, 2012, Saturday 8:00 pm
All-Brahms Program
Symphony Hall
Christoph von Dohnányi, conductor
Anna Prohaska, soprano
Hanno Müller-Brachmann, bass-baritone
Tanglewood Festival Chorus
John Oliver, conductor
Brahms ‑ A German Requiem
April 12, 2012, Thursday 8:00 pm
Ravel, Salonen, Stravinsky
Symphony Hall
Esa-Pekka Salonen, conductor
Leila Josefowicz, violin
Ravel ‑ Le Tombeau de Couperin
Salonen ‑ Violin Concerto
Stravinsky ‑ The Firebird (Complete)
April 13, 2012, Friday 7:00 pm
Ravel, Salonen Stravinsky
Symphony Hall
Esa-Pekka Salonen, conductor
Leila Josefowicz, violin
Ravel ‑ Le Tombeau de Couperin
Salonen ‑ Violin Concerto
Stravinsky ‑ The Firebird (Complete)
April 14, 2012, Saturday 8:00 pm
Ravel, Salonen Stravinsky
Symphony Hall
Esa-Pekka Salonen, conductor
Leila Josefowicz, violin
Ravel ‑ Le Tombeau de Couperin
Salonen ‑ Violin Concerto
Stravinsky ‑ The Firebird (Complete)
April 18, 2012, Wednesday 7:30 pm
Beethoven and Mendelssohn (Rehearsal)
Symphony Hall
Bernard Haitink, conductor
Layla Claire, soprano
Kate Lindsey, Mezzo-soprano
Claire Bloom, narrator
Women of the Tanglewood Festival Chorus
John Oliver, conductor
Beethoven ‑ Symphony No. 1
Mendelssohn ‑ Incidental music to A Midsummer Night’s Dream
April 19, 2012, Thursday 8:00 pm
Beethoven and Mendelssohn
Symphony Hall
Bernard Haitink, conductor
Layla Claire, soprano
Kate Lindsey, Mezzo-soprano
Claire Bloom, narrator
Women of the Tanglewood Festival Chorus
John Oliver, conductor
Beethoven ‑ Symphony No. 1
Mendelssohn ‑ Incidental music to A Midsummer Night’s Dream
April 20, 2012, Friday 1:30 pm
Beethoven and Mendelssohn
Symphony Hall
Bernard Haitink, conductor
Layla Claire, soprano
Kate Lindsey, Mezzo-soprano
Claire Bloom, narrator
Women of the Tanglewood Festival Chorus
John Oliver, conductor
Beethoven ‑ Symphony No. 1
Mendelssohn ‑ Incidental music to A Midsummer Night’s Dream
April 21, 2012, Saturday 12:00 pm
Family Concert
Symphony Hall
Marta Zurad, conductor
Young People’s String Orchestra with members of the Intensive Community Program
“Notes in Bloom”
Program to include selections from classical and popular favorites.
April 21 2012, Saturday 8:00 pm
Beethoven and Mendelssohn
Symphony Hall
Bernard Haitink, conductor
Layla Claire, soprano
Kate Lindsey, Mezzo-soprano
Claire Bloom, narrator
Women of the Tanglewood Festival Chorus
John Oliver, conductor
Beethoven ‑ Symphony No. 1
Mendelssohn ‑ Incidental music to A Midsummer Night’s Dream
April 24, 2012, Tuesday 8:00 pm
Beethoven and Mendelssohn
Symphony Hall
Bernard Haitink, conductor
Layla Claire, soprano
Kate Lindsey, Mezzo-soprano
Claire Bloom, narrator
Women of the Tanglewood Festival Chorus
John Oliver, conductor
Beethoven ‑ Symphony No. 1
Mendelssohn ‑ Incidental music to A Midsummer Night’s Dream
April 26, 2012, Thursday 10:30 am
Debussy, Mozart and Beethoven (Rehearsal)
Symphony Hall
Bernard Haitink, conductor
Till Fellner, piano
Debussy ‑ Prelude to The Afternoon of a Faun
Mozart ‑ Piano Concerto No. 22 in E-flat, K.482
Beethoven ‑ Symphony No. 6, Pastoral
April 26, 2012, Thursday 8:00 pm
Debussy, Mozart and Beethoven ‑ Symphony Hall
Bernard Haitink, conductor
Till Fellner, piano
Debussy ‑ Prelude to The Afternoon of a Faun
Mozart ‑ Piano Concerto No. 22 in E-flat, K.482
Beethoven ‑ Symphony No. 6, Pastoral
April 27, 2012, Friday 1:30 pm
Debussy, Mozart and Beethoven ‑ Symphony Hall
Bernard Haitink, conductor
Till Fellner, piano
Debussy ‑ Prelude to The Afternoon of a Faun
Mozart ‑ Piano Concerto No. 22 in E-flat, K.482
Beethoven ‑ Symphony No. 6, Pastoral
April 28, 2012, Saturday 8:00 pm
Debussy, Mozart and Beethoven ‑ Symphony Hall
Bernard Haitink, conductor
Till Fellner, piano
Debussy ‑ Prelude to The Afternoon of a Faun
Mozart ‑ Piano Concerto No. 22 in E-flat, K.482
Beethoven ‑ Symphony No. 6, Pastoral
May 3, 2012, Thursday 8:00 pm
Stravinsky and Beethoven ‑ Symphony Hall
Bernard Haitink, conductor
Jessica Rivera, soprano
Meredith Arwady, mezzo-soprano
Roberto Saccà, tenor
Günther Groissböck, bass
Tanglewood Festival Chorus
John Oliver, conductor
Stravinsky ‑ Symphony of Psalms
Beethoven ‑ Symphony No. 9
May 4, 2012, Friday 7:00 pm
Stravinsky and Beethoven ‑ Symphony Hall
Bernard Haitink, conductor
Jessica Rivera, soprano
Meredith Arwady, mezzo-soprano
Roberto Saccà, tenor
Günther Groissböck, bass
Tanglewood Festival Chorus
John Oliver, conductor
Stravinsky ‑ Symphony of Psalms
Beethoven ‑ Symphony No. 9
May 5, 2012, Saturday 8:00 pm
Stravinsky and Beethoven ‑ Symphony Hall
Bernard Haitink, conductor
Jessica Rivera, soprano
Meredith Arwady, mezzo-soprano
Roberto Saccà, tenor
Günther Groissböck, bass
Tanglewood Festival Chorus
John Oliver, conductor
Stravinsky ‑ Symphony of Psalms
Beethoven ‑ Symphony No. 9
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