Opera Chic

Andris Nelsons is the BSO's Next MD

(credit: Stu Rosner)

Boston Symphony Orchestra appoints Andris Nelsons as its next Music Director, following in the footsteps of Nikisch, Ozawa, Haitink and most recently James Levin from 2004-2011.

The 34-year-old Latvian is the orchestra's 15th MD, currently in its 132nd season. Nelsons' BSO debut was in March 2011 for Mahler's 9th at Carnegie Hall, subbing for an ailing Levine (James R. Oestreich had already called it back in 2011 on his review for the NYTimes).

Since 2008, Nelsons was MD at the City of Birmingham Symphony Orchestra and prior to that, he served as the principal conductor of Germany's Nordwestdeutsche Philharmonie and MD of the Latvian National Opera.

BSO's Highway to Kenny Loggins' Danger Zone

 

Boston Pops rolls out the big logs for their 125th anniversary season and invites jesus christ superstar 80s pop legend, Kenny Loggins. Loggins joins Boston Pops conductor Keith Lockhart in a September 10th concert, which includes hits from the BSO's 2009 CD Red Sox Album (booooo! OC's a NY Yankees girl). If OC could embed a loop of Loggins' Highway to the Danger Zone, Footloose, and I'm Alright, this awesome site would be a little more awesome(er). 

World Premiere of Peter Lieberson's Songs of Love and Sorrow

 

American composer Peter Lieberson's closing-in on the premiere of his "Songs of Love and Sorrow" a new song cycle inspired by the poetry of Chilean writer Pablo Neruda. It's the fifth work commissioned by the Boston Symphony Orchestra since 1981 for the composer, and will be presented by James Levine with the BSO, and Canadian baritone Gerard Finley. The last Lieberson work that premiered with the Levine/BSO dreamteam was in late 2005: his Neruda Songs, inspired similiarly from the Chilean poet, where the composer took five of the love sonnets and set them to music to honor his wife mezzo-soprano Lorraine Hunt Lieberson (above as photographed by Avedon). Although the mezzo died in July 2006 of breast cancer, she sang the premiere. Lieberson's new work takes five more poems from Neruda’s love sonnets from a male perspective, which he considers a companion piece to his 2005 song cycle. There will be four performances starting on March 25th (with an open rehearsal on the evening of March 24).

Luisi Meets the Armed Forces in a BSO Showdown

In commemoration of tomorrow's Veterans Day holiday, the Boston Symphony Orchestra is offering two complimentary tickets for all active members of the military. Those awesome patriots will be treated to the November 12th concert at Symphony Hall where Fabio Luisi, the Italian conductor with a German brain and an Italian heart, will be making his BSO debut.

In a concert of all things French, Saint-Saëns’s artful Piano Concerto No. 2 gets treated by young French pianist, Lise de la Salle (obvs Krystian Zimerman was not invited to perform for America's men and women of honor). Luisi, the chief conductor of the Vienna Symphony and the Staatskapelle Dresden, will also be leading the short & sweet Pastorale d’été of Swiss-French composer Arthur Honegger and Stravinsky’s Petrushka (1947 version). The program will be repeated the evening of November 14. If you can't get to Boston, you can catch Luisi's breezily intelligent reading of Mozart's Le Nozze at the Metropolitan Opera, where the maestro conducts through December 12.

Levine (Still) Out, Maazel Jumps in for BSO's Beethoven Symphony Cycle

The Boston Symphony Orchestra has just announced that Lorin Maazel will be filling-in for James Levine, who was supposed to return to the podium after unanticipated back surgery on a herniated disc on October 30. It was originally announced almost two weeks ago that Levine would be back on stage leading the BSO in four of Beethoven's Symphonies (6, 7, 8 & 9 over the span of eight days) beginning on October 30 and ending November 7. Go here and here for past announcements.

However, Maazel will be relief pitching for Levine at Symphony Hall. He'll also be conducting the BSO in Beethoven's 6 & 7 Symphonies in NYC at Carnegie Hall, scheduled for November 2 (a repeat of the BSO Symphony Hall concerts on October 30 & 31). Maazel hasn't performed with the BSO since 1972.

At this point, Levine is scheduled for his first BSO return on January 28, in a program of Carter, Berlioz, and Ravel.

Our biggest healing wishes to Maestro Levine!

King James (Almost) Back in the Saddle at Symphony Hall

(Photo credit: Michael J. Lutch)

The Boston Symphony Orchestra has just announced that James Levine will be returning to the BSO on October 30, where he'll be conducting four of Beethoven's Symphonies (6, 7, 8 & 9) over the span of eight days.

In his sixth season as MD of the BSO, Levine, who was supposed to lead the orchestra in the entire Beethoven Symphony cycle, has designated his earlier dates for two replacements: Spanish conductor Rafael Frühbeck de Burgos will lead the Beethoven Symphonies 1, 2 & 5 from October 22-24, while Canadian BSO Assistant Conductor Julian Kuerti will conduct Symphonies 4 & 5 from October 27-29.

Levine will be (gingerly) returning to the podium after withdrawing two weeks ago from handfuls of Fall performances to undergo unanticipated back surgery on a herniated disc. Our best recovery wishes to Maestro Levine. 

Carnegie Hall's 119th Season Opener: Gatti Saves the Day

Here are a few pictures from last night's concert gala at New York City's tony Carnegie Hall. We missed James Levine, but were treated to last-minute sub Daniele Gatti. O.C. was in the house and will share her review later. Below find images of Russian pianist Evgeny Kissin and American harpist Ann Hobson Pilot. (all photos Getty)

It's All Relative: At Boston Symphony Orchestra Life Begins At Forty

You're under 40? You qualify for youngsters' discount at the Boston Symphony Orchestra (average age of ticket holders: 49; average age of subscribers, 54)

...the BSO is now trying harder than ever to attract new listeners and patrons. After seasons of offering discounts to college students and hosting preconcert social events, the orchestra this season is trying to throw open its doors even wider, selling $20 tickets to anyone under the age of 40.

Via ArtsJournal

Sew Me, Amadeus: Boston Symphony Orchestra Reaches for the Runways

As part of the Boston Symphony Orchestra's Symphony+ events (a new series of pre & post concert happenings), Bostonians can finally shed their Timberlands & Filene's toss-offs and embrace inspiration from ~Project Mozart~.

The BSO has invited 11 fashion students from Boston area colleges (Lasell, Massachusetts College of Art and Design, and Mount Ida) to slug it out in the name of Wolfgang Amadeus Mozart, and design evening-wear based on the Austrian bada$$ & his music. With a cash advance budget of $150, we're predicting BeDazzlers & velvet. Prove us wrong, future Starbucks-fetching Program Assistants of America!

~Project Mozart~ celebrates the upcoming BSO all-Mozart programs, which ran February 12, 17 & 19 at Symphony Hall. All of the dresses had the opportunity to be judged before each February concert evening, worn by models. The winner gets a feature in Boston Common Magazine and a department store shopping spree from Bloomingdales Y.E.S. department! Weeeeee!

Tonight is the final round! *ding ding ding*The winner will be announced at the post-concert reception tonight at 10:10 pm in Higginson Hall. Symphony Hall doors will open at 6:30 pm tonight for the pre-concert judging and reception.