Akfham brings out the best from the BSO

By Edward Sava-Segal, 21 August 2017

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“Afkham’s Brahms is a youthful one, without lingering rubati and questions about direction”

Reviewed at Tanglewood, Koussevitzky Music Shed, Lenox on 18 August 2017

Mahler, Des Knaben Wunderhorn: excerpts

Mahler, Rückertlieder: excerpts

Brahms, Symphony no. 2 in D major, Op.73

Boston Symphony Orchestra

David Afkham, Conductor

Sir Simon Keenlyside, Baritone

Herbert Blomstedt conducts Brahms with the Boston Symphony

Kevin Wells, 5th March

Herbert Blomstedt demonstrates the “singability” of Brahms in his latest appearance with the Boston Symphony, concluding with the autumnal glow of the Fourth Symphony.

*****

An earthbound Missa Solemnis from Boston Symphony Orchestra

Cameron Kelsall, 11th October

In celebration of the 125th anniversary of Symphony Hall, Andris Nelsons returns to the work that opened the venue on 15th October 1900.

***11

Andris Nelsons and the Boston Symphony perform Debussy and Mahler

Kevin Wells, 4th October

Andris Nelsons celebrates Symphony Hall’s 125th anniversary with two works contemporaneous to the hall’s first season: Debussy’s Nocturnes and Mahler’s Symphony no. 4 (both premiered in 1901).

***11

As usual, Beethoven ushers out the BSO season at Tanglewood

Cameron Kelsall, 24th August

The season-ending performance of Beethoven's Ninth Symphony loses its intended conductor but remains enjoyable, if somewhat under-rehearsed.

***11

A galactic adventure at Tanglewood: Kazuki Yamada and The Planets

Cameron Kelsall, 23rd August

The guest conductor pairs Holst's perennial crowd pleaser with Poulenc's Gloria, a work deeply associated with the Boston Symphony Orchestra.

****1

Yo-Yo Ma luxuriates in warm Saint-Saëns at Tanglewood

Kevin Wells, 10th August

Two Camille’s anchor the first half of Samy Rachid’s Tanglewood program: Saint-Saëns and Pépin.

****1

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Edward Sava-Segal

Edward has been living in New York for the last 25 years, one of the reasons being the extraordinarily rich cultural life in this city. He has studied piano and classical music in his early years. He switched later on to computer science and data architecture but he kept an unwavering interest in following the classical music phenomenon here in New York and in his travels. Edward occasionally reviews fine arts events for the most prestigious literary magazine in Romania, his home country.

Akfham brings out the best from the Boston Symphony Orchestra at Tanglewood