Herbert Blomstedt conducts Brahms with the Boston Symphony

Herbert Blomstedt conducts the Boston Symphony Orchestra

Herbet Blomstedt conducts the Tanglewood Festival Chorus and Boston Symphony

By Kevin Wells, 09 March 2026

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“Blomstedt’s fabled attention to balance created a clarity of textures”

Reviewed at Symphony Hall, Boston on 5 March 2026

Brahms, Nänie for Chorus and Orchestra (Harp ad libitum), Op.82

Brahms, Schicksalslied (Song of Destiny) for Chorus and Orchestra, Op.54

Brahms, Symphony no. 4 in E minor, Op.98

Herbert Blomstedt, Conductor

Tanglewood Festival Chorus

Boston Symphony Orchestra

Lisa Wong, Choirmaster / chorus director

Andris Nelsons and the BSO arrive in New York, with baggage in tow

Cameron Kelsall, 9th April

In his first New York appearance since the termination of his contract as BSO Music Director, Nelsons courts public sympathy and makes some thrilling music.

***11

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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Kevin Wells

Kevin Wells was bitten by the opera bug at 10, having heard a 1936 recording of Jussi Björling singing “Che gelida manina”. He has never been the same since. A student of voice, performance practice, the history of singing and opera, he holds advanced degrees in Italian and has lived and worked in Italy off and on since the 70s. La Scala became a second home as the Met had been during college daze. Now in his native Boston, he works as translator, tutor, and language coach, haunts Symphony Hall, and would haunt the Opera House had it not been demolished in 1958!

Beauty in the bellow of despair: Herbert Blomstedt conducts Brahms with the Boston Symphony