As usual, Beethoven ushers out the BSO season at Tanglewood

Earl Lee conducts the Boston Symphony Orchestra

Earl Lee, soloists, Tanglewood Festival Chorus and Boston Symphony Orchestra

James Burton conducts the Tanglewood Festival Chorus

By Cameron Kelsall, 24 August 2025

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“its declaration of friendship and brotherhood serving as an unofficial end to summer”

Reviewed at Tanglewood, Koussevitzky Music Shed, Lenox on 24 August 2025

Simon, Words and Prayers of My Fathers (World premiere)

Beethoven, Symphony no. 9 in D minor "Choral", Op.125

Federica Lombardi, Soprano

Isabel Signoret, Mezzo-soprano

Pene Pati, Tenor

Ryan Speedo Green, Bass-baritone

Tanglewood Festival Chorus

Boston Symphony Orchestra

James Burton, Conductor

Earl Lee, Conductor

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

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

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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Cameron Kelsall

Cameron Kelsall is a classical music critic and cultural reporter. He has written for Bachtrack since 2019, and his byline has appeared in many national and international classical music publications. Based in Philadelphia, he regularly travels around the United States for musical events. In addition to his career in journalism, Cameron also teaches in the Theatre Arts program at the University of Pennsylvania. He is also a certified sommelier and avid home cook. His favorite composer is Mahler. Twitter: @CameronPKelsall.

As usual, Beethoven ushers out the Boston Symphony season at Tanglewood