Heady potpourri Lee, Shostakovich, Smetana in Boston

By Kevin Wells, 09 October 2019

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“Rolfs... was the irrepressible, disrespectful adolescent to Wang’s often exasperated adult”

Reviewed at Symphony Hall, Boston on 4 October 2019

Lee III, Sukkot Through Orion's Nebula

Shostakovich, Piano Concerto no. 1 in C minor for piano, trumpet and string orchestra, Op.35

Smetana, Má vlast: Vltava (The Moldau) (excerpts)

Smetana, Má vlast: Z českých luhů a hájů (From Bohemia's Woods and Fields)

Smetana, Má vlast: Blaník

Yuja Wang, Piano

Thomas Rolfs, Trumpet

Boston Symphony Orchestra

Andris Nelsons, Conductor

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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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!

Heady potpourri Lee, Shostakovich, Smetana and Yuja Wang at the Boston Symphony