Interchanging Idioms

Program remains unchanged, featuring world-renowned Russian violinist, Vadim Repin (Baltimore, Md.)—The Baltimore Symphony is pleased to welcome back internationally acclaimed French conductor Yan Pascal Tortelier (pictured). Conductor Emeritus Yuri Temirkanov has cancelled all of his upcoming United States engagements (as previously announced), including his appearance with the Baltimore Symphony Orchestra on March 26-29, 2009, as he is indisposed. In his place, the BSO The program will remain unchanged, featuring Prokofiev’s Symphony No. 5 and Brahms’ Violin Concerto, featuring the distinguished Russian violinist Vadim Repin on Thursday, March 26 at 8:00 p.m. at the Music Center at Strathmore and Friday and Saturday, March 27 and 28 at 8:00 p.m. and Sunday, March 29 at 3:00 p.m. at the Joseph Meyerhoff Symphony Hall. Tortelier’s previous Baltimore engagement in April 2008, where he also filled in for Maestro Temirkanov, earned high praise from Tim Smith with The Baltimore Sun, ...

Nash Inventions : Thursday 5 March 2009, 7.30pm, Wigmore Hall “The Nash Ensemble is still the best champion that any composer could hope to have” The Times ANDERSON Poetry Nearing Silence for flute, clarinet, harp and string quartet* MATTHEWS The Island for soprano and ensemble* MICHAEL BERKELEY Piano Quintet* (world première) ANDERSON Prayer for solo viola (world première) WATKINS Trio for horn, violin and piano* (world première) BENJAMIN Piano Figures for solo piano (UK première) TURNAGE A Constant Obsession for tenor and ensemble** (world première) * Nash Commission ** Wigmore Hall Commission Claire Booth soprano • Mark Padmore tenor • Ian Brown piano • Lawrence Power viola • Martyn Brabbins conductor On the 5 March 2009 the Nash Ensemble will present its annual collection of the best in British contemporary music, with world premieres of compositions by Huw Watkins and Michael Berkeley, for Brahmsian instrumental combinations, a virtuoso solo viola piece by...

The Boston Symphony Orchestra announced guest conductor Yuri Temirkanov , who was to lead the orchestra in two programs, April 16-25, has canceled all of his upcoming United States engagements, including his appearances with the BSO. The orchestra is in the process of scheduling a conductor or conductors to fill for Mr. Temirkanov for these concerts. I could find no other news sources to update this announcement, but will post should anything come up.

Highlights include complete Beethoven Symphony Cycle, Strauss's Four Last Songs with Renée Fleming, Mendelsshohn's "Elihah," Mahler's Fourth and Seventh Symphonies, and Premieres by Carter, Harbison, Lieverson and John Williams. BSO Music Director James Levine (pictured) leads fourteen programs in the Boston Symphony Orchestra’s 2009-10 season—the orchestra’s 129th season and Maestro Levine’s sixth as music director—which begins with a special Opening Night program under his direction on Wednesday, September 23, and concludes on Saturday, May 1. The Opening Night program features two acclaimed soloists, Evgeny Kissin performing Chopin’s Piano Concerto No. 2, and the BSO’s world-renowned principal harpist Ann Hobson Pilot , who will retire from the BSO in August 2009, in the world premiere of John Williams’ On Willows and Birches , written specifically for her. Also on the program are Debussy’s La Mer and Berlioz’ Roman Carnival Overture. This program will b...

Earlier this month the Avery Ensemble performed John Adams' first string quartet. His second quartet officially received its World Premiere on 29 January with the St. Lawrence String Quartet at The Juilliard School's Peter Jay Sharp Theater. Yesterday's news reports suggested in was premiering last night, but a review in the New York Times on the 30th of January suggests yesterday's report was wrong. Not sure whether yesterdays news report was off, but never mind. What is the music like??? Here's a review of the Avery Ensemble performing on 13 February: "The quartet played the Adams with attitude, a pulsing thicket of layered meters that fell into rock and blues and even funk. The string playing would excite anyone, and the amplification really worked (definitely not a classical concert). A tape loop for a rhythm track would be familiar stuff to lots of music lovers who’ve never heard of a string quartet. "The concert was fast and fun. A beautiful ...

Young Czech pianist Lukáš Vondráček makes Baltimore Symphony Orchestra debut Baltimore, Md. (February 19, 2009) — Marin Alsop (pictured) will lead the Baltimore Symphony Orchestra in Dvořák’s Symphony No. 7 on March 19 and 20 at 8:00 p.m. and March 22 at 3:00 p.m. at the Joseph Meyerhoff Symphony Hall and March 21 at 8:00 p.m. at The Music Center at Strathmore. The program also includes Chopin’s Piano Concerto No. 1, featuring young Czech pianist Lukáš Vondráček and Dvořák’s lively Scherzo Capriccioso . Music commentators rank Symphony No. 7 among Dvořák’s best works and perhaps even among the greatest pieces in the symphonic repertoire. It displays the dark defiance of the Czech underdog, especially in the wild rhythms of the third-movement’s scherzo, imitative of the Czech furiant dance. Maestra Marin Alsop explains, “The third movement has this energy and drive that is almost demonic—like a dance that is coming off the rails.” On the heels of Marin Alsop and the BSO’s successf...

Winner to be Announced after the Boston Symphony Orchestra's All-Mozart Concert Project Mozart designer dresses to be modled prior to the Boston Symphony Ordchestra All-Mozart Concert, 6:30-8 P.M. Winner announced at Post-Concert Reception, 10:10 P.M. The final round of Project Mozart , a unique fashion contest featuring designs inspired by the music of Wolfgang Amadeus Mozart and scheduled in conjunction with a BSO all-Mozart concert led by BSO Music Director James Levine--in his last program of the season, will take place tonight at Symphony Hall. Symphony Hall doors will open at 6:30 p.m. for a pre-concert reception, allowing patrons to view the dresses worn by professional models and enjoy a festive Symphony Hall atmosphere before taking their seats for the 8 p.m. concert. The winner of Project Mozart will be announced at a special post-concert reception and fashion event in Higginson Hall at approximately 10:10 p.m., following the performance. The panel of judges for t...