BSO 2016/17 Season - Concert Previews

Listen to the analysis of Sibelius's Prelude and Suite No. 1 from "The Tempest". Sibelius's rarely heard incidental music for the play dates from very late in his compositional life, 1926.

Listen to the analysis of Tchaikovsky's "The Tempest". Tchaikovsky's tone poem by that name, composed in 1875, is one of his several Shakespeare-inspired works.

Listen to the concert preview. Roberto Abbado will lead the Symphony Hall March 10-11-12 with pianist Peter Serkin in Bartók's Piano Concerto No. 3, substituting for Maurizio Pollini, who has had to cancel his BSO appearances due to the flu. This program will also include Haydn's Symphony No. 93 and Beethoven's Symphony No 5.

Download the program notes for this series. Roberto Abbado will lead the Symphony Hall March 10-11-12 with pianist Peter Serkin in Bartók's Piano Concerto No. 3, substituting for Maurizio Pollini, who has had to cancel his BSO appearances due to the flu. This program will also include Haydn's Symphony No. 93 and Beethoven's Symphony No 5.

Listen to the concert preview. BSO Music Director James Levine and German violinist Christian Tetzlaff have developed a strong collaborative partnership in recent years. In these special concerts, Tetzlaff is soloist in all three works on the program, including the world premiere of Harrison Birtwistle's new work for violin and orchestra, a BSO commission for Tetzlaff. On these concerts Christian Tetzlaff also performs Mozart's single-movement Rondo in C and Bartók's scintillating Violin Concerto No. 2, influenced by the folk music of Central Europe.

An interview with violinist Christian Tetzlaff with BSO Assistant Artistic Administrator Benjamin Schwartz. Christian Tetzlaff will be performing Bartok's Violin Concerto no. 2.

Listen to the concert preview. James Levine and the BSO continue their multi-season Mahler cycle in recognition of Mahler's anniversary years. Mahler's Ninth Symphony, his last completed work, is a stunningly moving piece that has been interpreted as a meditation on death. On the boundary between the Romantic and the modern eras, it is widely considered one of the most beautiful symphonies in the literature.

Download the program notes for this series. James Levine and the BSO continue their multi-season Mahler cycle in recognition of Mahler's anniversary years. Mahler's Ninth Symphony, his last completed work, is a stunningly moving piece that has been interpreted as a meditation on death. On the boundary between the Romantic and the modern eras, it is widely considered one of the most beautiful symphonies in the literature.

Thomas Wilkins was announced as the BSO Youth and Family Concerts Conductor through 2013. Thomas Wilkins, currently Music Director of the Omaha Symphony and Principal Guest Conductor of the Hollywood Bowl Orchestra, returns to the BSO podium for the first time in his new role as BSO Youth and Family Concerts Conductor, Wednesday, February 16-Saturday, February 19, leading a program entitled "Community Pride: A Musical Look at Cooperation, Communication, and Conviction." Well-known for his signature charismatic approach to engaging young audiences, Mr. Wilkins made his BSO conducting debut last year, leading a week of BSO Youth and Family concerts, March 3-6.

Listen to the analysis of Mahler's Symphony No. 9. James Levine and the BSO continue their multi-season Mahler cycle in recognition of Mahler's anniversary years. Mahler's Ninth Symphony, his last completed work, is a stunningly moving piece that has been interpreted as a meditation on death. On the boundary between the Romantic and the modern eras, it is widely considered one of the most beautiful symphonies in the literature.

Listen to the concert preview. Finnish conductor Susanna Mälkki returns to the BSO podium with a widely varied program, and is joined by German cellist Alban Gerhardt for the American premiere of the Korean-German composer Unsuk Chin's Cello Concerto, written for Gerhardt. Haydn's Symphony No. 59 in A major, nicknamed "Fire" has never been performed by the BSO.

Inteview with guest conductor Susanna Mälkki. Finnish conductor Susanna Mälkki returns to the BSO podium with a widely varied program, and is joined by German cellist Alban Gerhardt for the American premiere of the Korean-German composer Unsuk Chin's Cello Concerto, written for Gerhardt. Haydn's Symphony No. 59 in A major, nicknamed "Fire" has never been performed by the BSO.

Download the program notes. Finnish conductor Susanna Mälkki returns to the BSO podium with a widely varied program, and is joined by German cellist Alban Gerhardt for the American premiere of the Korean-German composer Unsuk Chin's Cello Concerto, written for Gerhardt. Haydn's Symphony No. 59 in A major, nicknamed "Fire" has never been performed by the BSO.

Download the Program Notes. Finnish conductor Sakari Oramo makes his BSO debut in these concerts and is joined by Romanian pianist Radu Lupu in Beethoven's stormy Piano Concerto No. 3 in C minor. Oramo also leads Russian composer Sergei Prokofiev's Sixth Symphony.

Listen to the concert preview. Finnish conductor Sakari Oramo makes his BSO debut in these concerts and is joined by Romanian pianist Radu Lupu in Beethoven's stormy Piano Concerto No. 3 in C minor. Oramo also leads Russian composer Sergei Prokofiev's Sixth Symphony.