BSO
James Levine does a masterful job conducting from a chair
By adamg - 1/8/11 - 12:45 pmMike Ball reviews the BSO's opening performance of Stravinsky and Bartok, conducted by a chair-bound James Levine:
When I first saw his fancy office chair on his little dais, I was thinking he'd been immobilized. His staggering on-stage leaving heavily on a cane reinforced that sense.
Forget that. Come baton-waving time, he was if anything liberated by his chair, which became yet another tool instead of a limitation. If anything, he was more active last night than when he stood on two feet.
James Levine cancels all Tanglewood appearances this summer
By adamg - 6/14/10 - 11:35 amJoel Brown reports.
WGBH to drop Friday-afternoon BSO concerts
By adamg - 12/10/09 - 6:52 pmBoston Music Intelligencer reports.
James Levine needs immediate back surgery
By adamg - 9/29/09 - 12:39 pmJoel Brown reports on the BSO conductor's latest medical issue.
Need a job that pays really well? Become a BSO musician
By adamg - 7/18/09 - 12:58 pmThomas Garvey reports. Of course, there is that whole talent thing ...
Singing his director's praises
By adamg - 5/3/09 - 8:37 amTim Jarrett sings with the Tanglewood Festival Chorus. Last night was its final performance of the regular Symphony Hall season:
... It was a good concert. Before the performance, our Fearless Leader shared a few quick thoughts about our Friday afternoon show, saying, "And second tenors! Your entrance at the beginning had real beauty! For the very first time!" Aside from being a great example of John Oliver's wit, the comment was also 100% correct. I am slowly realizing that with this chorus I can bring every ounce of my musicianship to every entrance, bring my voice to its limits every time, and it will almost be enough. ...
Boston's newest record label: The BSO
By adamg - 2/21/09 - 10:15 amJoel Brown reports the BSO is selling recordings of live performances under James Levine, some on CD, some only online.
Tim Jarrett, who's in three of the initial recordings, as a member of the Tanglewood Festival Chorus, is liking the idea:
... As any observer of the classical music portion of the recording industry knows, it's a rough time for classical recordings. ...
Quiet, the maestro is fuming
By adamg - 11/22/08 - 10:09 amBSO officials might want to sleep with one eye open:
... "I feel not only slighted but I suffered what is called in Russian a moral insult, and I'm free to take any actions to defend myself in public." ...
Young'uns get a break from the BSO
By adamg - 11/19/08 - 3:28 pmThe Boston Symphony Orchestra says that if you're under 40, you can get into concerts for the rest of the 2008-2009 season for $20 apiece. Some 4,000 tickets, normally priced between $29 and $115, are now up for grabs for concerts starting Nov. 20, thanks to an anonymous donor who's making up the difference.
