BSO

James Levine does a masterful job conducting from a chair

adamg — Sat, 08 Jan 2011 17:45:16 +0000

Mike 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

adamg — Mon, 14 Jun 2010 16:35:40 +0000

Joel Brown reports.

WGBH to drop Friday-afternoon BSO concerts

adamg — Thu, 10 Dec 2009 23:52:17 +0000

Boston Music Intelligencer reports.

James Levine needs immediate back surgery

adamg — Tue, 29 Sep 2009 17:39:39 +0000

Joel Brown reports on the BSO conductor's latest medical issue.

Need a job that pays really well? Become a BSO musician

adamg — Sat, 18 Jul 2009 17:58:20 +0000

Thomas Garvey reports. Of course, there is that whole talent thing ...

BSO to lay off 10

adamg — Tue, 23 Jun 2009 19:37:20 +0000

The Phoenix reports.

Singing his director's praises

adamg — Sun, 03 May 2009 13:37:53 +0000

Tim 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

adamg — Sat, 21 Feb 2009 15:15:53 +0000

Joel 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

adamg — Sat, 22 Nov 2008 15:09:55 +0000

BSO 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

adamg — Wed, 19 Nov 2008 20:28:36 +0000

The 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.

BSO using fear and intimidation to drum up donations?

adamg — Mon, 19 May 2008 01:06:38 +0000

The lesson from this story seems to be: If somebody from the BSO calls, don't even talk to them, just hang up right away.

If you don't like the music, get out of Symphony Hall

adamg — Mon, 25 Feb 2008 14:32:51 +0000

Stacie explains why she came close to kicking the woman next to her at Symphony this past Thursday.

Opening night at Symphony

adamg — Fri, 05 Oct 2007 16:28:15 +0000

Joel Brown was there last night:

In last night's all-Ravel opening program at Symphony Hall, the full awesomeness of James Levine's command of the orchestra only really showed during the closing piece, the Second Suite from Daphnis et Chloe. It was especially noticeable in the final few minutes, with waves of mini-crescendoes in which he demonstrated his vivid control of the band ...

Composer to BSO: Your Web site sucks

adamg — Thu, 21 Jun 2007 00:40:02 +0000

Geoff Edgers has the scoop.

The BSO is rich

adamg — Sun, 11 Mar 2007 19:05:54 +0000

Here's proof. And here's an explanation (James Levine is involved).