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By Matt Blank
11 Jul 2008
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| Julian Kuerti (top) and Leonard Slatkin |
Due to a necessary curative surgery, Boston Symphony Orchestra Music Director James Levine has been forced to withdraw from the remainder of the 2008 Tanglewood season.
The procedure, to remedy a kidney cyst causing the maestro considerable discomfort, is described as a one-time procedure with an estimated 6-week recovery period- which should allow Levine sufficient time to prepare and conduct the BSO and Metropolitan Opera season openings in September.
"It is extremely frustrating that I need to have this surgery now," said Levine. "My projects at Tanglewood have been planned so carefully and coordinated in such detail by the Festival administration. I especially regret not being here with Elliott Carter for his 100th birthday celebration, which I was looking forward to more than I can say. And I'm very disappointed at having to miss concerts with my colleagues in the BSO, as well as my work with the young musicians of the Tanglewood Music Center."
Prior to his departure Levine led the opening weekend of the Tanglewood season, conducting Berlioz' Les Troyens July 5 and 6. Also last week, Maestro Levine led the Tanglewood Music Center Orchestra in a performance of Dvorak's Eighth Symphony.
The 2008 Tanglewood concert schedule, which offers 67 ticketed performances through Labor Day weekend, will continue as scheduled, with minor alterations as necessary and the introduction of guest artists to fill Levine's absence.
Recent announcements:
- BSO Assistant Conductor Julian Kuerti will step in as conductor for the orchestra's July 13 performance in the Koussevitzky Music Shed. World-renowned Pianist Peter Serkin will join Mr. Kuerti and the BSO for J.S. Bach's Piano Concerto No. 1 and Mozart's Concert Rondo in D. The program also includes Haydn's Symphony No. 104, London, and Schubert's Symphony No. 4, Tragic. An Open Rehearsal of this program will be held in the Shed on Saturday, July 12, at 10:30 a.m.
- Leonard Slatkin conduct the program scheduled for 8:30 p.m on July 18, also held in the Koussevitzky Music Shed. Slatkin and the BSO will be joined by mezzo-soprano Kate Lindsey and baritone Thomas Meglioranza to perform Harbison's Symphony No. 5. The program will also include Mahler's Symphony No. 1.
- David Zinman will take Levine's place at the conductor's stand for the July 25 performance to kick off Week 4 of the festival. The all-Brahms program will feature Yefim Bronfman performing Piano Concerto No. 1.
- As scheduled, Boston Pops Laureate Conductor John Williams will man the podium at on July 26 to lead the Boston Pops Orchestra in the beloved "Film Night at Tanglewood," featuring music from Mr. Williams' latest score Indiana Jones and the Kingdom of the Crystal Skull as well as music by other great cinematic composers.
The the 5-day Festival of Contemporary Music, which celebrates the 100th birthday of American composer Elliott Carter by dedicating the entire festival to his compositions, has announced some minor changes to its program. Below is a listing of performances for the week, denoting where changes have been made in light of Levine's indisposition:
*Indicates change in original program
Sunday, July 20, 10 a.m., Ozawa Hall
OLIVER KNUSSEN, RYAN WIGGLESWORTH, CHRISTOPH ALTSTAEDT, and LEO MCFALL, conductors
CHARLES ROSEN, piano
URSULA OPPENS, harpsichord
TANGLEWOOD MUSIC CENTER FELLOWS
CARTER, Call, Asko Concerto, Luimen, Réfléxions (American premiere), Double Concerto for Piano and Harpsichord
Sunday, July 20, 8 p.m., Ozawa Hall
The Fromm Concert at Tanglewood
TANGLEWOOD MUSIC CENTER ORCHESTRA
*STEFAN ASBURY and ERIK NIELSON conductors
NICOLAS HODGES, piano
THOMAS MARTIN, clarinet
TANGLEWOOD MUSIC CENTER FELLOWS
CARTER, Dialogues for piano and orchestra; Clarinet Concerto; Sound Fields (world premiere; commissioned by the TMC); Variations for Orchestra
Monday, July 21, 4 p.m., Ozawa Hall
*Pre-concert discussion with the artists
Oliver Knussen, conductor
Fred Sherry, cello
Ellen Highstein, moderator
Monday, July 21, 5 p.m., Ozawa Hall
*PRELUDE CONCERT
URSULA OPPENS and CHARLES ROSEN, piano
CARTER, Matribute, Piano Sonata, Night Fantasies
Monday, July 21, 8 p.m., Ozawa Hall
Chamber Music Concert
STEFAN ASBURY, conductor
LUCY SHELTON, soprano
TANGLEWOOD MUSIC CENTER FELLOWS
CARTER, Tempo e Tempi; Syringa; Penthode; Triple Duo
Tuesday, July 22, 2 p.m., Tent Club
Panel discussion
David Schiff, Jonathan Bernard, and John Link, participants
Tuesday, July 22, 5 p.m., Ozawa Hall
Prelude Concert
TANGLEWOOD MUSIC CENTER FELLOWS
CARTER, Enchanted Preludes: Figment I; esprit rude/esprit doux; esprit rude/esprit doux II; Au Quai; Figment II; Trilogy; Two Thoughts About the Piano: Caténaires and Intermittences
Tuesday, July 22, 8 p.m., Ozawa Hall
Chamber Music Concert
* JOHN OLIVER, JEFFREY MILARSKY, and RYAN WIGGLESWORTH, conductors
KATE LINDSEY, mezzo-soprano
JO ELLEN MILLER, soprano
ANN HOBSON PILOT, harp
TANGLEWOOD MUSIC CENTER FELLOWS
CARTER, Sonata; In the Distances of Sleep; Mosaic (American premiere; co-commissioned by the BSO and Nash Ensemble); Mad Regales (world premiere; commissioned by the TMC); A Mirror on Which to Dwell
Wednesday, July 23, 4 p.m., Ozawa Hall
Film showing
What Next?- A screening of the TMC's 2006 American stage premiere performance of Carter's one-act opera
Wednesday, July 23, 5 p.m., Ozawa Hall
Prelude Concert
THE NEW FROMM PLAYERS TANGLEWOOD MUSIC CENTER FELLOWS
CARTER, Quintet for Piano and Winds; String Quartet No. 2
Wednesday, July 23, 8 p.m., Ozawa Hall
Orchestra Concert
TANGLEWOOD MUSIC CENTER ORCHESTRA
OLIVER KNUSSEN, STEFAN ASBURY, and RYAN WIGGLESWORTH, conductors
FRED SHERRY, cello
CARTER, Holiday Overture; Cello Concerto; Three Occasions; Concerto for Orchestra
Thursday, July 24, 4 p.m., Ozawa Hall
Pre-concert interview and discussion
Elliott Carter, composer
Richard Dyer, interviewer
Thursday, July 24, 5 p.m., Ozawa Hall
Prelude Concert
TANGLEWOOD MUSIC CENTER FELLOWS
CHARLES ROSEN, piano
FRED SHERRY, cello
CARTER, Selected Pieces for Timpani; 4 Lauds; Figment IV, Figment III; Steep Steps; Elegy
Thursday, July 24, 8 p.m., Ozawa Hall
Orchestra Concert
BOSTON SYMPHONY ORCHESTRA
*OLIVER KNUSSEN and SHI-YEON SUNG conductors
JAMES SOMERVILLE, horn
CARTER, Boston Concerto; Three Illusions for Orchestra; Horn Concerto; Symphonia: Sum fluxae pretium spei
Tanglewood, the summer home of the Boston Symphony Orchestra, is located in Lenox, MA. The 2008 season begins June 23 and continues through Labor Day weekend, concluding with the annual Jazz Festival. Tickets are on sale through Tanglewood's website, www.tanglewood.org, and through SymphonyCharge at 888-266-1200. Regular season ticket prices range from $10-$105. Tickets for Open Rehearsals are $17. All ticket prices include a $1 Tanglewood grounds maintenance fee.
Tickets are also available for purchase in person at the Tanglewood Box Office at Tanglewood's Main Gate on West Street in Lenox beginning at 10 a.m. on June 13. American Express, Visa, MasterCard, Diners Club, Discover, personal checks, and cash are all accepted at the Tanglewood Box Office. The Tanglewood Box Office only sells tickets for performances at Tanglewood. For further information and box office hours, please call the Boston Symphony Orchestra at 617-266-1492 or visit www.bso.org.
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