Boston Symphony Orchestra Concert Programs, Summer, 1947-1950
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22 (JSerhshire ^jredlwul — TANGLEWOOD, 1950 returns are bridged over by polyphonic intermezzi, a mixture of aria, rondo, and concerto, Allegro. BERKSHIRE FESTIVAL, 1950 Cantata No. 161, Komm, du susse Serge Koussevitzky, Conductor Concerts in the Shed todesstunde Thursday and Saturday Evenings at 8: 15 His title: Komm, du susse Todesstunde (Come, Sunday Afternoons at 3:00 sweet hour of death) indicates the peculiar religious through SERIES A atmosphere that, in the 18th century, mainly prevailing pietistic movement, imparted a mys- Thursday Evening, July 27 the tic, mild and confiding sense to the fundamental Beethoven. Symphony No. 3 ("Eroica") Sibelius Symphony No. 2 problem of life and death m the Christian evangelic belief and mentality. In the words of Bach's can- Saturday Evening, July 29 tata poet, Salomo Franck, the longing for death is Bruckner. Symphony No. 7 and Debussy Two Nocturnes represented as the prelude to the celestial peace La Mer glorious joy in heaven, in a world beyond the troubles and confusions of our earthly life. To express Sunday Afternoon, July 30 properly Bach has written Conducted by Leonard Bernstein these transcendent ideas Shapero Adagietto some of his tenderest, softest and most touching Diamond Timon of Athens music, in melodies of angelic beauty, still enhanced Foss The Song of Songs — Ellabelle Davis by his admirable mastery of writing. Brahms Symphony No. 2 The cantata commences with an aria for con- tralto, accompanied by two gentle flutes and con- SERIES B this terzetto of flutes and continuo pro- Thursday Evening, August 3 tinue As parallel thirds the con- Conducted by Victor de Sabata gresses in softly rocking Brahms "Academic Festival Overture" tinuo interprets the sense of the text in its way by . tut Schubert. ."Unfinished" Symphony intoning the famous J. S. Bach tune "Herzlich Respighi "Pines of Rome" mich verlangen," as a poetic counterpoint in four Gould "Spirituals," for String Choir and sections, interrupted by pauses filled out by the en- Orchestra raptured flutes and the phrases of the solo alto. A Wagner Prelude and Love-Death, art is here displayed, "Tristan and Isolde" masterpiece of contrapuntal quietly and without pretension. Saturday Evening, August 5 Recitativo for the tenor solo, accompanied Conducted by Victor de Sabata No. 2, a preacher's fiery, Bach Sinfonia from the Christmas Oratorio by the basso continuo, contains a Mozart Symphony in E-flat major, K. 543 energetic statement of his first belief in Jesus, the Berlioz Overture "The Roman Carnival" redeemer, and his contempt for the temptations of Ghedini Pezzo Concertante the earthly world. A model in the expressive ad- . in minor Beethoven. Symphony No. 5, C justment of the musical declamation to the meaning this type, the Sunday Afternoon, August 6 of the text. To relish a piece of Conducted by Leonard Bernstein listener must not only understand the words, but Ravel Suite, "Mother Goose" also be familiar with Bach's ingenious and inventive Alborada del Gracioso art of expression with the least possible expenditure Piano Concerto — Leonard Bernstein means. Berlioz Romeo and Juliet (Excerpts) of No. 3, the tenor aria, "Mein Verlangen'' accom- SERIES C panied by the string quintet and continuo, is admir- the Thursday Evening, August 10 ably developed from the melodious phrase of vie with Bach Mass in B Minor violins at the beginning. Solo and orchestra (In two parts) at 5:00 and 8: 15 each other in always new variants of this introduc- Adele Addison David Lloyd tion, serving also as ritornello in the dialogue of the Eunice Alberts James Pease solo and the orchestra. Its melodic beauty and Saturday Evening, August 12 warmth of religious sentiment, a gentle, yet never Conducted by Eleazar de Carvalho ceasing flow of the music characterizes this melodic Berlioz. Harold in Italy — Joseph de Pasquale masterpiece more than contrapuntal complication. Ibert Escales contralto, "Der Schluss Villa-Lobos. Choros 10 No. 4, a recitativo for the of gemacht is an outstanding masterpiece Sunday Afternoon, August 13 1st schon the the so-called "Arioso" type, midway between Prokofieff. .Symphony No. 6 and the closed and Brahms Symphony No. 1 recitativo-secco declamation rounded aria form. The string orchestra is em-.