2010-2011 Season, Concert 4
Shostakovich, Prokofiev
Shostakovich Second Cello Concerto
Natalia Gutman cello
Prokofiev Romeo and Juliet
Natalia Gutman, one of the greatest cellists of our time and overwhelmingly beloved by Boston Philharmonic audiences, returns for the third time to the Boston Philharmonic, this time in Shostakovich’s Second Cello Concerto. Written towards the end of his life, this is one of the most eloquent of all Shostakovich’s works, almost a self-portrait. It is the testament of a man who experienced the worst the Stalinist regime could do, and survived — just barely.
Ms. Gutman is the living heir to the generation of Russian musicians who experienced the terror first hand, and with her unequaled gift for reaching into the soul of every work she plays, she is the foremost interpreter of this masterpiece.
Prokofiev’s ballet Romeo and Juliet is probably the greatest “story” ballet ever composed. Its music is alternately playful, ribald, searing, and ecstatic, much like the play on which it is based. Benjamin Zander has prepared an extensive suite from the three acts of the ballet, different from what is usually heard in the concert halls, that projects the variety and tragic grandeur of this rich score with the visceral power of an actual staged performance.
These two extraordinarily gripping works, combined with the mesmerizing presence of Natalia Gutman, guarantee that this concert will be one of the most thrilling and talked-about musical events in Boston this year. Don’t miss it! |
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Saturday, April 30, 2011
Jordan Hall
Pre-concert talk, 6:45 pm
Concert, 8:00 pm
Sunday, May 1, 2011
Sanders Theatre
Pre-concert talk, 1:45 pm
Concert, 3:00 pm
Monday, May 2, 2011
Sanders Theatre
Discovery Series, 7:00 pm
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Natalia Gutman |
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Current Season 
2010-2011 Season