2022-2023 SEason News & Reviews
Boston Musical Intelligencer: BPYO Toured to South Africa?
"The impressive and impressionable players of the Boston Philharmonic Youth Orchestra (BPYO) became enraptured by the South African people and their country over an extraordinary six-concert tour in mid June; South Africans responded in kind to these remarkable young musicians. " -BMINT Staff. Read the full article here.
Williamsport Sun-Gazette: Local violinist to host fundraiser, appreciation recital
“I view everyone’s support,” Fisher said. “Whether that be monetary, or emotional, whatever it may be, as an investment. I definitely feel a lot of responsibility to show that they’re getting a return on their investment. This is my opportunity to show all these people how much I’ve grown and all the experiences I’ve had in the last four years, how much I’ve learned. So, I just think this is an extreme privilege.” -Matthew Courter. Read the article on the Williamsport Sun-Gazette site.
Mail & Guardian: National Arts Festival: Rising above the political malaise
"On the night of 23 July, I attended a performance of one of the world’s top orchestras, the Boston Philharmonic Youth Orchestra, conducted by the incomparable Benjamin Zander. In his mid-80s, he is unlikely to be back, despite his excellent health, so this was a once-in-a-lifetime opportunity.
An enthusiastic house was treated to his interpretation of how Beethoven would have wanted the fifth played, as well as Strauss’s Ein Heldenleben and an encore. With the excellent acoustics of the Guy Butler Theatre, we could hear every note. Zander’s commentary between pieces was another delight not to be missed. " -Philip Machanick. Read the article on Mail&Guardian.co.za
South African Jewish Report: Mahler in the dark – a ‘Zanderful’ experience
"As Zander, a previous winner of the Absa Jewish Achiever Special and Extraordinary Award, worked the orchestra into a dramatic climactic frenzy, the lights suddenly went out in Regina Mundi, a victim of South Africa’s constant loadshedding blackouts. Not missing a beat, Zander continued to conduct the orchestra and choir in almost complete darkness. The audience was in rapture. Nearly 1 000 people in the audience suddenly took out their cell phones and using the flashlights on their mobile devices, they illuminated the cathedral in the glow of their phones." -Howard Sackstein. Read the article on South African Jewish Review.co.za.
Grocott's Mail: Transforming lives through classical music
"Sharing his views on the orchestra’s performance, Zander says: “They did spectacularly. They were very close to perfection. I could tell that even the audience were pleased about the performance, especially those who know music very well.” One of the performers, Henry Monroe, expresses the thrill of coming to South Africa for the first time, saying, “I didn’t know what to expect … but South African people showed us their kindness and opened their hearts for us,” he says." -CUE. Read the article on Grocotts.ru.ac.za
Shrewsbury Community Advocate: Shrewsbury seniors honored by School Committee
"John Qiu will attend Brown University. He has been elected the class president since sophomore year. Qiu has been a member of Boston Philharmonic Youth Orchestra since 2017, and he was selected as a finalist in the 2022 Fidelity Investments Young Artists Competition. Qiu is also the co-captain of the state champion esports team." -Evan Walsh. Read the article here.
Litnet: Laat die Boston Filharmoniese Jeugorkes jou meevoer
Read the article on LitNet.co.za.
Cue: Qhude Manikiniki....Zindala Zombili
"Two orchestras collaborated, one harmonic sound. This collaboration between the Boston Philharmonic Youth Orchestra (BPYO) and the Iimbewy Youth Orchestra (IYO) was surely one to be recognized and celebrated worldwide." -Osisipho Goba.
The Cape Robyn: REVIEW: TRANSCENDENCE OF MAHLER’S RESURRECTION SYMPHONY, THE BOSTON PHILHARMONIC YOUTH ORCHESTRA SA TOUR 2023
"It was a treat and incredible opportunity to experience the BPYO, conducted by Zander in Cape Town City Hall which is a building which potently bridges the past and the present, with Madiba watching over us. Bravo to the BPYO, Benjamin Zander and importantly to Classical Movements in the USA, the tour operator/producer/impresario organisation which facilitated this tour. One can imagine the logistics of organising a tour with a youth orchestra (many are very young) – across South Africa – navigating challenges of load shedding, cold weather and so on. The result as we saw at Cape Town City Hall was a concert to remember – brimming with artistry and vooma (the South African word for energy, vibrancy, charisma, presence)." -Robyn Cohen. Read the review on The Cape Robyn.co.za.
Daily Maverick: From Madiba to Mahler: Ben Zander’s inspired musical message to all South Africans
"Dear Mr. Zander and BPYO: Thank you for your gently stated but massively underscored wake-up call, reminding us of our nation’s exceptional legacy, our people’s unique qualities, our forgone potential, and for encouraging us to claim all of it back. And thank you, for not only reminding us that this needs to be done, but for verifying that it can be done and for actually demonstrating how it can be done! And because of all of that – thank you for the music!" -Hans Huyssen. Read the article on DailyMaverick.co.za.
Upworthy: Beautiful moment sees crowd join in to help orchestra deliver powerful performance after a power outage
"There are often chances of some technical issues when it comes to musical performances. It can be that the mic stops working, an instrument breaks, or the electricity goes off. However, what really matters is how the group or the performers handle the disruption and complete their performance. A similar thing happened to an orchestra called Boston Philharmonic Youth Orchestra, which was performing Gustav Mahler's 2nd Symphony at Soweto. The power went off for six minutes before the end due to load-shedding. Instead of stopping the performance, they gave a stunning finish to their act and left everyone mesmerized. " -Pheba M. Read the article on Upworthy.com
The Boston Globe: All that is right with South Africa — and all that is wrong
"The music soared — as Mahler often does — and then the lights went out.
The Boston Philharmonic Youth Orchestra played on, the Gauteng Choristers sang on, and audience members lit up the darkness with their cellphones in the historic Regina Mundi Catholic Church.
It was the perfect metaphor for all that is right with this country and all that is wrong — all that is hopeful and joyful and all that is dysfunctional." Rachelle G. Cohen. Read the article here.
Soweto TV news: Soweto Welcomes Orchestra
The Boston Philharmonic Youth Orchestra from New York in partnership with the Gauteng Choristers hosted a concert in Rockville on Saturday night to celebrate and perform a monumental classic of the Resurrection symphony by Gustave Mahler.
Sowetan Live: Boston orchestra wows crowds at Regina Mundi despite blackout
"Not even blackouts could stop the performance of the Boston Philharmonic Youth Orchestra in Soweto on Saturday...Instead of stopping the performance, Boston Philharmonic Youth Orchestra (BPYO) continued playing in the dark, with soloists Andiswa Makana, Bongiwe Nakani Mcetywa and the 80-strong Gauteng Choristers Choir, doing the same. The audience that had packed Regina Mundi lit up their cellphones to ensure that there was a bit of light." Patience Bambalele. Read the full article on Sowetan Live.co.za
The Boston Globe: Benjamin Zander on traveling the world with young musicians, doing what he loves, and a good pair of headphones
"What is your best travel tip? Try to take a youth orchestra with you. There’s nothing better than sharing the experience of travel with young musicians — experiencing their camaraderie, curiosity, and enthusiasm." -Juliet Pennington. Read the full interview on The Boston Globe.com
The Cape Robyn:INTERVIEW: BENJAMIN ZANDER TALKS ABOUT THE BOSTON PHILHARMONIC YOUTH ORCHESTRA’S SOUTH AFRICAN TOUR, JUNE 2023
"TCR: Would you say that heroism is the leitmotif of this tour? You have young musicians from Boston – the BPYO -young musicians/choirs/soloists from SA- all on one stage – becoming their own heroes and inspiring others?
Benjamin Zander: We talk a lot about leadership in the BPYO. I do see the members as heroes. The music speaks very powerfully to them and I am sure it will to the SA musicians too." -Robyn Cohen. Read the full article on The Cape Robyn.co.za
Lunch with Pippa Hudson: Audio Interview with Benjamin Zander about the BPYO's Tour to South Africa
Lunch with Pippa Hudson: Audio Interview with Inge Botha, one of the young musicians who will have the privilege of taking part in collaborating with the Boston Youth Orchestra as they visit South Africa
IOL: Another Not to be Missed Show
"Led by its co-founder, Benjamin Zander, BPYO embarks on a 19-day, multi-city tour, performing seven collaborative concerts in Pretoria, Soweto, Johannesburg, Cape Town and Makhanda." -Kedibone Modise. Read the full article on IOL.co.za
The Boston Philharmonic Youth Orchestra Plays Regina Mundi Church: Interview with BPYO Member Rosie Conway
Read the interview on Southern Cross.co.za
The Boston Philharmonic Youth Orchestra Plays Regina Mundi Church: Interview with BPYO Member Thomas Juhasz
Read the interview on Southern Cross.co.za
Daily Maverick: Conductor and cellist Benjamin Zander fulfills promise to Mandela
"In less than one week, a group of young musicians will come to South Africa for their first visit: to meet, collaborate and perform with local instrumentalists and choristers.
Led by renowned conductor, cellist and leadership guru Benjamin Zander, their 106-person ensemble, the Boston Philharmonic Youth Orchestra (BPYO), will tackle two monumental works. " -Deborah Rudman. Read the article on Daily Maverick.co.za.
IOL: International Youth Orchestra hits a high note
"The Boston Philharmonic Youth Orchestra hits a high note in SA this month under the guidance of world-known conductor Benjamin Zander for a five-city tour.
The ensemble won esteem across the US for its young players exceeding expectations with their musical maturity.
Running in tandem with the BPYO’s impressive concert itinerary in Pretoria, Johannesburg, Soweto, Cape Town and Makhanda, the tour will provide interactions with young local musicians." -Venecia Valentine. Read the full article on IOL.co.za
Talk of the Town - Main: OPINION: Action packed fest returns
"Celebrated 120-member USbased Boston Philharmonic Youth Orchestra will perform at the National Arts Festival in Makhanda next month. They will perform on June 23 at7pm at the Guy Butler Theatre and 24 June 24 at 11am at the Fountain Foyer." -TOTT Reporter.
Beeld(Uitgawe2): Bekroonde Boston-jeugorkes 19 dae op toer in SA
(Translation: Award-winning Boston youth orchestra 19 days on tour in SA)
Get It Pretoria: Hot Dates in June
"If you’re yearning for an experience boasting with vitality, enthusiasm and delight, we’ve got you covered! Celebrated conductor Bejamin Zander is bringing his award-winning Boston Philharmonic Youth Orchestra (BPYO) on tour to SA, and trust us, it’s not something you’d want to miss. In review after review, critics praise the BPYO for upending expectations, citing a musical maturity that belies the performers’ tender ages. 7pm at the University of Pretoria, Aula Theatre. Tickets from quicket.co.za" -Megan Brett. Read the full article at GetInMagazin.co.za.
Plainsman: Boston youth orchestra to tour SA
"A focal point of the tour will be interactions and side-by-side collaborations with local ensembles and musicians around the country, including the Hugo Lambrechts Symphony Orchestra.
On Monday, June 19, they will have a music session with over 200 South African and American musicians playing together from the BPYO, Settlers High School Orchestra, Bellville High School Symphonic Wind Band, DF Malan High School Wind Band, Fairbairn College, Westerford High School Symphony Orchestra, San Souci and Rustenburg Girls’ High School and Rondebosch Boys’ High School." -Staff reporter. Read the full article on Plainsman.co.za
Soweto Urban: BPYO to hit high notes with locals
"Maestro Zander is a well-known proponent of using music to change societies and lives, especially through his channeling of young people. Under his aegis, BPYO has won the esteem of major critics across the United States, saluting its brilliant young players for upending expectations, proclaiming the musical maturity that manifests from its players, not in spite of, but because of their youth...So, it comes as no surprise that BPYO’s tour will include side-by-side collaborations with young musicians around South Africa...music is a pathway to changing lives and futures." Read this article at Soweto Urban.co.za
WHRB Radio: Powerful Music in a Place of Possibility: A Conversation with Benjamin Zander on BPYO's 2023 South African Tour
"What are some ways that BPYO musicians are going to be able to interact with South African culture?
Benjamin: There are lots of examples. We're doing a side by side with 60 musicians from the University of Pretoria. Then we're doing an exchange side by side with 150 musicians from Soweto, and then we're doing an exchange side by side with musicians from the Cape Philharmonic Youth orchestra. We're doing a children's concert at the National Arts Festival. It's just amazing. This is in addition to the seven formal concerts. We're going do a lot with South African culture. I'm very excited about this. Not just the safari, but we're going to learn how to play South African music. There's quite a lot of new music by South African composers that we're going to play. And they're going to teach us the different South African drumming instruments, and it's going to be an eye-opener for many of them." Read the interview at WHRB.org
WHRB Radio: Thomas Juhasz '26 on BPYO's Upcoming 2023 South Africa
"There's always so much to be excited about for tour. But I think it's probably growing together as musicians and people in the orchestra. I think something really special happens during tour, just through the nature of what we're doing together. Traveling together, exploring the city together, playing music together. By the end of tour, I often feel like I've really formed a deep bond with every person in the orchestra that I met. When I was younger, that would have never happened in another place. I would have never become friends with somebody almost 10 years older than me. I think it's just through the nature of doing the same thing together for a united purpose that brings us closer together, especially when we're in a different place. By the end of tour, I have to say, I feel like we're kind of just a really big second family, and it's always so hard to leave because we had just grown so close by the end of tour." Read the interview at WHRB.org
Opera Wire: Classical Movements to Present Boston Philharmonic Youth Orchestra’s South Africa Tour
"Classical Movements will present the Boston Philharmonic Youth Orchestra’s upcoming tour throughout South Africa.The tour, which is scheduled for June 15-24, 2023, will be conducted by Benjamin Zander and will feature two programs. The first program will showcase music by Strauss and Beethoven with the latter performance featuring Mahler’s Second Symphony. The soloists for this latter program include soprano Andiswa Makana and mezzo-soprano Bongiwe Nakani Mcetywa. They will be joined by the Gauteng Choristers, directed by Sidwell Mhlongo." -David Salazar, Read the article on OperaWire.com.
Soweto Urban: Boston Philharmonic Youth Orchestra set to visit Soweto
"In June, this 120-member orchestra of talented musicians ranging from age 12 to 21, led by its co-founder and guiding force, Benjamin Zander, embarks on a 19-day, multi-city tour, performing seven collaborative concerts in Pretoria, Soweto, Johannesburg, Cape Town and Makhanda.
Beyond the concerts, a focal point of the tour will be the many interactions and side-by-side collaborations with local ensembles and musicians around the country, including the University of Pretoria Symphony Orchestra and the Hugo Lambrechts Symphony Orchestra.
On June 16 the BPYO will participate in Youth Day Celebrations and a street parade in Soweto with the Field Band Foundation. On June 17, 30 BPYO musicians will meet and play with the Morris Isaacson Music Center in Soweto." -Mzwandile Khathi, read the article on Soweto Urban
Cape{town}etc: Cape Town to host award-winning Boston Philharmonic Youth Orchestra
"In review after review, critics praise the Boston Philharmonic Youth Orchestra (BPYO) for upending expectations, citing a musical maturity that belies the performers’ tender ages.
Undeniably true, however, it could be said that rather than excelling in spite of, the BPYO excels because of the youth of its members. The young musicians bring a vitality, enthusiasm and delight in discovery that only those experiencing something for the first time can produce. Perhaps resembling the powerful impact of first love." -Tauhira Ajam, read the article on Cape{town}etc.com
The Arts Fuse: Classical CD and Livestream Reviews: Mahler 2, Two Ways
"There’s always been much to admire in the BPYO’s playing over the years: the name belies the fact that, as an ensemble, they operate at a professional level. And this Mahler, though it will surely grow in security and polish when it’s repeated next month on the orchestra’s tour of South Africa, doesn’t disappoint...The present Mahler is of a piece with his earlier readings, especially those from the last eighteen months: deeply felt, rightly judged in terms of tempos and balances, and, as a result, emerging with utter naturalness. That’s an exceedingly rare phenomenon...That he can prove so much with a youth orchestra is astonishing. Don’t let their name – or Zander’s familiarity as a local fixture – fool you. This is special. Take note, give thanks, and appreciate it for the gift that it is." -Jonathan Blumhofer, read the full article on TheArtsFuse.org
The Boston Musical Intelligencer: Molding Mahler’s Elemental Clay
"Zander has accomplished the once seemingly miraculous feat of elevating the eleven-year-old BPYO’s performances to such consistent heights, that we expect miracles of engagement and execution every time they play...In the third movement, In ruhig fliesenden Bewegung (With a gently flowing movement) two strokes from the timpani lead to a turmoil in which Tristen Broadfoot’s klezmer sound emerged as a human highlight. The movement built to the cry-of-despair chord... and setting up the Urlicht, (Primal Light) in which mezzo-soprano Jennifer Johnson Cano consoled us with the most beautifully produced angelic tones since Jesse Norman floated out this ode to bliss and heavenly repose." -Lee Eisman, The Boston Musical Intelligencer, read the full review here.
Boston Classical Review: Boston Philharmonic Youth deliver a stunningly poised Mahler Two
"No amount of stellar reviews can really prepare you for witnessing this youth orchestra live; it is a breathtaking experience...What was striking was just how good the players were, section by section, and not just the principals. Although they, too, were remarkable — among them Grace Helmke, flute; Anna Choi, oboe; Tristen Broadfoot, clarinet; and Andrew Salaru, bassoon; all of the brass; and Shaylen Joos, harp...You could have closed your eyes and imagined this was, in no way, a youth orchestra, These players gave it their all, and their all was extremely impressive. They played with sophistication and confidence, and their ensemble work was consistently first-rate...Mahler’s transcendental vision of the afterlife fully realized by these extraordinary young musicians." -Susan Miron, Boston Classical Review read the full review here.
Cambridge Day: CRLS grad takes his seat at the Boston Symphony Orchestra
" [Jonah] Ellsworth has played with many orchestras along the way, including solo appearances with the Boston Philharmonic, Akron Symphony, Symphony by the Sea and the New England Conservatory Philharmonia." -Susanne Beck, Cambridge Day (About former BPYO member, Jonah Ellsworth)
New Hampshire Union Leader: Manchester native lands position with Boston Symphony
"The BSO announced the hire of two other cello players, both far along in their careers. Both have websites and long lists of accomplishments. San Francisco resident Christine Lee has released her own album and produces Instagram interviews with leading musicians of her generation. Jonah Ellsworth has a master of musical arts from Yale, has soloed with the Jacksonville, , Akron, Boston Philharmonic and New England Conservatory symphonies." -Mark Hayward (About former BPYO Member Jonah Ellsworth)
The Arts Fuse: Coming Attractions: April 23 Through May 9 — What Will Light Your Fire
"The BPYO closes its season with Gustav Mahler’s epic Symphony No. 2. They’re joined by soprano Maria Brea, mezzo-soprano Jennifer Johnson Cano, and Chorus Pro Music. Benjamin Zander conducts."-The Arts Fuse. View the article on the website here.
The Boston Musical Intelligencer Review: A Night to Remember: Titanics Complete Voyages
"Lordy what a triumph. Tragic, fateful, profound, tuneful, at times balletic, Tchaikovsky’s Fifth Symphony, a cyclical mix of immortal themes, came to the ecstatic full house in a visceral, and totally committed show of virtuosic engagement...Embracing and immersing themselves in the Romantic style without any embarrassment, the strings, at times streaming with parallel shafts of light, also executed many juicy (and formerly guilty pleasure) slides. Gusto intensified. Trombones and tubas wowed with compelling blasts before quiet returned. Then we heard those pizzes…the oboe gracefully minuetted and the violas gave forth in theatrical melancholy…every gesture mattered…sinuousness, sensuousness, and yearning… finally the motto theme returned with sweet restraint. This might have been the single most successful movement I ever heard from this orchestra…or any orchestra." -Lee Eiseman, The Boston Musical Intelligencer
Boston Classical Review: BPYO brings youthful fire and characterful playing to Bartók showpiece
"The low-string and woodwind writing—highlighted by principal flute Grace Helmke—sang beguilingly. Equally impassioned were the “Elegia’s” climactic outbursts, here lined in velvet, and the nobly fervent, viola-led theme of the “Intermezzo...The subtle spots glowed, such as the phrasings in “Giuoco delle coppie’s” chorale and the burbling winds at the start of the “Elegia.” By the time the finale’s Technicolor coda, with the BPYO brasses resplendently in the lead, rolled around, the sense of triumph felt decisively and honestly won.” -Jonathan Blumhofer, Boston Classical Review
Rice University News and Media Relations: Julia Mulvey
Mozart’s Bassoon Concerto in B-flat Major, K. 191, featuring soloist Julianne Mulvey; and Wynton Marsalis’ “A Fiddler’s Tale.”
Mulvey, a Shepherd School master’s student of Benjamin Kamins, is performing the most famous bassoon concerto in the repertoire. She is a former member of the Boston Philharmonic Youth Orchestra and was featured on the NPR radio show “From the Top” in 2017." -Amy McCaig
WBUR: Classical music to keep us warm this winter
"Benjamin Zander returns to lead the Boston Philharmonic Youth Orchestra, a phenomenal ensemble of superlative younger musicians. The winter program includes Bartok’s scintillating Concerto for Orchestra (a piece I never tire of hearing) and the Tchaikovsky Symphony No. 5, for which I wish I could say the same, though Zander will inevitably find something fresh to express in this familiar score." -Lloyd Schwartz, Read the full article here.
Boston Classical Review: Top Ten Performances of 2022
"2. Music by Ravel, Elgar, and Shostakovich. Benjamin Zander/Boston Philharmonic Youth Orchestra
On rare occasions, a concert program seems to respond perfectly to current events. So it was in February, just days after Russia invaded Ukraine, when the Boston Philharmonic Youth Orchestra showed up at Symphony Hall to perform three pieces written in the shadow of war and political oppression.
That lineup of Ravel’s La valse, Elgar’s Cello Concerto, and Shostakovich’s Symphony No. 5 would have been musically strong in quiet times. On this Sunday afternoon, though, all that rumbles beneath the surface of this repertoire—intimations of sorrow, anger, irony, joy, violence, anxiety, grit, determination—took on harrowing immediacy. The BPYO’s was a performance of urgency and purpose, one that melted away the distance of years to reveal the tragic (but strangely comforting) threads of suffering, hardship, and loss that bind generations together." -Jonathan Blumhofer. Read the full article here
A Night with the Boston Philharmonic Youth Orchestra
"The primary subject of this painting is the conductor, Maestro Benjamin Zander. At 83 years old, the British conductor holds himself with such a youthful vigor and is ripe with eccentric energy. His halo of snow-white hair completes the image of a mad scientist, and his passion for classical is clear. Before the concert begins, he tells the audience that he believes there is no such thing as someone who dislikes classical music, only those that have yet to discover it." -Piper Summer
Zander, sans scores, leads Boston Phil Youths in kinetic Beethoven and Strauss
"On Sunday, the score was played with appealing songfulness. The Hero’s theme swaggered, yes, but it was also strikingly warm and lyrical...Concertmaster Eric Chen delivered the violin solos in “The Hero’s Companion” with considerable panache...his grasp of the notes and overriding character of the music was compelling. Also, for plushness of tone, Chen’s account of his solo’s soaring peroration left little to be desired...Sunday’s account of Strauss’s fiendishly difficult score involved moments of tentative attack and spotty ensemble, the quiet spots, by and large, spoke with gripping focus, especially those involving the BPYO’s woodwinds. Additionally, the brass section’s grandest moments—be they the soaring horns at the culmination of “The Hero at Battle” or the work’s radiant final chord—were resplendent." -Jonathan Blumhofer. Read the full article here.
WBUR Radio Interview with Benjamin Zander about his music scores
Benjamin Zander settles the score by rethinking it after his notes are stolen
"As he prepares for Sunday’s concert by the Boston Philharmonic Youth Orchestra, conductor Benjamin Zander is feeling both disturbed and excited — agitato, you might say.
That’s because when Zander, who’s 83, takes the podium at Symphony Hall, he’ll be without the scrupulously annotated musical scores he relies on to get the best performance from the orchestra and himself." -Mark Shanahan Read the full article here.
Tech Wire: Guest opinion: Here’s how to cultivate an abundant rather than scarcity mindset
"Zander does this before every performance. He operates from a mindset of abundance; he wants his audiences to gain the very most from experiencing the music."- Grace Ueng
Slipped Disc: A STOLEN SCORE FROM CATE BLANCHETT’S TAR?
‘"The parallels are superficially striking – Boston Philharmonic vs Berlin Philharmonic, Beethoven’s 5th vs Mahler’s 5th. Furthermore, like Lydia Tár, Zander is an expert on Mahler and has recorded almost all of his works. And Mahler’s Symphony No. 5 is thematically related to Beethoven’s Symphony No. 5 because Mahler idolized Beethoven and paid homage to him in his own Fifth Symphony." -William Sarill
CBS Boston: WBZ-TV's Brandon Truitt reports Boston Philharmonic conductor's scores stolen ahead of concert
Boston.com: Boston Philharmonic reeling after conductor’s annotated scores stolen from his car
Boston Globe: The search is on for conductor Benjamin Zander’s prized musical scores after they vanished in a car theft
NBC Boston 10: Theft of Priceless Musical Scores Under Investigation
NBC 10 discusses the theft of Maestro Benjamin Zander's Beethoven Symphony No. 5 scores.
Listen to WHRB Harvard Radio interview of Harvard Student and BPYO member Thomas Juhasz from Sunday, November 13, at 2:00 PM, or read the article here.
Boston Herald Boston's Classical Music Season a Feast of Masterpieces
The Boston Philharmonic Orchestra and the Boston Philharmonic Youth Orchestra’s 2022-2023 concert season marks maestro Benjamin Zander’s 50th year as a conductor. Zander is a force of nature and a force for good in the classical music world (you must Google his Ted talk!). The conductor has made sure to select works for both organization’s seasons that played an important role in his life and work. The BPO opens with Beethoven’s Piano Concerto No. 4 and Rachmaninoff’s Symphony No. 2. Later concerts will include Beethoven’s Symphony No. 9, Schubert’s Symphony No. 8, and Tchaikovsky’s Symphony No. 5. (bostonphil.org)
WBUR Fall Classical Music Guide
"Surely the best-loved conductor in greater Boston is Benjamin Zander, who is now celebrating his 50th year as a conductor and has been leading the Boston Philharmonic for more than 40 of them. I look forward to the opening fall concert, which includes the Rachmaninoff Symphony No. 2 and Beethoven’s greatest piano concerto, the Concerto No. 4, with the superb pianist Jonathan Biss (Symphony Hall, Oct. 19). Zander also leads the outstanding Boston Philharmonic Youth Orchestra, which will be performing an afternoon of “heroic” music, Richard Strauss’s orchestral workout “Ein Heldenleben” and (perhaps you’ve heard this one before) Beethoven’s Fifth Symphony(Symphony Hall, Nov. 20)."
The Boston Globe: 10 classical music concerts you can't miss
"BOSTON PHILHARMONIC The two orchestras under the Boston Philharmonic umbrella visit Symphony Hall several times this fall: the Boston Philharmonic brings in pianist Jonathan Biss for Beethoven’s Piano Concerto No. 4, paired with Rachmaninoff’s Symphony No. 2, (Oct. 19) and cellist Hayoung Choi features in the Dvořák Cello Concerto before Brahms’s Symphony No. 2 (Nov. 12). The youth orchestra takes its turn the next weekend with a program of Strauss and Beethoven (Nov. 20). Conductor Benjamin Zander leads all concerts. Symphony Hall. www.bostonphil.org"
