A FREE ADULT EDUCATION SERIES AT SYMPHONY HALL ON TUESDAY AND WEDNESDAY EVENINGS, 5:30-6:45pm
After a highly successful first season in 2010-2011, BSO 101 returns on a regular, expanded basis in 2011-12, now also including sessions that provide an "insider's view" of the workings of the BSO.

Each session is followed by a complimentary reception offering beverages, hors d'oeuvres, and further time to share your thoughts with others. Admission is free for all of these sessions, but we ask that you please e-mail customerservice@bso.org to reserve your place for the date or dates you are planning to attend.

 

BSO 101: Are You Listening?
Seven sessions with BSO Director of Program Publications Marc Mandel are designed to enhance your listening abilities by focusing on upcoming BSO repertoire.

 

• Upcoming Dates:
• Wednesday, April 11:
  "Beethoven Up Close" with special guests BSO principal trombone Toby Oft and BSO bass player Todd Seeber

 

• Wednesday, February 15:
  "Two Choral Masterpieces" with special guest John Oliver, founder and conductor of the Tanglewood Festival Chorus

View the Music to be Discussed >

 

BSO 101: An Insider's View
These four Tuesday sessions featuring BSO administrative staff focus on behind-the-scenes activities at Symphony Hall. The November 8 session will feature a discussion with BSO Managing Director Mark Volpe. On February 7, BSO Orchestra Personnel Manager Lynn Larsen will discuss the audition process by which new players are selected for the orchestra and oversee a "mock audition" taking an applicant through the various stages of the process. On February 28, BSO Artistic Administrator Anthony Fogg will discuss how programs are planned and finalized for upcoming concert seasons and on April 3, BSO Director of Concert Operations Chris Ruigomez and members of his team will discuss the ins and outs of concert production, detailing the steps by which concerts are brought from the planning process onto the Symphony Hall stage.

• Tuesday, November 8
  with BSO Managing Director Mark Volpe
• Tuesday, February 7
  with BSO Orchestra Personnel Manager Lynn Larson
• Tuesday, February 28
  with BSO Artistic Administrator Anthony Fogg
• Tuesday, April 3
  with BSO Director of Concert Operations Chris Ruigomez

 

Music to be Discussed

The music to be discussed in these sessions will be drawn from the following works. Please note that discussion will often focus on selected excerpts, rather than on entire pieces.

Wednesday, October 19: Introduction to the Symphony

• HAYDN Symphony No. 100, Military (BSO concerts of November 3-5)
• BRAHMS Symphony No. 3 (BSO concerts of October 20-22)
• TCHAIKOVSKY Symphony No. 6, Pathétique (BSO concerts of November 10-12)
• MAHLER Symphony No. 1 (BSO concerts of November 25-29)

Wednesday, November 2: Introduction to the Concerto

• MOZART Piano Concerto No. 25 in C, K.503 (BSO concerts of November 17-22)
• BEETHOVEN Piano Concerto No. 4 (BSO concerts of December 1-3)
• BARBER Piano Concerto (BSO concerts of November 10-12)
• CARTER Flute Concerto (BSO concerts of November 17-22)

Wednesday, November 16: John Harbison, Modern Symphonic Master

• HARBISON Symphony No. 4 (BSO concerts of November 25-29)
• HARBISON Symphony No. 5 for Baritone, Mezzo-soprano, and Orchestra (BSO concerts of December 1-3)
• HARBISON Symphony No. 6 (BSO commission/world premiere; BSO concerts of January 12-17)

Tuesday, January 10: Engrossing Narratives

• STRAUSS Till Eulenspiegel's Merry Pranks (BSO concerts of January 12-17)
• STRAVINSKY The Rite of Spring (BSO concerts of January 19-24)
• RAVEL Mother Goose Suite (BSO concerts of February 16-21)

Wednesday, January 18: What Makes a Symphony?

• MENDELSSOHN Lobgesang (BSO concerts of January 26-31)
• DEBUSSY La Mer (BSO concerts of February 2-4)
• BERLIOZ Symphonie fantastique (BSO concerts of March 2-3)
• STRAVINSKY Symphony of Psalms (BSO concerts of May 3-5)

Wednesday, February 15: Two Choral Masterpieces

• BEETHOVEN Missa Solemnis (BSO concerts of February 23-25)
• BRAHMS A German Requiem (BSO concerts of April 5-7)