BOSTON — 250 guests attended the post-concert reception following the Boston Symphony Orchestra’s Opening Night at Symphony Celebration featuring renowned pianist Lang Lang, the season opening celebration that took place on Saturday, September 24.
Among the guests were BSO trustees and advisors, orchestra members, concert patrons, and corporate partners. There were also some of Boston’s arts, education, and culture leaders in attendance.including BSO trustees and advisors, orchestra members, concert patrons, and corporate partners. Attendees included Lang Lang, BSO Music Director Andris Nelsons, and his wife, Alice, BSO President and CEO Gail Samuel and her husband, William Christian, and Barbara Hostetter, Trustee and Chair of the BSO Board of Trustees.
Lang Lang—one of the biggest celebrities in the classical music industry—and the orchestra, under the direction of Andris Nelsons, performed to a sold out house and several standing ovations! Lang Lang played and utterly beautiful piano arrangement of “Feed the Birds” from Mary Poppins as an encore that was enthusiastically received by the audience. It was so great to return to such a full house now that the pandemic is further behind us. The full program is listed below.
The evening also celebrated the launch of the BSO Resident Fellowship program for early-career musicians from historically underrepresented populations. Violist Leonardo Vásquez Chacón and double bassist Andres Vela played their first concerts as inaugural BSO Resident Fellows in the September 22, 23, and 24 programs celebrating the opening of the BSO’s 2022-23 season. They were both in attendance at the reception.
Gail Samuel’s full title is Eunice and Julian Cohen BSO President and CEO
Andris Nelsons’ full title is Ray and Maria Stata BSO Music Director
Saturday, September 24, at 6 p.m. (reception at 8 p.m.)
Boston Symphony Orchestra
Andris Nelsons, conductor
Lang Lang, piano
CONCERT PROGRAM
Carlos SIMON Motherboxx Connection
GERSHWIN An American in Paris
DUKAS The Sorcerer’s Apprentice
SAINT-SAËNS Piano Concerto No. 2
Lang Lang encore: a piano arrangement of “Feed the Birds” from Mary Poppins
All photos by Hilary Scott
