Berlioz Roméo et Juliette

Andris Nelsons, conductor
J’Nai Bridges, mezzo-soprano
Lawrence Brownlee, tenor
John Relyea, bass-baritone
Tanglewood Festival Chorus
James Burton, conductor

BERLIOZ Roméo et Juliette*

*Sung in French with English supertitle

Friday afternoon’s performance by J’Nai Bridges is supported by a gift in loving memory of Alan J. Dworsky.
This week’s performances by the Tanglewood Festival Chorus are supported by the Alan J. and Suzanne W. Dworsky Fund for Voice and Chorus.

The works of William Shakespeare deeply influenced composer Hector Berlioz. In fact, it was actress Harriet Smithson’s performances of two great Shakespearean heroines — Ophelia in Hamlet and of Juliet in Romeo and Juliet — that captivated the composer and led to their (ill-fated) marriage. As we close the season, Andris Nelsons leads one of Berlioz’s most successful and vibrant compositions, Roméo et Juliette. Berlioz called his Roméo et Juliette a “symphony with choruses,” highlighting the importance of the orchestra and of the work’s overall form. These performances celebrate the role of French repertoire in the BSO’s rich history; the complete symphony and movements from it were frequently programmed by Pierre Monteux, Serge Koussevitzky, Charles Munch, and Seiji Ozawa.

The Friday Preview talk on May 3 will begin at 12:15pm. Admission included with ticket.

Thursday’s performance will end around 9:10pm, Friday’s performance will end around 3:10pm, and Saturday’s performance will end around 9:40pm.