BSO Music Director James Levine opens the Boston Symphony Orchestra’s 2009-10 season—the orchestra’s 129th season and Maestro Levine’s sixth as music director—with a special Opening Night program under his direction on Wednesday, September 23, 2009. The Opening Night program features two acclaimed soloists, Evgeny Kissin performing Chopin’s Piano Concerto No. 2, and the BSO’s world-renowned principal harpist Ann Hobson Pilot, who will retire from the BSO in August 2009, in the world premiere of John Williams’ On Willows and Birches, written specifically for her. Also on the program are Debussy’s La Mer and Berlioz’ Roman Carnival Overture.
About the Artists
James Levine Music Director, Ray and Maria Stata Music Directorship, fully funded in perpetuity Now in his fifth season as Music Director of the Boston Symphony Orchestra, James Levine is the BSO’s 14th music director since the orchestra’s founding in 1881 and the first American-born conductor to hold that position. more >
Featured Biography: John Williams John Williams' World Premiere: On Willows and Birches In January 1980 John Williams was named 19th Conductor of the Boston Pops Orchestra since its founding in 1885. He assumed the title of Boston Pops Laureate Conductor following his retirement in December 1993 and currently holds the title of Artist-in-Residence at Tanglewood. more >
Ann Hobson Pilot Harp Ann Hobson Pilot retired from the Boston Symphony Orchestra at the end of the 2009 Tanglewood season, following forty years of service to the orchestra. Ms. Hobson Pilot became principal harp of the BSO in 1980, having joined the orchestra in 1969 as assistant principal harp and principal harp with the Boston Pops. more >
Evgeny Kissin piano Evgeny Kissin was born in Moscow in October 1971 and began to play by ear and improvise on the piano at the age of two. At six years old, he entered a special school for gifted children, the Moscow Gnessin School of Music, where he was a student of Anna Pavlovna Kantor, who has remained his only teacher. At the age of ten, he made his concerto debut playing Mozart's Piano Concerto K. 466 and gave his first solo recital in Moscow one year later. more >
The Underwriter and Gold Benefactors of this year's Opening Night are able to showcase another organization of their choice, as follows:
Beth Israel Deaconess Medical Center
Made possible through the generosity of BIDMC's most loyal donors, in recognition of the medical center's superior quality and care.
Northeastern University
Sponsored By: John & Diddy Cullinane
The Boston Foundation
Tenacity
Supported by: Roger and Kristin Servison and Thomas G. Stemberg and Katherine Chapman
Ocean Edge Resort & Golf Club
Sponsored by: Joseph E. Corcoran Corcoran Jennison
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![[Beth Isreal Deaconess Medical Center]](/images/_images/2009_ONAS_tables/BIDMClogo.jpg)
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![[Ocean Resort and Golf Club]](/images/_images/2009_ONAS_tables/oceanresor.jpg)
![[Emerson Umbrella]](/images/_images/2009_ONAS_tables/EmersonUmbrellaLOGO.jpg)