Dear Music Lovers and Supporters, This week’s musical offering is the 1st Movement, or Allegro con brio, of Beethoven’s Fifth Symphony. The recording is from a concert by the BSO on October 13, 2019, and is on YouTube: BSO plays Beethoven Symphony No. 5, Allegro con brio. About the music, Maestro Fred Devyatkin writes, “Beethoven’s Symphony No. 5 debuted along with the 6th Symphony at the same concert. The 5th is one of the most recognizable pieces in the whole repertoire. Built of a short fragment, layering and intensifying into great majesty and beauty, this masterwork earns its acclaim...

Dear Music Lovers and Supporters, Our 14th offering is an orchestral arrangement of Saint Louis Blues, a popular American song (1914) that was composed by William Christopher Handy. The recording is from a concert by the BSO on February 16, 2020, and is on YouTube: BSO plays St. Louis Blues. About the music, Maestro Fred Devyatkin writes, “From our last concert before quarantine … St. Louis Blues, featured in the 1929 film by the same name with Bessie Smith on the vocals. Performed as an encore, the orchestra was swinging! Enjoy!” Thank you to everyone who has and continues...

Dear Music Lovers and Supporters, Our 13th offering is an orchestral medley from the musical West Side Story. Leonard Bernstein composed the music. The recording is from a concert by the BSO in March 2017 and is on YouTube: BSO plays West Side Story. The medley incorporates music from the songs “I Feel Pretty,” “Maria,” “Something's Coming,” “Tonight,” “One Hand, One Heart,” “Cool” and “America.” About the musical, Maestro Fred Devyatkin writes, “Music from West Side Story. Leonard Bernstein shows he is as much a master of the popular medium as he is at conducting Beethoven or Mahler. Enjoy!”...