This event celebrates the start of Andris Nelsons’ tenure as the 15th music director of the Boston Symphony Orchestra and features two of the conductor’s close colleagues, the acclaimed Latvian soprano Kristine Opolais and the outstanding German tenor Jonas Kaufmann. Singing’s selections from the Wagnerian and the Italian verismo repertoires, they join forces for a powerful duet from Puccini’s Manon Lescaut. The concert opens with Wagner’s Tannhäuser Overture – the work that first inspired a five year old Nelsons to a life in music – and closes with Respighi’s spectacular orchestral showcases “Pines of Rome”.
Carnegie Hall 120th Anniversary Concert
On May 5, 2011, Carnegie Hall commemorated its 120th anniversary with an all-star gala concert featuring conductor Alan Gilbert and the New York Philharmonic and special guests: pianist Emanuel Ax, cellist Yo-Yo Ma, violinist Gil Shaham, and the four-time Tony Award-winning singer and actress Audra McDonald. The eclectic, crowd pleasing program is set to include Beethoven’s Triple Concerto in C major, Op. 56, performed by Ax, Ma, and Shaham, a selection of Duke Ellington songs – including ‘Solitude,’ ‘Sophisticated Lady,’ ‘On a Turquoise Cloud,’ and ‘It Don’t Mean a Thing if it Ain’t Got That Swing’ -performed by McDonald, and full performances of Antonin Dvorák’s Carnival Overture and George Gershwin’s ‘An American in Paris’.
Jackie Evancho – Awakening – Live in Concert
Jackie Evancho presenting her collection of songs from her album “Awakening”. Drawn from the best known pieces from the classical canon, Broadway, uplifting sacred music and pop songs, Jackie’s astoundingly beautiful young voice soars again at the magnificent Longwood Gardens Open Air Theatre. This is the first time Longwood Gardens has ever permitted a television special to be taped on site and in addition to her on-stage performance, Jackie was performing at various stunning locations throughout the Garden such as the Chimes Tower and the spectacular Main Fountain. Joined by Cheyenne Jackson who both hosted and performed with Jackie. Cheyenne, star of Broadway, Film and Television is perhaps best known for his starring award-winning Broadway performance in Finian’s Rainbow, his recurring role in NBC’s 30 Rock, and his starring role in HBO biopic, ‘Liberace, Behind the Candelabra’.