Lenox — A select ensemble of musicians from the Boston Symphony Orchestra comes to Tanglewood’s Linde Center on Sunday, February 22, at 3 p.m. to give a chamber music concert. The ensemble includes violinists Alexander Velinzon and Ala Jojatu, violist Michael Zaretsky, cellist Christine Lee, bassist Carl Anderson, and pianist Alina Polyakov.
The program on Sunday is as follows:
- Giovanni Bottesini — Gran duo for violin and double bass
- Robert Schumann — Piano Quintet in E-flat, Op. 44
Bottesini’s “Gran duo for violin and double bass” is popular because it defies expectations of the double bass as a purely supportive instrument. Also, it happens to be the perfect showcase for Mr. Anderson’s formidable chops. The work treats the bass as a virtuosic equal to the violin, demonstrating dazzling technique, lyrical expressiveness, and dramatic flair. Audiences enjoy the visual and musical novelty of hearing the bass sing in the upper register while matching the violin’s agility. Performers value the piece for its operatic melodies, theatrical contrasts, and opportunities for showmanship. Blending bel canto lyricism with bravura passages, the “Gran duo” is both entertaining and impressive, making it a favorite in recitals and concert encores.
Robert Schumann’s Piano Quintet in E-flat, Op. 44, appeals to listeners for its rare balance of emotional directness and structural clarity.
The work feels both expansive and intimate. Schumann gives the piano and strings equal weight, creating music that sounds symphonic yet conversational, with passages that emphasize dialogue rather than accompaniment.
The piece is emotionally open and easy to follow. Its first movement is lyrical and expansive, followed by a somber funeral march and a lively, high-energy finale. Each movement has a distinct mood, making the contrasts clear.
Rhythm gives the music much of its drive. The scherzo moves quickly and builds excitement through its momentum and interweaving lines.
Performers are especially drawn to the work. Schumann’s writing fits the instruments well and gives each player a chance to shine, and that enthusiasm comes across in performance.
Alexander Velinzon, a native of St. Petersburg, joined the Boston Symphony Orchestra in January 2000 and has risen steadily through its leadership ranks. He became assistant concertmaster in 2005, associate concertmaster in 2015, and was promoted to first associate concertmaster at the start of the 2024–25 season. Velinzon has served as concertmaster under conductors including Andris Nelsons, Kurt Masur, Sir Colin Davis, and Michael Tilson Thomas and has appeared as guest concertmaster with major orchestras in London, Rotterdam, Seoul, and Germany. An active chamber musician, he has performed across Europe, Japan, and the United States, including a critically acclaimed 2010 debut at London’s Wigmore Hall. Velinzon frequently performs with the Boston Symphony Chamber Players and has toured Europe with the ensemble. He began violin studies at age six, trained in Russia and the United States, earned degrees from Juilliard, and now serves on the faculties of the Longy School of Music of Bard College and the Tanglewood Music Center.
Ala Jojatu joined the Boston Symphony Orchestra’s violin section at the start of the 2011–12 season, after previously serving as a regular extra player with the BSO and Boston Pops. She has also performed with the Philadelphia Orchestra, New World Symphony, Boston Lyric Opera, and other ensembles and served as concertmaster of the Indian Hill Orchestra. Born in Moldova, Jojatu studied at the Bucharest National University of Music before earning degrees from the Boston Conservatory and Boston University. A former Tanglewood Music Center Fellow, she has won numerous competitions and appeared as soloist with orchestras in Moldova and Boston. She and her husband, BSO cellist Mihail Jojatu, have two children.
Born in the former Soviet Union, violist Michael Zaretsky graduated cum laude from the Moscow State Conservatory and began his career with leading Moscow ensembles. After immigrating to Israel in 1972, he became principal viola of the Jerusalem Broadcasting Symphony Orchestra. The following year, Leonard Bernstein invited him to Tanglewood, where he successfully auditioned for the Boston Symphony Orchestra. A longtime BSO member, Zaretsky maintains an active solo and chamber career and has appeared with major orchestras and artists worldwide. He is known for acclaimed recordings spanning Bach, Brahms, Schumann, Hindemith, and Russian repertoire. A Boston University faculty member, Zaretsky also champions new music and premiered John Williams’ “Duo Concertante” in 2007.
Christine Lee joined the Boston Symphony Orchestra’s cello section in August 2023. An exceptionally versatile artist, she performs widely as a soloist and chamber musician and has earned top honors at major international competitions, including first prize at the International Isang Yun Competition and recognition at the Queen Elisabeth Competition. Her debut album, “Voyage,” released in 2021, reflects her commitment to cultural exchange and personal exploration through music. Lee is active in digital outreach through YouTube and social media, promoting classical music’s contemporary relevance. She has led innovative and charitable projects, including online performances during the COVID-19 pandemic and benefit concerts supporting education and disaster relief. She serves on the faculties of the Tanglewood Music Center and the Curtis Institute of Music.
Double bassist Carl Anderson joined the Boston Symphony Orchestra at the start of the 2019–2020 season. A versatile musician, he performs as an orchestral player, chamber musician, and soloist, with appearances alongside the Cincinnati Symphony Orchestra, New York Philharmonic, and New World Symphony. His experience includes opera at Spoleto Festival USA and performances with the Chicago Symphony Orchestra. A 2018 Tanglewood Music Center Fellow, Anderson received the Maurice Schwartz Award and collaborated with Leon Fleisher. He has participated in major training programs, including the Perlman Music Program and Music Academy of the West. A prize-winning soloist, he has performed Bottesini concertos and holds degrees from DePaul University and Rice University.
Alina Polyakov is a Ukrainian-born American pianist and longtime faculty member at Gordon College. A graduate of the Gnessin’s Academy of Music, she studied with Emil Gilels, Yuri Petrov, and Leonid Brumberg and performed widely throughout the former Soviet Union before immigrating to the United States in 1989. Her career spans solo, orchestral, and chamber performances across the United States and Europe, including appearances with the New England String Ensemble and the Gordon Symphony Orchestra. Polyakov has taught at several institutions, led international master classes, and recorded solo and collaborative albums. She is a member of the Rachmaninov Trio, praised for her refined and collaborative artistry.
Continuing its “In Concert with Community” initiative celebrating local causes, TLI honors Berkshire Community Diaper Project.
The Linde Center is located at 3 West Hawthorne Road, Lenox. Tickets are available here.
