North Adams — Every winter, the Boston Symphony Orchestra sends small groups of their finest and most intrepid musicians to some of the Commonwealth’s farthest corners to give free chamber music performances in the places farthest from Symphony Hall and Tanglewood. That includes North Adams on March 26 at the Massachusetts College of Liberal Arts.
But there would seem to be little in it for the BSO, other than hefty travel expenses. So why do they do it?
Because they said they would. The orchestra’s commitment to community engagement goes back to its genesis. Founder Henry Lee Higginson wanted to offer the highest quality classical music performances at prices affordable to everyone, and he insisted the music itself be accessible to everyone.
In the Boston area, the BSO offers a number of community programs, including BSO Youth Concerts and educational outreach, as well as collaborations with local schools and community organizations. BSO Community Chamber Concerts give everyone in Massachusetts a chance to experience the magical power of great chamber music at no cost. It’s the same deal with the BSO’s annual Tanglewood in the City event in Pittsfield, which is also free.
The musicians appearing on March 26 are violinists Elita Kang and Takumi Taguchi, violists Danny Kim and Rebecca Gitter, cellist Will Chow, and bassist Tom van Dyke. No, that’s not a string-quartet lineup. But only one piece on the program is a quartet.
Boccherini’s popular String Quintet in F, Op. 39/2, G.338, is cheerful music of the type that makes one think of elegantly dressed dancers in palatial, 18th-century ballrooms. It was written during Mozart’s heyday, and it has all the frilly qualities expected of chamber music at that time. In fact, it is now considered a masterpiece of the genre.
Aigerim Seilova’s “Baqsi” will instantly transport you out of the world of Mozart and Haydn and into 21st-century Kazakhstan, the composer’s home country. Her quintet “Baqsi” was inspired by the sound of the qyl-qobyz, a traditional Kazakh instrument linked to shamanic ritual and known for its power over sickness and evil spirits. (The music does get a bit spooky at times.)
“Verklärte Nacht” (Transfigured Night) answers the question, “What did Arnold Schoenberg ever do for me?” It’s the last piece on Sunday’s program, and it may be the most intensely expressive and compelling piece of music you’ve ever heard from Mr. Schoenberg. It even has—if conservatory professors will pardon the expression—”lush harmonies,” something Schoenberg is certainly not famous for.
Hear BSO musicians Elita Kang, Takumi Taguchi, Danny Kim, Rebecca Gitter, Will Chow, and Tom van Dyke perform works by Boccherini, Seilova, and Schoenberg at 3 p.m. on March 26 at the Massachusetts College of Liberal Arts, 375 Church St, North Adams. The performance is approximately one hour, and admission is free, but you need to reserve your seats here.
