Tanglewood On Parade: Celebrating Seiji! (original) (raw)

This year’s Tanglewood on Parade, a much-anticipated tradition that dates to 1940, will celebrate the life and legacy of the BSO’s beloved Music Director Laureate, Seiji Ozawa, who died last February at the age of 88. A musical genius and thoughtful humanitarian, Ozawa was the BSO’s longest-serving conductor, holding the title of Music Director for 29 years (1973–2002). At Tanglewood, he conducted hundreds of concerts, mentored generations of Tanglewood Music Center fellows, and inaugurated Seiji Ozawa Hall in 1994.

The tribute concert, which takes place in the Koussevitzky Music Shed on Tuesday, August 6 at 8 p.m., will feature a star-studded lineup of performers, many of whom made music with Ozawa over the years: Boston Pops Conductor Laureate John Williams, Boston Pops Conductor Keith Lockhart, guest conductor Alan Gilbert, former BSO Assistant Conductor Anna Rakitina, soprano Christine Goerke, and the Marcus Roberts Trio. The eclectic program, reflecting Ozawa’s far-reaching musical impact, begins with John Williams conducting For Seiji!, which he composed in 1999 in honor of Ozawa’s 25th anniversary as Music Director of the BSO. The program continues with several of Ozawa’s signature pieces (including Hector Berlioz’s “Hungarian March” from The Damnation of Faust) as well as performances by some of his favorite musical collaborators: Christine Goerke (songs by Richard Strauss) and the Marcus Roberts Trio (Rhapsody in Blue). Interspersed with guest speakers and video tributes to Ozawa, the program will conclude with the customary 1812 Overture by Pyotr Ilyich Tchaikovsky, which Ozawa conducted a total of 16 times throughout his years at Tanglewood, followed by a fireworks display over the lawn.

The evening’s tribute concert is preceded by a full afternoon of performances and activities, kicking off with a brass fanfare by musicians from the Boston University Tanglewood Institute at 2 p.m. Lawn tickets are free for children ages 17 and under, and families are invited to partake in lawn games, a scavenger hunt, kids yoga with Kripalu, face painting, magic shows, an instrument playground, and hot air balloon rides (weather permitting). For complete details of the daytime activities and the evening tribute performance, visit our website.

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