Alsop Conducts Tchaikovsky’s Pathétique

In recognition of the 25th anniversary of September 11, Marin Alsop leads a program that opens what composer John Adams called a “memory space,” in his Pulitzer Prize-winning On the Transmigration of Souls. With the searching beauty of Barber’s Adagio for Strings and Tchaikovsky’s sublime Pathétique, the music is impassioned, sincere, and ultimately alive.

• One of the most recognized works in American music, the Adagio has frequently been performed during moments of national mourning.
• Tchaikovsky called his Symphony No. 6 his most sincere work. Its blazing third movement feels like a finale, followed by an unusually slow, dissolving ending.
• This 25-minute work combines orchestra, adult and children’s choruses, and pre-recorded voices, creating a large-scale sonic environment rather than a traditional narrative form.
• A native New Yorker, Alsop brings personal perspective to this program. She has served as the BSO’s Music Director Laureate since 2021 and is the founder of OrchKids.

• Approximate run time: 2 hours with a 20-minute intermission.
• Late seating is not guaranteed, and will happen at the discretion of the front of house manager.
• Many Classical concerts include brief onstage remarks from the conductor.
• Come as you are. You'll see everything from denim to cocktail attire.