Such a great start to my summer season with the performance at Tanglewood with the BUTI Young Artists Orchestra. The kids played so very well in the opening “Desert Transport”—a favorite piece of mine that Ive done before, but it’s been several years. The 2nd piece, though, was a real highlight for me, as I finally got to conduct Britten’s “Sinfonia de Requiem.” I’ve wanted to do this piece for years—it’s a stunner. The kids really worked hard on a tough, tough piece and performed passionately and beautifully. I was SO proud of their performance.
The concert closed with Mussorgsky’s “Pictures at an Exhibition.” They played with confidence and assurance through this tricky score, brilliant brass and wind playing throughout. Such a thrill for my first summer concert this year. Bravo tutti!