The Classical Beat: Extraordinary Final Tanglewood Concerts

This week, over four days, Tanglewood concludes its 2022 classical programming, culminating with the always-anticipated traditional final concert, on Sunday afternoon, Aug. 28, featuring Beethoven’s glorious and triumphant Ninth Symphony, which will be preceded by Charles Ives’ masterful setting of the majestic Biblical Psalm 90 – assuredly a fitting tribute to cap this extraordinary and celebratory summer festival season, marking the full, post-COVID-19 return of the Boston Symphony and each of its constituent components to its hallowed Berkshire campus.

Preceding the 'Ninth,' there are exceptional programs you should consider attending in Ozawa Hall and in the Shed this week: BSO Assistant Conductor Anna Rakitina and violinist Gil Shaham performing a mostly Russian program (8/26); former BSO Assistant and Associate Conductor Michael Tilson Thomas returns to Tanglewood to lead the BSO in works by Rimsky-Korsakov, Rachmaninoff, and Copland (8/27) and, of course, the culminating Ninth Symphony (8/28). Here are the details:

Programs in the Koussevitzky Music Shed

• Friday, Aug. 26, 8:00 p.m.: BSO Assistant Conductor Anna Rakitina will perform Shostakovich's "Waltz No. 2" (from "Suite No. 1" for Variety Orchestra) and the startling Symphony No. 3, "The First of May." Also on the program are Borodin's melodious "Polovtsian Dances" from his opera "Prince Igor" and Dvo?ák's lovely Violin Concerto, featuring the highly esteemed soloist Gil Shaham.

• Saturday, Aug. 27, 8:00 p.m.: Maestro Michael Tilson Thomas, whose rich association with the BSO dates back to his days as a Tanglewood Music Center Fellow (1968-69), is joined by the brilliant young Russian pianist Alexander Malofeev in his BSO and Tanglewood debut performing Rachmaninoff’s ultra-virtuosic Piano Concerto No. 3. Thomas also leads
the orchestra in Rimsky-Korsakov's "Dubinushka." The program concludes with Aaron Copland’s classically American, grandiose Symphony No. 3.

• Sunday, Aug. 28, 2:30 p.m.: Maestro Thomas returns to conduct the BSO in Tanglewood’s traditional season-ending performance of Beethoven’s heaven-storming Symphony No. 9, featuring soloists soprano Jacquelyn Stucker, mezzo-soprano Kelley O'Connor, tenor Ben Bliss and bass-baritone Dashon Burton. The Tanglewood Festival Chorus, directed by James Burton, provides the fitting opening work - Ives' resplendent, rarely heard setting of Psalm 90.

• Program in Ozawa Hall

• Thursday, Aug. 25, 8:00 p.m.: The magnificent pianist Garrick Ohlsson completes his traversal of the complete works for solo piano by Brahms with the Scherzo in E-flat minor, Op. 4; Variations in F-sharp minor on a theme by Schumann, Op. 9; Sonata No. 1 in C, Op. 1; 16 Waltzes, Op. 39; and Four Piano Pieces, Op. 119.

• Conversation in the Linde Center

• Thursday, Aug. 25, 1:00-2:00 p.m.: The "TLI In Conversation" series concludes with bass-baritone Dashon Burton and host/interviewer Asadour Santourian.

For tickets for these and for all Tanglewood/BSO concerts (lawn and Shed seating) and for special events call (617) 266-1200 or 888-266-1200. Online: tanglewood.org.

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