News & Reviews
Yoichi Udagawa hits the right notes with New England Philharmonic
The fourth and final music director candidate led the orchestra with aplomb on Saturday night
By A.Z. Madonna Globe Staff,Updated June 20, 2022, 5:03 p.m.
On its worst days, the New England Philharmonic sounds like an above-average amateur orchestra, which is exactly what it is. On its best days, it rivals several professional groups in technical prowess, surpassing those same groups by a mile in spice and enthusiasm.
Conductor Udagawa brings quiet strength to wide-ranging New England Phil finale
By Aaron Keebaugh, Boston Classical Review, June 19, 2022
Most successful conductors possess a singular strength of musical vision. Yet some lead with a gentle touch that allows for the music to unfold naturally.
Conductor makes impressive showing with New England Philharmonic
Conductor makes impressive showing with New England Philharmonic
By Aaron Keebaugh, Boston Classical Review, May 2, 2022
Conductor Tianhui Ng clears a path with the New England Philharmonic
Ng, one of four finalists for the vacant music director position, made a strong bid for the job at Sunday’s concert. (Photo: Pat Greenhouse/Globe Staff)
By A.Z. Madonna Globe Staff, May 2, 2022
A strong showing from New England Philharmonic’s first music director hopeful, Adam Kerry Boyles
A strong showing from New England Philharmonic’s first music director hopeful, Adam Kerry Boyles
By A.Z. Madonna, The Boston Globe, December 8, 2021
Boyles leads a rich NEP program with belated Amy Beach premiere
By Aaron Keebaugh, Boston Classical Review, December 6, 2021
For all the attention Amy Beach’s music continues to receive, certain works in her copious output remain unexplored.
NEP Parades First Conductor Candidate
By Mark DeVoto, The Boston Musical Intelligencer, December 6, 2021
The New England Philharmonic began its search for a successor to Richard Pittman with Adam Kerry Boyles on the podium on Sunday for a nicely varied program in the Tsai Performance Center at Boston University, its favored locale.
Let the Other Conductor Candidates Contend
By Elisa Birdseye for The Boston Musical Intelligencer, October 20, 2021
The New England Philharmonic opened its 45th season on Saturday at All Saints Parish, Brookline under the direction of Composer-in-Residence Eric Nathan in his Boston conducting debut. He led a vibrant, sophisticated, and subtle concert that fittingly celebrated the return of the orchestra to live performance after the Covid. This occasion also marked the beginning of a search to replace longtime Music Director, Richard Pittman, who for 23 years, had nurtured the NEP into an orchestra that can hold its place with any in town. In a marriage made in heaven, NEP and Pittman have consistently championed living composers. He should take ample pride that this ensemble is the better for his quarter century of leadership.
New England Philharmonic searches for its next leader
October 13, 2021 by A.Z. Madonna, Globe Staff
In a city flush with amateur orchestras, the New England Philharmonic has spent much of the past 44 years distinguishing itself from the crowd. The groundwork was laid in the ensemble’s first decades. Then, its exemplary reputation solidified during the 23-year tenure of Richard Pittman, who became music director in 1997 and steered the orchestra headlong into challenging contemporary music — territory that would be unthinkable for the average volunteer ensemble that rehearses once a week.
WBUR Fall Classical Guide–From Opera To The Orchestra, Here Are The Classical Music Performances To Attend This Fall
September 29, 2021 by Lloyd Schwartz
The New England Philharmonic has found a more elegant way of dealing with a transition. Eric Nathan, their distinguished composer-in-residence, has worked collaboratively with the orchestra to plan the whole season. All but one program will have a different conductor finalist and each of them will begin with a new musical tribute to Richard Pittman, the beloved longstanding music director, now recently retired. The first program will be directed by Nathan himself with works of his own, Bernard Hoffer (the tribute to Pittman), Hannah Kendall, and Stravinsky’s “Firebird” (Oct. 16).
Boston Globe - 10 classical music picks for fall
NEW ENGLAND PHILHARMONIC Looking at this orchestra’s adventurous repertoire and keen musicality, you’d never know its musician ranks were made up of amateur volunteers. After the season’s inaugural concert, which will be conducted by composer-in-residence Eric Nathan (Oct. 16), the ensemble will begin auditioning new music directors, starting with Massachusetts Institute of Technology director of orchestras Adam Kerry Boyles leading music by Amy Beach, Michael Gandolfi, Ravel, and more (Dec. 5). 855-463-7445, www.nephilharmonic.org
Announcing the Winner of the 2021 Call for Scores
BOSTON — In March, the New England Philharmonic commenced their 36th Annual Call for Scores competition. The New England Philharmonic has been one of few orchestras of its size in the country with a Composer-in-Residence program that holds an annual Call for Scores, initiating the first competition in 1985.
Announcing the 2021 Call for Scores
BOSTON — The New England Philharmonic announces the commencement of their 36th Annual Call for Scores competition. Since 1985, the New England Philharmonic has been one of few orchestras of its size in the country with a Composer-in-Residence program that holds an annual Call for Scores competition, receiving dozens of submissions from around the world.
New England Phil without the Phil
Instead of broadcasting prerecorded videos or a livestream to open its Covid season, the New England Philharmonic chose live programming on a small scale. Philadelphia-based composer TJ Cole’s Nightscape had
Hoffer Concerto Premiere Highlights New England Philharmonic Program
There is nothing complacent about the New England Philharmonic’s programming.
Sunday afternoon’s bracing matinee at Jordan Hall proved so again with a program titled “Together & Apart.” The concert offered the world premiere of a new concerto by Bernard Hoffer alongside music by John Adams and Judith Weir, plus an astonishingly belated Béla Bartók premiere.