Tanglewood ‘Lohengrin’

Press, Volume CIV, Issue 30826, 11 August 1965, Page 8

Tanglewood ‘Lohengrin’

The presentation of an uncut concert version of Wagner’s “Lohengrin”—believed the first complete performance outside Bayreuth—will be one of the major musical events of the 1965 Berkshire Festivai this month at Tanglewood, summer home of the Boston Symphony Orchestra. Erich Leinsdorf, the orchestra’s musical director, said: “From an artistic point of view, I feel that the ‘Lohengrin’ week-end is a true festival idea, something which lends itself ideally to the relaxed and experimental atmosphere of a summer festival.

“Since the shortest of the opera’s three acts is nearly as long as a full symphony programme, we will put on each act separately. Act I will be given on Friday, August 20, Act II on the Saturday, and Act 111 on the Sunday.”

The Boston Symphony will give 24 concerts in the Music Shed from July to August, and the orchestra’s centre for the advanced study of music will operate concurrently with the festivai.

The major events include two weeks of chamber concerts in which Bach will be well represented, performances of all Beethoven’s concertos, and musical observance of the significant anniversaries of Berg, Hindemith, Ravel and Sibelius.

SMETANA QUARTET One of the charmers of chamber music is the String Quartet No. 1 in E minor by Smetana (3YC, Thursday). Entitled “From My Life” this work describes the romantic yearnings and exultance of the Bohemian composer’s youth and finishes on a note of sorrow to signify the onset of his deafness. It will be played by the Smetana Quartet. CRASH PROBE

A coroner’s investigation into the death of an experienced pilot in a glider crash is the subject of “Open Verdict,” a radio play produced by Nat Oiford, which will be heard from 3YA next Monday. VJ-DAY ANNIVERSARY On Sunday “Pacific Parade,” a programme to commemorate the twentieth anniversary of VJ-Day will be heard from 3ZB in the afternoon and 3YA in the evening. It will consist of reminiscences of the Pacific area Kiwi Concert Party of the Second World War. Rex Sayers will introduce Oswald Cheeseman, John McKenzie, Bob Ofsofsky, and Maurice Tansley.