Having canceled its East Asia tour due to the coronavirus epidemic, the BSO has substituted a series of free local musical offerings that will culminate in a Boston Symphony Orchestra community concert under the direction of Thomas Wilkins, BSO Youth and Family Conductor, on Sunday, February 16^th, at 3 p.m., at Symphony Hall in Boston. Leading up to this concert will be a series of free pop-up concerts featuring members of the BSO that will take place throughout Greater Boston, February 9–14.

The Thomas Wilkins-led February 16^th BSO performance, Concert for Our City, will feature a wide-ranging program including works by Tchaikovsky, Ginastera, and Brahms. The program will also include Chinese composer Huang Ruo’s Folksongs for Orchestra, George Walker’s Lyric for String Orchestra, and the finale of Dvorák’s Cello Concerto with cellist Sterling Elliott, the 2014 winner of the Sphinx Competition. Complimentary general admission tickets can be reserved HERE or by calling Symphony Charge at 617-266-1200.

Prior to the BSO event above, 28 members of the orchestra, along with Boston Pops conductor Keith Lockhart, will participate in pop-up concerts as a way of thanking the orchestra’s neighbors. These are described below.  Bank of America, Blue Cross Blue Shield of Massachusetts, Commonwealth Worldwide Executive Transportation, Spaulding Rehabilitation Network, and Takeda Pharmaceutical International Co. have provided generous support. The Boston Symphony Orchestra’s Chamber Music Neighborhood Tour is supported with a generous gift from the family of Eleanor L. Campbell in her memory.
In addition, WGBH, WCRB and the BSO host the Boston Symphony Chamber Players up close as they perform masterpieces by Erwin Schulhoff, György Kurtág, and Bohuslav Martinu. Made up of the principal musicians of the Boston Symphony Orchestra, the Chamber Players bring a unique interpretive voice to this seldom heard music in the intimate setting of the Fraser Performance Studio. The musicians will be interviewed on stage by WCRB’s Brian McCreath, with opportunities for members of the audience to ask their own questions as well. The Boston Symphony Chamber Players will perform at WGBH’s Fraser Performance Studio, on Thursday, February 13, at 7 p.m.; please note there are a limited number of complimentary tickets, available here to the public.

February 9–14: BSO Neighborhood Tour includes free pop-up performances taking place throughout Greater Boston

Monday, February 10
Josiah Quincy School (BSO Players: C. Basrak, R. Gitter, R. Childers, T. Dimitriades, M. Katz)
Wednesday, February 12
Horizons for Homeless Children – Roxbury (BSO Players: C. Meyers, S. Nelsen, R. Childers, K. Lockhart)
Thursday, February 13
Angell Animal Medical Center (BSO Players: C. French, X. Ding, M. Ferrillo, D. Getz, A. Esbensen)
New England Center and Home for Veterans (BSO Players: B. Wright, T. Siders, R. Childers, S. Lange, J. Markey)
Bruce C. Bolling Municipal Building (BSO Players: B. Bewick, A. Jojatu, S. Laraia, R. Edewards, M. Katz)
Dana-Farber Cancer Institute (BSO Players: C. Meyers, S. Nelsen, R. Childers)
Citywide Senior Center – Cambridge (BSO Players: R. Gitter, J. Lee, T. Dimitriades, D. Kim, A. Esbensen)
Yawkey Club of Roxbury Boys & Girls Club (BSO Players: R. Sheena, S. Nelsen, T. Martin, J. Meyers, M. Katz)
Spaulding Rehabilitation Hospital (BSO Players: R. Ranti, S. Fiekowsky, D. Getz, W. Hudgins)
WGBH’s Fraser Performance Studio, 7 p.m. (Boston Symphony Chamber Players) / for information and tickets, click here

Friday, February 14
Women’s Lunch Place (E. Rowe, C. Meyers)