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2023-24 BSO Season

Earl Lee conducts Franck, Tomasi, and Tchaikovsky with Steven Banks, saxophone

Boston Symphony Orchestra

Symphony Hall, Boston, MA

Earl Lee, conductor
Steven Banks, saxophone

FRANCK Le Chasseur maudit
TOMASI Concerto for Alto Saxophone and Orchestra
Intermission
TCHAIKOVSKY Symphony No. 4

French composer César Franck’s Le Chasseur maudit — “The Cursed Hunter” — is based on a ballad about a man commits the grave sin of hunting on the Sabbath and is doomed to be eternally chased by demons. BSO Assistant Conductor Earl Lee leads the sultry, atmospheric 1949 Saxophone Concerto by French composer Henri Tomasi; making his BSO debut, American Steven Banks is one of today’s leading classical saxophone performers. The program closes with the emotional turmoil of Pyotr Tchaikovsky’s Symphony No. 4, which opens with the famous “fate” motif, and sweetened by the composer’s great gift for beautiful melody.

The Friday Preview on November 24, at 12:15pm will be given by BSO Director of Program Publications Robert Kirzinger. Admission included with ticket.

Please allow additional arrival and entry time before your concert due to MBTA construction at the Symphony Green Line station. Parts of the sidewalk in front of Symphony Hall will be closed Mon-Fri 9:30am–3:30pm until further notice, however sidewalks will reopen two hours before BSO events

A headshot of Steven Banks wearing a blue suit and holding a saxophone
Earl Lee headshot with baton

Performance Details

Nov 25, 2023, 8:00pm EST

Featuring

Program Notes & Works

Le Chasseur maudit

César Franck

Franck's lush symphonic poem is based on the ballade "The Accursed Huntsman," in which an arrogant count blasphemes by hunting on the Sabbath and is punished by becoming himself the prey in a demonic chase.

Concerto for Alto Saxophone

Henri Tomasi

Symphony No. 4

Pyotr Ilyich Tchaikovsky

The Fourth Symphony features all the hallmarks of great Tchaikovsky—brilliant orchestration, gorgeous melodies, Romantic emotional intensity, and Russian folk song.

Getting Here

A view of the empty Symphony Hall, with the stage in the distance

Plan Your Visit