Quarter Notes

“The essence of Tanglewood – not just a magnificent physical setting in the beautiful surroundings of the Berkshires, but as a community of people joined in the common goal of making music at the highest level.” - Seiji Ozawa

If only it were that straightforward. The conflict in delivering well-loved classics alongside contemporary music – and the effects on box office receipts – is also at the heart of today’s orchestras.

As a highly regarded Pittsfield Eagle critic observes “Our great performing institutions must not be museums but (must) educate as well as entertain … and must somehow keep and build audiences.”

The Director of Artistic Planning at the BSO fulfills this duty, and for over thirty years, Dennis Alves has held this esteemed position for the Boston Pops. Dennis oversees all Pops programming at Symphony Hall and Tanglewood, corporate programs, fundraisers, tours, television, and recording events, plus building audiences.

One could say all these responsibilities have him spanning two worlds – orchestral classical music with Pops, the popular sounds of movies, alt-radio, top 10, and whatever else is streaming nowadays.

Dennis has mixed it up with Maria Carey, former presidents, Roger Staubach at Super Bowl XXXVI in the Superdome, and looks forward to working with Beck on July 23 at Tanglewood as he performs with the Boston Pops. Beck has been described this as “one of the most idiosyncratically creative musicians of alternative rock.”

Our own Keith Lockhart said it best – “… the Boston Pops Orchestra performs the best music of the past and present appealing to the widest possible audiences with a broad spectrum of styles. Jazz. Pop. Big Band. Film Tunes. To the Great American Songbook and Broadway back to Classical. Making it the perfect orchestra for people who don’t even know they like orchestra!”

Since taking on this position, Dennis oversaw well over 2,300 concerts, 43 national tour, and four international tours. Of the 12 CDs recorded during his tenure, two have been nominated for Grammy Awards. In his role as Executive Producer of the annual Boston Pops Fireworks Spectacular, he’s won two regional Emmy Awards, and he led the charge when the Pops Orchestra performed at the aforementioned Super Bowl XXXVI (at which the Patriots surprised the sports world by winning), as well as numerous Red Sox games and Championship Ring ceremonies. 

“Together with my colleagues, Sarah McKenna and Dr. Charles Steinberg, we planned the Championship Ring Ceremonies and Star-Spangled Banner performances. We have also played the Star-Spangled Banner at the NBA Finals. In Massachusetts, the Pops is right there alongside four dominant Boston sport franchises—and a fundamental part of American culture.”

It has been growing in its impact under the baton of Keith Lockhart with Dennis, behind the scenes yet pre-eminent. “What? Who? … is the perfect soloist and what is the repertoire?” Dennis recently wondered. “Something that must entertain and, ideally leaves audiences better off for the experience.”

How many of us get to ride such a culturally significant horse? Very few. Yet Dennis serves with quiet humility and repeatedly admits how lucky he is to have such a position.

As a professional musician (trumpet), he played with the New Japan Philharmonic under Seiji Ozawa. He also played with the Boston Ballet Orchestra, the Harvard Chamber Orchestra, the Boston Pops Esplanade Orchestra under Arthur Fiedler, Harry Ellis Dickson, John Williams, and Keith Lockhart, and the BSO “when they needed a trumpet.”

His scholastic background isn't in "tough business methods." He is a devoted professional musician. Not a pro "buyer or "seller " nor business major. A musician. He brings a serious musical artist's outlook to the rough and tumble of big league negotiation.

Here are three vignettes from Dennis that attest to the power of music, how it fills both listener AND performer with energy and joie de vivre; how it can help us overcome whatever ails us.

• “The last time jazz giant Dave Brubeck performed with us he was well into his 90s.  Backstage he seemed quite weak indeed.  So much so that his wife had to help him on stage; he was having trouble walking. It didn't look like he could manage even one song, let alone an entire set. But once he settled onto the piano bench and Keith Lockhart gave the downbeat, he immediately became the 'Young Dave Brubeck,’ performing with as much energy, aplomb and creativity as ever. It was miraculous.”

   

• “Michael Feinstein came to us with one of his wonderful programs, filled with gems from the American Songbook. He asked us if it was OK if he could bring a friend to hang out with him backstage at the Shed. It turns out his friend was Liza Minelli! She did not look her usual self, as she had been struggling with illness at that time. 

  We set up a chair for her just at the stage left entrance to the Shed’s stage. At intermission, Michael told me that he might bring her onstage for the encore, ‘New York, New York.’ I was skeptical, but having worked with Michael for many years, I trusted his judgement.

  As expected, Feinstein introduced his surprise guest at encore time. Liza strutted out on stage in bare feet, looking like the Liza Minelli we all knew and loved. The crowd roared as she danced across the stage, in bare feet, flashing her radiant smile and sparkling eyes! 

   

• “We had an early morning rehearsal one day in July 2009. Neil Diamond was onstage, ready to rehearse. One of our production assistants went up to him and asked if he’d like a cup of coffee or a bagel or something else. Neil turned to her and said “Honey, just get me an audience!” 

Dennis knows that the work is never done. 

“There is always an opportunity to come up with new and better ideas, and no matter how successful one may be, you’re only as successful in this business as your last program. No question.”

Written by Bruce H. Alexander