July 11, 2025
by Michael J. Moran
Fridays and Saturdays at Tanglewood offer free short “Prelude” programs before most evening concerts. Tonight’s “Prelude,” performed mostly by BSO members in Ozawa Hall, presented three selections by Maurice Ravel, celebrating the 150th anniversary of the French composer’s birth, and one piece by his teacher, Gabriel Faure.
Ravel’s three “Songs of Madagascar” (1925-26), set to texts by Evariste de Parny, featured Eve Gigliotti, whose voluptuous mezzo-soprano was haunting in “Nahandove,” startlingly ferocious in “Aoua! Beware of the white men,” and languorous in “It is good to lie down.” Violinist Julianne Lee and cellist Mickey Katz were eloquent in Ravel’s “Piece in the form of a Habanera” and “Kaddish” respectively. Lee and Katz joined violist Rebecca Gitter and pianist Benjamin Hochman for a vibrant account of Faure’s 1885-86 second piano quartet.
The main event was an 80-minute (without intermission) “theatrical concert for orchestra,” a world premiere, in the Shed which combined 15 numbers from Sergei Prokofiev’s 1935 ballet “Romeo and Juliet,” played by the BSO under their Music Director, Andris Nelsons, with excerpts from the text of Shakespeare’s play, adapted and directed by Bill Barclay, and performed by six actors from Barclay’s company, Concert Theatre Works.
Barclay’s imaginative staging made full use of the Shed’s wide stage, where minimal props were seamlessly moved on, off, and around the stage by actors. The top step of a high staircase served as Juliet’s balcony. Riveting stage action included what Barclay called in a program note “the wildly thrilling world of live swordplay.” The immersive production even had an exuberant Romeo racing off stage around the Shed to the lawn after he and Juliet profess their love in the balcony scene. Elegant costume design was by Arthur Oliver.
Photo by Hilary Scott |
The well-miked cast was uniformly strong. Kelley Curran and James Udom conveyed the full emotional range of the star-crossed lovers and the depth of their mutual attraction. Nigel Gore (from Shakespeare & Company) was a commanding Capulet. Caleb Mayo was a hyperactive Mercutio, and Carman Lacivita (Friar Laurence at Hartford Stage in May), a boisterous Tybalt. Robert Walsh was hilarious and impressive in the dual roles of the friar and Juliet’s nurse, at one point changing roles (and costumes) mid-scene.
Musical highlights from Prokofiev’s colorful score included: two dramatic conflict scenes with swordplay (“The Fight;” “Tybalt and Mercutio Fight”); several graceful dances (“Arrival of the Guests;” “Dance of the Knights”); a magical balcony scene; and an achingly poignant closing “Death of Juliet.” The entire BSO played with elegance and passion, but special plaudits go to the large percussion and brass sections.
This powerful amalgam of music and theatre, which clearly enthralled the multi-generational live audience, is a major achievement by Barclay and Nelsons.