Concert Preview: Boston University Symphony Orchestra

The Boston University Symphony Orchestra concludes its season with a concert that promises to be both stirring and sublime, uniting mystery, nobility, and raw emotional power under the skilled direction of guest conductor Sarah Ioannides. This exciting program—free and open to the public—showcases masterworks that span Romantic grandeur, mythic drama, and 20th-century edge, offering audiences an unforgettable evening of orchestral brilliance.

Opening the concert is Felix Mendelssohn’s Hebrides Overture (also known as Fingal’s Cave), a tone poem that vividly captures the windswept landscapes and haunting seascapes of the Scottish coast. With its brooding undercurrents and lyrical surges, Mendelssohn’s music conjures a sense of mystery and ancient legend—setting the perfect tone for a program that explores emotional and sonic depth.

Next, the orchestra shifts into a bold, contemporary register with Carl Nielsen’s Clarinet Concerto, a work that challenges both performer and listener with its dramatic contrasts, quirky dialogues, and introspective lyricism.

The evening culminates with Franz Schubert’s towering Symphony No. 9 in C major, “The Great”, a work of expansive beauty and noble spirit. Its broad, sweeping melodies and rhythmic drive reflect Schubert’s deep admiration for Beethoven while charting a voice entirely his own. Often hailed as a symphonic masterpiece that bridges the Classical and Romantic eras, this work brings the concert—and the season—to a triumphant and moving close.