Critic’s Choice
Leila Josefowicz
Several years ago, while on a trip to Paris, composer John Adams visited the Arabian Nights exhibit at the Arab World Institute. The tale of Scheherazade, the brilliant and imaginative storyteller who escapes death from her murderous husband, fueled his imagination for a dramatic symphony. The result was his Scheherazade.2. Scored for violin and orchestra and premiered by Alan Gilbert and the New York Philharmonic in 2015, the four-movement work recasts Scheherazade’s story—a women fighting for her life in a man’s world—through music that many critics have deemed some of Adams’ best in recent years.
Scheherazade.2 finally comes to Boston this week as the Boston Symphony Orchestra and violinist Leila Josefowicz, for whom the concerto was written, present the lush and driving score in its belated local premiere. Alan Gilbert conducts.
The program will also include Sibelius’ En saga and Debussy’s colorful Jeux.
Performances will take place 8 p.m. Thursday and Saturday and 1:30 p.m. Friday at Symphony Hall. bso.org; 888-266-1200
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