Critic’s Choice

February 8, 2017 at 9:40 am

By Aaron Keebaugh

George Benjamin

George Benjamin

In recent years British composer George Benjamin has been a fixture in the musical world. His operas Into the Little Hill and Written on Skin have received widespread attention and acclaim. His relationship with the Boston Symphony Orchestra has also deepened. The orchestra has performed a number of his works in the past, and this week Andris Nelsons continues that trend by leading Benjamin’s Dream of the Song, the composer’s largest and richest non-stage work since Antara of 1987.

Dream of the Song sets English translations of eleventh-century Hebrew poems against fragments by Garciá Lorca. Countertenor Bejun Mehta will sing those texts alongside Boston’s own Lorelei Ensemble, which will supply the work’s female chorus.

Filling out the program will be Ravel’s Le Tombeau de Couperin and Berlioz’s Symphonie fantastique.

Concerts will take place 8 p.m. Thursday, Friday and Saturday at Symphony Hall. The Ravel will not be performed on Friday. bso.org; 888-266-1200.

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