Benjamin Zander presents: Interpretations of Music: Lessons for Life

Boston Philharmonic Founder and Conductor Benjamin Zander’s interpretation classes are among the most extraordinary – and, thanks to video, most widely seen – of all the conductor’s musical activities. These free and open to the public classes Mr. Zander guides highly accomplished young musicians to refine their artistry through the performance of a huge range of classical masterworks. The audience at these events feels very much a part of the process of transformation that unfolds. These classes give everyone involved a window into how music can and should be performed in order to engage, stimulate and inspire the audience at the deepest level. High school and college musicians are invited to apply to be a participant by contacting <a href="mailto:info@bostonphil.org">info@bostonphil.org</a>. Mr. Zander’s famed communication skills and lifetime immersion in all aspects of musical performance help him to be a transformative musical coach who guides and inspires players of all instruments to a deeper understanding of what the music is actually asking of the performer and how to communicate that with the greatest intensity and authenticity to the audience. Visit the <a href="https://www.benjaminzander.org/interpretation-classes-tour/">Benjamin Zander Center</a> for a selection of past interpretation classes. &nbsp;

Boston Public Library Rabb Hall

Boston Philharmonic Orchestra 47th Opening Concert: All Brahms Program

The Boston Philharmonic Orchestra launches its 47th season with the grandeur of an all-Brahms program, led by conductor Benjamin Zander. Italian pianist Alessandro Deljavan returns as soloist for the monumental Piano Concerto No. 1, followed by the profound beauty of Symphony No. 4. Arrive for Conductor Benjamin Zander’s engaging “Guide to the Music" at 1:45 PM, offering insights that bring Brahms’s masterpieces vividly to life. &nbsp;

Symphony Hall

Boston Philharmonic Youth Orchestra 2025-26 Opening Concert: Bernstein, Brahms & Prokofiev

The Boston Philharmonic Youth Orchestra's 2025-26 season, under the direction of founder and conductor Benjamin Zander, kicks off with Bernstein’s iconic Candide Overture. Former Berlin Philharmonic concertmaster <a href="https://guybraunstein.info/">Guy Braunstein</a>, who has performed the Elgar and Brahms Violin Concertos with the Boston Philharmonic Orchestra, joins acclaimed Israeli-born cellist Zvi Plesser, celebrated for both his solo appearances with orchestras such as the Berlin Philharmonic, Saint Martin in the Fields, and the National Symphony, and his distinguished chamber music career, for Brahms’s Double Concerto. Prokofiev’s Symphony No. 5, one of the greatest and most challenging works in the orchestral repertoire, closes out the program.

Boston Philharmonic Orchestra presents Verdi's Requiem

Four of today’s most celebrated operatic voices, each of whom has graced the world’s leading opera stages—<a href="https://ailynperez.com/">Ailyn Perez</a>, the trailblazing soprano and first Hispanic recipient of the Richard Tucker Award; <a href="http://www.danielamack.com/">Daniela Mack</a>, the Argentine mezzo-soprano standing at the forefront of a new generation; <a href="https://www.johnosborntenor.com/">John Osborn</a>, the American tenor acclaimed for his master of “bel canto” and French Grand Opéra; and <a href="https://www.maharramhuseynov.com/">Maharram&nbsp;Huseynov</a>, the young, Baku-born bass and Mariinsky Theatre guest soloist—join Chorus pro Musica and the Boston Philharmonic Orchestra for a performance of Verdi’s electrifying Requiem. Arrive early for Conductor Benjamin Zander’s engaging “Guide to the Music" at 1:45 PM, offering insights that bring Verdi's masterpiece vividly to life. &nbsp;

Boston Philharmonic Founder and Conductor Benjamin Zander’s interpretation classes are among the most extraordinary – and, thanks to video, most widely seen – of all the conductor’s musical activities. These free and open to the public classes Mr. Zander guides highly accomplished young musicians to refine their artistry through the performance of a huge range of classical masterworks. The audience at these events feels very much a part of the process of transformation that unfolds. These classes give everyone involved a window into how music can and should be performed in order to engage, stimulate and inspire the audience at the deepest level. High school and college musicians are invited to apply to be a participant by contacting <a href="mailto:info@bostonphil.org">info@bostonphil.org</a>. Mr. Zander’s famed communication skills and lifetime immersion in all aspects of musical performance help him to be a transformative musical coach who guides and inspires players of all instruments to a deeper understanding of what the music is actually asking of the performer and how to communicate that with the greatest intensity and authenticity to the audience. High school and college musicians are invited to apply to be a participant by contacting <a href="mailto:info@bostonphil.org">info@bostonphil.org</a>. Mr. Zander’s famed communication skills and lifetime immersion in all aspects of musical performance help him to be a transformative musical coach who guides and inspires players of all instruments to a deeper understanding of what the music is actually asking of the performer and how to communicate that with the greatest intensity and authenticity to the audience. Visit the <a href="https://www.benjaminzander.org/interpretation-classes-tour/">Benjamin Zander Center</a> for a selection of past interpretation classes. &nbsp;

Boston Philharmonic Orchestra presents Mozart & Bruckner

Internationally acclaimed pianist Kristian Bezuidenhout—celebrated for his complete recordings of Mozart's keyboard music (mostly for harmonia mundi) and his ongoing cycle of the complete Mozart piano concertos with the Freiburger Barockorchester—makes his Boston Philharmonic debut with the Piano Concerto No. 20 in C Minor. Bruckner’s majestic and rarely performed Symphony No. 7 concludes the program. Arrive early for Conductor Benjamin Zander’s engaging “Guide to the Music" at 6:45 PM, offering insights you won't hear anywhere else that bring both works vividly to life. &nbsp;

Boston Philharmonic Youth Orchestra presents Takemitsu, Debussy & Mahler

Founder Benjamin Zander conducts the Boston Philharmonic Youth Orchestra's second concert of the 2025-26 season, which journeys through nature’s many moods: Takemitsu’s shimmering Green, Debussy’s seascape masterpiece La Mer, and Mahler’s Symphony No. 1, a demanding program that pushes the young musicians to new heights of virtuosity and artistry.

Boston Philharmonic Orchestra presents Mahler's Symphony No. 3

After her memorable appearance in Mahler’s Resurrection Symphony in April 2025, acclaimed Mahler interpreter and mezzo-soprano Dame Sarah Connolly returns as soloist in the haunting "Midnight Song" from Nietzsche’s poetry for the Boston Philharmonic Orchestra's performance of Mahler’s Symphony No. 3. She'll be accompanied by a chorus of hundreds, including Chorus pro Musica, the Radcliffe Choral Society, and The Choristers of Saint Paul’s Choir School to create a most moving season finale. Arrive early for Conductor Benjamin Zander’s engaging “Guide to the Music" at 6:45 PM, an unmissable, behind-the-scenes journey into the work's soul. &nbsp;

Boston Philharmonic Youth Orchestra Salute to America's 250th Anniversary with Makoto Ozone

In a salute to America’s 250th anniversary, the Boston Philharmonic Youth Orchestra's season finale, conducted by founder Benjamin Zander, includes Pulitzer Prize-winning, Boston composer John Harbison’s Remembering Gatsby (Foxtrot for Orchestra), Rhapsody in Blue, featuring renowned Japanese pianist Makoto Ozone’s signature interpretation of the Gershwin’s tribute to the kinetic energy of America's cities in the 1920s, and Copland’s Symphony No. 3, an unmistakably American masterpiece.

Woods Hole Film Festival 2025

The 34th Woods Hole Film Festival, the oldest film festival on the Cape and Islands, kicks off Friday, July 25, with a special screening of the documentary OVERCOME, followed by 8 days of exciting independent cinema, with 19 narrative features, 28 documentary features, and 63 short films representing 16 countries—with 7 World, 5 North America, 2 US, and 49 New England premieres by both first-time and veteran filmmakers. Special guests include: author and musician Elijah Wald, whose book Dylan Goes Electric! inspired the biopic A Complete Unknown, will participate in a panel discussion moderated by Washington Post film critic Ty Burr and writer and music critic Jim Sullivan; acclaimed actress Amy Brenneman (Judging Amy, The Leftovers), who will present her new documentary Overcome on Friday, July 25; and her husband, Brad Silberling, the noted film and TV producer and director behind Lemony Snicket’s A Series of Unfortunate Events and Moonlight Mile, who will lead a master class on changing roles in the film and television industry (the couple splits their time between Martha’s Vineyard and Los Angeles). Besides screenings followed by filmmaker Q&amp;A’s, activities include master classes, workshops, panel discussions, an awards ceremony, and parties with some of the best live music in New England. The festival’s hallmark thematic strands include films and filmmakers from New England, films about music and musicians, and films about science in conjunction with the Festival’s “Bringing Science to the Screen” program. The Woods Hole Film Festival was an early leader in promoting the films and careers of emerging, independent filmmakers, especially those with ties to New England, and specifically Cape Cod and the Islands—a mission that continues to this day. The intimate environment and seaside setting provide audience members and filmmakers from around the world the opportunity to watch films together and to engage face to face in thought-provoking and meaningful conversations during the post-film Q&amp;As, as well as on the street—you never know who you might bump into!

Redfield Auditorium

Boston Philharmonic Youth Orchestra 2024-25 Season: Debussy, Walton, Rachmaninoff

The Boston Philharmonic Youth Orchestra's (BPYO) final concert of the 2024-25 season opens with Debussy's Prelude à l'après-midi d'un faune (Prelude to an afernoon of a faun), one of the most intricate and demanding pieces in the orchestral repertoire. Cellist Leland Ko, first prize winner of the 2023 L'orchestre symphonique de Montreal Competition and former BPYO first cellist at age 14), who is now 25, follows as the soloist on Walton's Cello Concerto, which cellist Gregor Piatigorsky commissioned and premiered in Boston. The concert concludes with Rachmaninoff's Symphony No. 2, which Conductor Benjamin Zander says “has deep romantic themes, overflowing with love.” Stream it live for free at https://youtube.com/live/5Bb2oVIXviU

Boston Philharmonic Orchestra: Mahler Symphony No. 2 with soprano Miah Persson & mezzo-soprano Dame Sarah Connolly

The Boston Philharmonic Orchestra's (BPO) final concert of the 2024-25 season features the "achingly poignant” and internationally recognized mezzo-soprano Dame Sarah Connolly, who returns to the BPO stage as soloist on Mahler’s Symphony No. 2, "Resurrection" with Swedish soprano Miah Persson, as well as Chorus Pro Musica. The themes of life, death, and resurrection resonate deeply on Good Friday, making it a fitting finale to the BPO's season. Stream it live for free at https://youtube.com/live/MG5QyqdhdRw

Boston Philharmonic Youth Orchestra 2024-25 Season: Mahler Symphony No. 6

The difficulties performing Mahler’s Symphony No. 6, "Tragic"—technical, interpretive, emotional, and even logistical—are legendary. After performing his Symphony No. 5 last season, this year’s Boston Philharmonic Youth Orchestra musicians will tackle Mahler’s even more emotionally challenging Sixth Symphony. The concert will also be streamed live for free at https://youtube.com/live/DLrgE9CIQ4E

Boston Philharmonic Orchestra 2024-25 Season: Strauss's Four Last Songs & Mahler Symphony No. 4 with soprano Claire Booth

The Boston Philharmonic Orchestra's third concert of the 2024-25 season features versatile British soprano Claire Booth doing double duty as the soloist for both Strauss's posthumously published Four Last Songs, his last completed work, and Mahler’s Symphony No. 4, which launched Conductor Benjamin Zander’s conducting career 52 years ago. His encounter with Mahler led to his lifetime passion for the composer, ultimately earning him the Gustav Mahler Society of New York’s first Titan Award in 2023. The concert will also be live streamed for free on YouTube at https://youtube.com/live/fRL15kKHzfE

Boston Philharmonic Founder and Conductor Benjamin Zander’s Saturday morning Interpretation Classes are among the most extraordinary – and, thanks to video, most widely seen – of all the conductor’s musical activities. During these classes, which are free and open to the public (no need for a ticket), Mr. Zander guides highly accomplished young musicians who live or study in the Boston area to become more communicative in order to develop more alive interpretations of a huge range of classical masterworks. The audience at these events feels very much a part of the process of transformation that unfolds, week after week. These classes give everyone involved a window into how music can and should be performed in order to engage, stimulate and inspire the audience at the deepest level. High school and college musicians are invited to apply to be a participant by contacting <a href="mailto:info@bostonphil.org">info@bostonphil.org</a>. There is one other Interpretation Classes in 2024 on December 14. Mr. Zander’s famed communication skills and lifetime immersion in all aspects of musical performance help him to be a transformative musical coach who guides and inspires players of all instruments to a deeper understanding of what the music is actually asking of the performer and how to communicate that with the greatest intensity and authenticity to the audience. Visit the <a href="https://www.benjaminzander.org/interpretation-classes-tour/">Benjamin Zander Center</a> for a selection of past interpretation classes.

S22: conversations

Wondering what to do in Boston? Places to eat? Free activities? Good for a group? Date night spot? Girls night out? The best things to do? Ask Joyraft!

Best places to go in Boston? Things to do? Places to eat?

Questions & answers about things to do in Boston

Recs 💬

Community recs 💬

S4: top picks

The most fun, cool and unique things to do in Boston. Can’t miss events, shows and experiences. Concerts, restaurants, bars, free things in Boston and beyond.

The most fun and cool events happening around Boston

Hot and new things to do in Boston

Hot & new

Hot & new 🔥

S11: happening this weekend

What to do in Boston this weekend? From festivals, concerts, performances, free events, screenings and more, Joyraft has the best things to do in Boston.

25+ things to do in Boston/Cambridge/Somerville this weekend

Things to do in Boston this weekend

This wknd

This weekend for you

S21: roundups

Our top picks: outdoor dining, free events, spring festivals, best bars, upcoming concerts, museum parties - the latest in and around Boston.  Slug: joyraft-top-picks-best-things-to-do-boston-ma

Top picks of the best things to do in and around Boston

Joyraft picks: Boston’s best things to do

Roundups ⭐️

Curated by Joyraft ⭐️

S28: calendar experiences

This week in Boston

This week in Boston 📆

This week 📆

S20: c+d experiences

Discover new, unique events and experiences happening in and around Boston. Perfect for date night, good for a group or with a friend. Be the first to know.

The newest events happening in and around Boston

The newest events on Joyraft

Just added

Just added to Joyraft

S16: editor picks

The most unique and can’t miss things coming up in Boston / Cambridge / Somerville and beyond. Festivals, food, drinks, fairs, concerts, art and free activities.

Unique and Can’t Miss Things to Do in Boston

Can’t-miss things to do in Boston 🚨

Can't-miss things to do 🚨

S2 (A): top experiences

The most popular things to do on Joyraft. Concerts, restaurants, bars, events, parties, openings, kid friendly, date ideas, free things in Boston and beyond.

Top 20 things to do in Boston

Top 20: Joyraft’s most popular

Top 20

Top 20 on Joyraft

S3 (A): trending experiences

Discover can’t miss events and things to do in Boston. The most fun, unique and cool events coming to the Boston area this spring and summer.

The hottest events happening in Boston

Trending events on Joyraft

Trending 📈

S17: interest based

Your guide to everything free in and around Boston. From events, to fairs, to festivals, to outdoors. Joyraft has all the free events happening near you.

100+ free things to do in Boston and beyond

Free things to do in Boston

Free things to do

S19: interest based

Kid-friendly events in Boston

S18: interest based

Where to eat and drink in Boston? Joyraft has Boston’s newest bars, restaurants and specials. Drinks and pre fixe dinner menus. Cambridge & Somerville too.

Where

americangraphiti

Experiences

Benjamin Zander presents: Interpretations of Music: Lessons for Life

Boston Philharmonic Orchestra 47th Opening Concert: All Brahms Program

Boston Philharmonic Youth Orchestra 2025-26 Opening Concert: Bernstein, Brahms & Prokofiev

Boston Philharmonic Orchestra presents Verdi's Requiem

Benjamin Zander presents: Interpretations of Music: Lessons for Life

Boston Philharmonic Orchestra presents Mozart & Bruckner

Boston Philharmonic Youth Orchestra presents Takemitsu, Debussy & Mahler

Boston Philharmonic Orchestra presents Mahler's Symphony No. 3

Boston Philharmonic Youth Orchestra Salute to America's 250th Anniversary with Makoto Ozone

Woods Hole Film Festival 2025

Boston Philharmonic Youth Orchestra 2024-25 Season: Debussy, Walton, Rachmaninoff

Boston Philharmonic Orchestra: Mahler Symphony No. 2 with soprano Miah Persson & mezzo-soprano Dame Sarah Connolly

Boston Philharmonic Youth Orchestra 2024-25 Season: Mahler Symphony No. 6

Boston Philharmonic Orchestra 2024-25 Season: Strauss's Four Last Songs & Mahler Symphony No. 4 with soprano Claire Booth

Benjamin Zander presents: Interpretations of Music: Lessons for Life