Page 162 - (DK Eyewitness) Travel Guide 2017 - Boston

160  TR A VELERS ’ NEEDS

The Arts in Boston restoration to their original
grandeur, and visitors today
Performing arts are vital to Boston’s cultural life. Since the are bound to be impressed
1880s, the social season has revolved around openings as they catch a glimpse of
of the Boston Symphony Orchestra and many Brahmins these theaters’ past glory.
(see p47) occupy their grandparents’ seats at performances. The main commercially
run theaters of Boston –
In the past, theaters in Boston were heavily censored the Colonial, Wilbur, and
(see p89), but today’s Bostonians are avid theatergoers, Shubert theaters, the Boston
patronizing commercial venues for plays bound to, Opera House and the Wang
or coming from, Broadway and attending ambitious Theatre (see pp85–9) – often
contemporary drama at repertory theaters. Many non­ program Broadway produc tions
that have aleady premiered in
commercial theater and dance companies perform New York and are touring the
in smaller venues in local neigh borhoods and at the United States. They also present
colleges. Although some theaters are closed on Mondays, Broadway “try outs” and local
there is rarely a night in Boston without performing arts. productions.
In stark contrast to some of
the mainstream shows on offer
Classical Music Classical works using the in Boston, the most avant-
and Opera period instruments for which garde contemporary theater
Two cherished Boston the composers wrote. H & H in the city is per formed at the
institutions, the Boston gives regular performances American Repertory Theater
Symphony Orchestra and in Boston at Symphony Hall, (ART), an independent, non-
its popular-music equivalent, Jordan Hall, and other venues. com mercial company asso-
the Boston Pops, have a long Classical music is ubiqui tous ciated with Harvard University
history of being led by some in Boston. Emmanuel Music, (see pp114–15). ART often
of America’s finest conduc tors. for example, performs sacred prem ieres new plays, partic-
The BSO performs a full music, including Bach, at ularly on its second stage,
schedule of concerts at regular services at Emmanuel but is best known for its
Symphony Hall from October Church on Newbury Street. often radical interpretations
through April. The Boston The Isabella Stewart Gardner of traditional and modern
Pops takes over for May and Museum (see p105) hosts classics. By further contrast,
June, performing at the a series of chamber music the independent Huntington
Charles River Esplanade (see concerts, continuing a Theatre is widely praised for
p94) for Fourth of July festiv- 19th-century tradition of its traditional direction and
ities that are the high light of professional “music room” interpretation. For example,
the summer season. chamber concerts in the the Huntington was the
The students and faculty homes of the social elite. co-developer of Pulitzer-
of the New England The Celebrity Series brings Prize winning plays detailing
Conservatory of Music world-famous orchestras, 20th-century African American
present more than 450 free soloists, and dance companies life, by the late August Wilson,
classical and jazz performances to Boston, often to perform at an important chronicler of
each year, many in Jordan Jordan Hall, as well as several American race relations.
Hall (see p159). Boston Lyric other venues. Some 40 to 50 Several of the smaller
Opera has as sumed the task events are organized. companies, including Lyric
of reestablish ing opera in Stage, devote their energies
Boston, through small-cast Theater to showcasing local actors and
and light opera at venues directors and often premiere
around the city. Though much diminished the work of Boston-area
Boston’s oldest musical from its heyday in the playwrights. Many of the
organization is the Handel 1920s, when more than 40 most adventur ous companies
& Haydn Society, founded theaters were in operation perform on one of the four
in 1815. As the first American throughout Boston, the city’s stages at the Boston Center
producer of such landmark Theater District (see pp80– for the Arts.
works as Handel’s Messiah 89) today still contains a
(performed annually since collection of some of the most
1818), Bach’s B-Minor Mass and architecturally eminent, and Dance
St. Matthew Passion, and Verdi’s still commercially productive, The city’s largest and most
Requiem, H & H is one of the early theaters in the United popular resident dance
country’s musical treasures. States. Furthermore, during the company, the Boston Ballet
Since 1986, the society has 1990s, many of the theaters performs an ambitious season
focused on performing and that are currently in use of classics and new chore-
recording Baroque and underwent programs of ography between October

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