BSO Partnership: “What I Hear” featuring Andris Dzenītis

A collaboration between the Boston Symphony Orchestra and New England Conservatory, "What I Hear" is a series of free hour-long events meant to introduce audiences to composers working with the BSO. These composer-curated chamber music programs feature performances by NEC students and include conversations between the composers and BSO Assistant Artistic Administrator Eric Valliere. The NEC student performances are coached and directed by NEC faculty Stephen Drury.

Following the event in Williams Hall, the BSO and Andris Nelsons give the American premiere of Latvian composer Andris Dzenītis's orchestral work Māra, a BSO co-commission with the Gewandhaus Orchestra of Leipzig. This is one of two works being performed by the BSO this season to mark the 100th anniversary of Latvian independence (declared November 18, 1918). Dzenītis calls his new work, which is dedicated to Andris Nelsons and takes its title from a goddess in Latvian mythology, "the musical encoding of my personal understanding of what it means to be Latvian." 

All "What I Hear" events take place at 6pm at New England Conservatory's Williams Hall:

• Thursday, November 8, featuring Andris Dzentis
• Thursday, January 24, featuring Kaija Saariaho
• Thursday, May 2, featuring Sebastian Currier

Admission is free, but RSVP is suggested.