THROUGH OCT 4: WILLIAM TELL
The Boston Lyric Opera opens its landmark 50th Season with Rossini’s WILLIAM TELL at the Emerson Colonial Theatre, 106 Boylston St. In Boston. It is the first Boston production of WILLIAM TELL in nearly 150 years having last been performed in Boston in 1880 by the company known then as the Strakosch Opera Company. With BLO Music Director David Angus conducting, it is presented with cinematic, immersive projections to create a fantastical as well as historical period. The staging is by longtime collaborators Vita Tzykun and David Adam Moore.
BLO Cast for William Tell: Photo by Nile Scott Studios Rossini’s 1829 masterpiece explores tyranny, resistance and the price of freedom by telling a story of ordinary people uniting against authoritarian rule and pointing its arrow at the heart of our contemporary relevance.
Jemmy (Brianna J. Robinson) awaits her fate in Boston Lyric Opera’s WILLIAM TELL: Photo by Nile Scott Studios Tell is the legendary archer whose act of impossible courage has become one of cultural history’s enduring symbols of resistance. Rossini’s WILLIAM TELL follows the legendary hero who inspires his countrymen to rise against the tyrannical governor Gessler. As patriotism collides with personal loyalties, including the forbidden romance between Arnold and Mathilde, a movement for freedom gathers strength. When Tell refuses to bow to Gessler’s authority, he is forced to shoot an apple from atop his child’s head, a feat that makes him a hero.
Leuthold (r., played by Ilya Silchukou) warns William Tell (George Gagnidze) of approaching enemies: Photo by Nile Scott Studios Escaping execution, Tell ultimately leads his side to victory, transforming a story of courage, sacrifice and resistance into a stirring celebration of liberty. BLO Artistic Director Nina Yoshida Nelsen stated, “William Tell is a patriot who chooses to fight back. At its heart, the opera asks what people are willing to risk for one another and for their freedom.” The Opera is best known for its iconic overture, made famous by generations of use in films and television, WILLIAM TELL features far more than one of classical music’s most recognizable melodies. This WILLIAM TELL is an epic undertaking, with 11 principals that include Metropolitan Opera baritone George Gagnidze takes on the role of Tell, BLO Artistic Director Nina Yoshida Nelsen is Hedwige, Anya Matanovič is Mathilde, Konu Kim is Arnold, Brianna J. Robinson is Jemmy, Yeghishe Manucharyan ia Rudolph, Hunter Enoch is Gessler, James Demler is Melchtal, Sergio Martinez is Walter, Morgan Mastrangelo is Ruod) and Ilya Silchukou is Leuthold. Fifty-four musicians will accompany the cast that includes 40 choristers. Dozens of additional artists will be behind-the-scenes. The creative team is streamlining Rossini’s opus (not uncommon) while adding narrative notes for modern audiences’s appeal. Sung in French with English supertitiles. Tickets for this exciting operatic production with the most lyrical tale as well as magical score may be obtained at www.blo.org/tell
OCT. 10: OUTLANDER IN CONCERT…ECHOES THROUGH THE HIGHLANDS
GEA Live and Sony Pictures Television bring to Boston’s Boch Center Shubert Theatre at 265 Tremont Street in Boston this live concert Celtic score by Emmy® Award–winning composer Bear McCreary and paired with the cinematic visuals from all eight seasons of the global phenomenon “Outlander”. They are presented on a large HD cinema screen. Executive producer & showrunner Matthew B. Roberts collaborated with McCreary to create a concert experience for fans with a specially curated set list and scenes from the show, including footage from the highly anticipated eighth and final season that premiered on STARZ (US) and MGM+ (UK). A live ensemble of musicians and vocalists will perform with traditional Scottish instruments including bagpipes, fiddles, and the hurdy-gurdy. The music of “Outlander” has achieved remarkable acclaim, led by McCreary, whose work also includes “The Lord of the Rings: The Rings of Power” and video game “God of War.” Across seven successful soundtracks, the franchise has generated 500 million streams in 236 territories, with its iconic theme, “Outlander – The Skye Boat Song,” surpassing 49 million plays. The “Outlander” soundtrack stands as the best-selling title in Sony Pictures Television’s entire catalog, underscoring the series’ enduring cultural impact on both screen and sound. The score has long been central to the series’ emotional power, helping carry the soul of the story for fans worldwide. That global appeal is already clear, with concert goers set to travel from 40 countries to experience “Outlander in Concert: Echoes Through the Highlands” in Scotland. On stage, the music and visuals combine to create a cinematic live event that is both immersive and unforgettable. The “Outlander” television series is based on Diana Gabaldon’s internationally best-selling books, which have sold an estimated 50 million copies worldwide with all nine novels gracing the New York Times best-seller list. The global success of the “Outlander” TV franchise also sparked prequel “Outlander: Blood of My Blood,” which premiered last fall and is set to return for a second season. Previous seasons of “Outlander” along with “Outlander: Blood of My Blood” are available to stream on the STARZ app in the US and MGM+ in the UK. “Outlander” is produced by Sony Pictures Television and stars Caitríona Balfe as Claire Fraser, Sam Heughan as Jamie Fraser, Sophie Skelton as Brianna MacKenzie, Richard Rankin as Roger MacKenzie, John Bell as Young Ian Murray, David Berry as Lord John Grey, Charles Vandervaart as William Ransom, Izzy Meikle-Small as Rachel Hunter Murray, and Joey Phillips as Denzell Hunter. Roberts, Ronald D. Moore, Maril Davis, Toni Graphia, Luke Schelhaas, Andy Harries, and Jim Kohlberg serve as executive producers. Balfe and Heughan also serve as executive producers. Tickets may be obtained through www.bochcenter.org
OCT. 10 (7:30): THE PADRONE
Odyssey Opera brings together three landmark works by three separate Second New England School composers. They were a group of late 19th- and early 20th-century classical composers based in and around Boston, Massachusetts. George W. Chadwick’s “The Padrone, is a sharply drawn portrait of immigrant life in turn of the century Boston. Amy Beach’s “Jephthah’s Daughter” is a concentrated and moving retelling of the biblical story; while Edward MacDowell’s “Laima” is a dramatic scene shaped by a Lithuanian myth. Heard together, these works illuminate the range and ambition of the composers who defined Boston’s early musical identity and helped establish a distinctly American operatic voice.The New England Conservatory’s Jordan Hall, 30 Gainsborough St. in Boston will host this program. The cast members for the three opera’s consist of Toni Marie Palmertree as Marietta, Kate Aldrich as Francesca, Troy Cook as Catani, John Viscardi as Marco, Sarah Heltzel as Marta, Devon Russo as Chief Inspector, Sarah Coburn as Jephthah’s Daughter,Toni Marie Palmertree as Marietta, Kate Aldrich as Francesca, Troy Cook as Catani, John Viscardi as Marco, Sarah Heltzel as Marta, Devon Russo as Chief Inspector, and Sarah Coburn as Jephthah’s Daughter. The Choral Director is Andrew Clark and Gil Rose leads the Haravard-Radcliffe Collegium Musicum. Tickets may be obtained at https://necboxoffice.my.salesforce-sites.com/ticket/#/instances/a0FRi000009k3wzMAA
OCT. 15: REVELS SALON…HARMONIES & HOMESTEADERS
The historic Carriage House at Gore Place, 52 Gore Street in Waltham will host this reception and engaging conversation with Revels Artistic Director Jeffrey Binder and special guests. They will explore the history and cultural context surrounding the life on in 1870s on the American Plains as well as its creative inspiration behind this year’s Midwinter Revels. The evening is presented in partnership with Gore Place, and also will feature live music and song! For further information and to purchase tickets, go to www.revels.org
OCT. 16 (7:30 PM): EMANUEL AX (Pianist) & THE KNIGHTS (Chamber Orchestra)
Music Worcester opens their 168th season at Mechanics Hall, 321 Main Street in Worcester with this concert featuring two of Mozart piano concertos; No. 17 in G Major, and No. 25 in C Major. They will also play Overture to L’amant anonyme, by Joseph Bologne, Chevalier de Saint-Georges, a French composer of African descent from the early Classical Era. “Opening Night this October offers the rare chance for Music Worcester to connect its own incredible history with one of today’s leading orchestras,” stated Adrien Finlay, Executive Director. “Emanuel Ax’s relationship with us amazingly began back in the early 1980s and has encompassed recitals, chamber music, and concerto performances. To have him return with The Knights, a collective of musicians redefining what it means to be an ensemble today, will serve as an ideal opportunity to witness the collaboration of musical giants from multiple generations.” Emanuel Ax is widely considered to be one of the top living American classical pianists, having been presented by Music Worcester multiple times over the course of his career, most recently in 2002. Mr. Ax made his New York debut in the Young Concert Artists Series, and in 1974 won the first Arthur Rubinstein International Piano Competition in Tel Aviv. In 1975 he won the Michael’s Award of Young Concert Artists, followed four years later by the Avery Fisher Prize. He has also obtained eight Grammy Awards, two of which are for his solo recordings of Haydn’s Piano Sonatas. He received six additional Grammys for collaborations with Yo-Yo Ma and others, for albums of chamber music written by Beethoven, Brahms, and Mozart. Emanuel Ax was named the 2026 Musical America Artist of the Year.
Emanuel AX The Knights are a collective of adventurous musicians dedicated to transforming the orchestral experience and eliminating barriers between audiences and music. They last performed for Music Worcester in 2023 with Chris Thile. Driven by an open-minded spirit of camaraderie and exploration, they inspire listeners with vibrant programs that encompass their roots in the classical tradition and passion for artistic discovery. The Knights have toured and recorded with renowned soloists including Yo-Yo Ma, Dawn Upshaw, Béla Fleck, Chris Thile, Gil Shaham, as well as Emanuel Ax, and has appeared across the world’s most prestigious stages, including those at Carnegie Hall, Tanglewood, Ravinia, The Kennedy Center, and the Vienna Musikverein.
The Knights Music Worcester, founded in 1858, continues its long tradition of presenting internationally acclaimed artists and ensembles to Central Massachusetts, with programming that spans classical, jazz, global traditions, and dance. This concert is presented as The Joseph and Joyce Tamer Annual Concert. Tickets for this spectacular evening may be obtained at www.musicworcester.org
OCT. 21: REVELS CHANTEY SING
The Burren at 247 Elm St. in Somerville hosts this uniquely uplifting and fun event. It will provide an evening filled with food, drinks, and camaraderie, as the master chantey man, David Coffin, leads the audience in singing traditional sea chanteys and more. Song-sheets will be provided to ensure participation. This event is part of the Brian O’Donovan Legacy Series at The Burren. For tickets and information go to www.revels.org
OCT. 23 – 25: BACHTOBERFEST WEEKEND
Music Worcester returns for the third year in the ambitious Complete Back Series, the 11-year initiative to present live performances of all works composed by Johann Sebastian Bach. It ends on March 21, 2035—the 350th anniversary of the Baroque master’s birth. This five-concert weekend was programmed by TCB’s Artistic Director Chris Shepard and opens on Friday night at WAMS Works (the Worcester Area Mission Society), located at 6 Institute Road in Worcester. will be anchored by celebrated flutist Emi Ferguson and keyboardist Kit Armstrong playing the Flute Sonatas on Friday night a 7:30pm. The flute player, singer, composer, arranger, radio host, and writer, and 2023 recipient of the Avery Fisher Career Grant, Emi Ferguson will perform with noted Kit Armstrong on the harpsichord. They will perform Bach’s BWV 120 and 130-132, as well as Sonata in C Major and Sonata in G Major that were composed by Bach’s son C..E. Bach.
EVI Ferguson & Kit Armstong Saturday at 4:00pm. also at WAMS Works, CONCORA (Connecticut Choral Arts), also under the direction of Director Chris Shepard, will sing three of Bach’s choral cantatas including Bleib bei uns, denn es will Abend warden (BWV 6), Brich dem Hungrigen dein Brot (BWV 39), and Herr, wie du willt, so schick’s mit mir (BWV 73)
COCORA Saturday evening at 7:30pm, at Assumption University’s Curtis Hall at 500 Salisbury Street in Worcester, the internationally renowned pianist Boris Giltburg performing The Well Tempered Clavier, Book 1. This near-meditative journey through every key signature, each with two movements (Prelude and Fugue) allows the listener to experience Bach’s keyboard writing as he intended: musical practices to explore all ways of writing.
Boris Giltburg. pianistSunday morning, audiences are invited to enjoy Free Music Sunday at 10:15am in the First Unitarian Church, at 90 Main Street in Worceseter. The First Church Unitarian Choir will sing Bach’s cantata Was mein Gott will, das g’scheh allzeit, (BWV 111), which highlights the gorgeous acoustics of the sanctuary.
BACHtoberfest Choir The Weekend ends at 4:00pm with the BACHtoberfest Choir, along with members of the Hartford Chorale as they gather under the baton of TCB’s Artistic Director Chris Shepard and in Mechanics Hall at 321 Main Street in Worcester. They will be performing Bach Cantatas: BWV’s: 1, 18, 79, 192. For more information surrounding THE COMPLETE BACH and all Music Worcester programs aw well as to obtain tickets, visit www.musicworcester.org
OCT. 24 & 25 (7):The CHEVALIER
Concert Theatre Works (CTW) is the international theatre company founded by Boston native Bill Barclay and known for its groundbreaking storytelling and theatrical works in the classical music world. They are bringing this Boston premiere to the historic Emmanuel Church, 15 Newbury Street, in Boston’s Back Bay for two performances only. “The Chevalier” was conceived, written and directed by Bill Barclay and is an original adaptation of The Life and Music of Joseph Bologne, Chevalier de Saint-George. The story surrounds the Black violin virtuoso Joseph Bologne, his true friendships with Mozart and Marie Antoinette as well as his astonishing and widely unrecognized contribution to the abolition of slavery. It is a critically acclaimed production that was originally commissioned by the Boston Symphony Orchestra (BSO) in 2018 with a Tanglewood debut in 2019. Since then, it has toured internationally, including performances presented by the Chicago Symphony Orchestra, Cleveland Orchestra, and London Symphony. The New York Times called the production, “Nuanced, witty, and incisive” while The Guardian stated it to be, “Quite simply exquisite”. The Boston premiere features the celebrated violinist Brendon Elliott on solo violin and Dr. Karen Walwyn on Piano. The actors are Bill Barclay as Chod, Thomas Brazzle as Joseph Bologne, (the Chevalier de Saint-George). Merritt Janson takes on the role of Marie Antoinette, while David Joseph is Mozart. The piece also features musicians from The Chamber Orchestra of Boston, led by music director David Feltner, with student string players from Project STEP, a Boston-based non-profit that provides talented young musicians that identify with historically underrepresented grounds in Western classical music with comprehensive music instruction. Artistic director of CTW, and writer and director of The Chevalier, Bill Barkley shared, “I am beyond thrilled to finally be bringing “The Chevalier” to my hometown in Boston, and with such a spectacular story, exquisite music, and a truly gifted group of artistic collaborators,” “Bologne was a master composer, virtuoso violinist, the finest fencer in Europe, and was general of Europe’s first Black regiment and crusader for equality – he is an extraordinary artist of color nearly forgotten by history. His story is bursting to be told, and the timing couldn’t be more apt as we approach the November elections. The time to experience The Chevalier is now!” The October 24th show is followed by a reception and the October 25th performance will be preceded with a pre-talk show. Tickets for this powerful meditation on the true nature of equality and our fight for justice in today’s America may be obtained at www.concerttheatreworks.com
NOV. 1: PATRICK DRONEY’S “MADE YOU LOOK” TOUR
The Boch Center Shubert Theatre at 265 Tremony Street hosts Singer-songwriter/ptoducer, Patrick Droney’s third full-length project created with Warner Records. The album, titled Made You Look, comes after three defining years away. He took a meaningful pause in a career that has spanned three acclaimed records . The 2018’s self-titled EP, 2021’s State of the Heart, and 2023’s Subtitles for Feelings. Appearances on late night TV (Seth Meyers, Colbert), and hundreds of millions of streams, “Made You Look” now is uniquely both an instruction and an admission. The record is about paying attention in an era that forces us to always be somewhere else. In a culture built for speed, Droney slowed down, and the music is braver for it, both sonically and emotionally. He created the music across New York and Nashville, while boasting an impressive list of collaborations, including a stunning feature from Kelsea Ballerini (“Math of Us”) and a co-write with Stephen Wilson, Jr. (“Cigarette Break”). Plus, key contributions also came from Konrad Snyder (Kacey Musgraves, Noah Kahan), mixing engineer Jonathan Low (Taylor Swift, Gracie Abrams), drummer Bryan Devendorf (The National), string arranger Davide Rossi (Coldplay, Alicia Keys, The Verve), and more. Folding “Made You Look” into his growing songbook., he has already played a sold-out three-city run through Nashville, Los Angeles, and Brooklyn this year. This fall tour ahead will see him take on storied rooms like the Ryman Auditorium, Brooklyn Steel, and the Belasco Theatre. Tickets may be obtaines at www.bochcenter.org
NOV. 8 (3pm): THE BOSTON CIVIC SYMPHONY
This noted orchestra, under the leadership of Music Director Francisco Noya brings to the New England Conservatory’s Jordan Hall, 30 Gainsborough Street in Boston performing Brahmas’ Tragic Overture, Stravinsky’s Petrushka; and Beethoven’s Concerto for Violin, Cello, and Piano in C Major. “The season opens with a program that goes from the profound emotional gravity of Brahms’ Tragic Overture to the rhythmic brilliance of Petrushka,” said Noya. “Balancing these emotional poles we have Beethoven’s Triple Concerto, a work that captures the collaborative intimacy of chamber music within the power of a full symphony. And we are very fortunate to have a world class trio of soloists” These soloists are Alexander Kerr, violin (concert master of the Dallas Symphony Orchestra, and the Linda and Jack Gill Chair in Music at the Jacobs School of Music at Indiana University); cellist Emmanuel Feldman (co-founder of the cello-double bass duo Cello e Basso and on the faculty of New England Conservatory); and pianist Joy Cline Phinney (Boston Public Quartet and the Cremona International Music Academy and Festival in Italy). The performance is in collaboration with Chorus pro Musica, under Music Director Jamie Kirsch. Now in its 102nd season, the Boston Civic Symphony stands as one of the city’s most respected musical institutions. Founded in 1924 by educator and composer Joseph Wagner, the orchestra has long championed a unique model that brings together exceptionally skilled student musicians and dedicated amateur performers. Alumni who performed with the orchestra early in their careers include Leonard Bernstein and Yo-Yo Ma. Tickets and information are available at bostoncivicsymphony.org
NOV. 19 – 22: DREAM FEED
ArtsEmerson Emerson presents at the Emerson Paramount Center, Jackie Liebergott Black Box Theatre, 559 Washington St. in Boston the latest electro-acoustic vocal work from the two-time Grammy Award® Winning theatrical family band The HawtPlates. Can we remember our own dreams? Can we share the dreams we have in common? Can we awaken ourselves to the origin of our aspirations? In this shared dream sequence and live concept album, The HawtPlates metabolize the surreal allure of the active mind within a slumbering body through trip-like lullabies and bold reverie. A 2023 Artist Residency Program (HARP) commission with additional co-commissioning support from the Under the Radar Festival, this psychedelic live concept album invites audiences into a hypnotic journey through the subconscious. Tickets may be purchased at www.artsemerson.org
DEC. 11 – 28:AMERICAN CROSSROADS…A SOLTICE CELEBRATION
Midwinter Revels returns to Sanders Theatre at 45 Quincy Street in Cambridge bringing with it one of the most cherished holiday traditions in New England. Revels announces that Artistic Director Jeffrey Binder will mark his Revels directorial debut with this concert. “I couldn’t be more thrilled to be making my Revels directing debut with American Crossroads,” states Binder. “It’s filled with everything I love about Revels — extraordinary music, rich traditions, a touch of magic, and the perennial cycle of coming together on the shortest day of the year to celebrate the turning of the season and the return of the light.” Revels brings together people of all ages and backgrounds through musical and theatrical celebrations of our world’s cultural and seasonal traditions as they combine artistic excellence with the lively participation of audience and volunteers in their performances and programs. Drawing on 19th-century songs and stories from the Great Plains, this Midwinter Revels will include cultural touchstones of the American frontier and the diverse communities who shaped it. Set on the Winter Solstice of 1876, immigrants and families from Ireland, Germany, Poland, China, and beyond gather at a tiny Great Plains train station to await the first train — and the promise of a new American future. But when the train mysteriously goes silent somewhere out on the winter Plains, an ancient spirit of hunger and division begins to grow among them. “At its heart, this is a story about people from different places, cultures, histories, and circumstances coming together around one of the great myths embedded in our national identity: the arrival of the railroad and the promise of progress and connection,” said director Jeffrey Binder. “In sharing their stories, songs, traditions, and challenges, they begin to find common ground and create something greater together.” The cast of Midwinter Revels includes some of Revels’ favorite performers led by David Coffin, who has been Master of Ceremonies since 1990. Musician Jake Blount, who appeared in 2019’s Midwinter Revels, actors Eliza Fichter(Midwinter Revels 2024 and 2025) and Doug Lockwood (founding member of Actors Shakespeare Project) will also be featured. Massachusetts’ Inaugural Poet Laureate Regie Gibson who recently performed at a Revels Fringe program at the venerable Club Passim. Tickets for family tradition may be obtained at www.revels.org/midwinter