A History of the BCO

Flugel horn Founded by violinist and long-time BCO concertmaster Robert Brink, the orchestra gave its inaugural performance at historic Faneuil Hall in May,1980 with the BCO’s first Music Director, F. John Adams, conducting. The orchestra has been performing in this remarkable auditorium ever since. In 1983 Harry Ellis Dickson became Music Director. During his 16-year tenure the orchestra’s offerings tripled, many world-class solo artists were engaged and a program of in-school youth concerts was inaugurated. In 1999 when Steven Lipsitt was named Music Director, Dickson became Music Director Laureate (a post he held until his death in March, 2003).

The Boston Classical Orchestra is a fully professional chamber orchestra focused primarily on music of the Classical period. The Orchestra performs five programs each season on Friday evenings and Sunday afternoons. Each program is carefully crafted to encompass a broad spectrum of classical music appropriate for a Beethoven-era orchestra. A lecture about the music precedes both Friday and Sunday concerts, and the conductor offers brief spoken commentary about the music and musicians during the concerts

In addition to playing familiar and lesser-known classics, the BCO occasionally juxtaposes Classically inspired modern compositions. In the 2000-2001 season the orchestra undertook its first-ever commissioned work to honor the late Alford P. Rudnick, a longtime supporter and donor. The result, Herschel Garfein’s Places to Live, was performed to audience acclaim and rave reviews. For our 25^th anniversary season (2004-2005) ,the BCO commissioned four works from Boston-based or Boston-trained composers:a fanfare by Kenneth Amis, a Bach-inspired overture by Robert Aldridge, a set of variations on a theme of Mozart by Lawrence Wolfe, and a musical portrait of Colonial Boston by Tison Street. This last piece earned a prestigious Koussevitzky Award. In March 2006, the BCO performed Michael Weinstein’s Chamber Symphony in collaboration with the New England Orchestra Consortium and the American Composers Forum New England. In March 2007 the BCO will peform the world premiere of a new work by Howard Frazin, “Theme & Reverberations” for Two Tubas and orchestra, featuring tubists Mike Roylance and Eli Newberger.

Performances often include outstanding local and internationally recognized soloists. Recent guest artists have included Sharon Isbin, classical guitar; John Ferrillo, oboe; world-class piano trio The Boston Trio; Benjamin Pasternack, piano; and international opera singer Barbara Quintilliani.

The BCO offers outstanding live performances in an intimate, welcoming, and historic setting. It is one of Boston's richest cultural treasures.

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