MASTER PIANIST SEONG-JIN CHO RETURNS TO TANGLEWOOD TO CELEBRATE RAVEL’ S 150TH
music
B y B e n j a m i n L e r n e r
A Revelry of Ravel
Master pianist Seong-Jin Cho performs at Tanglewood on Saturday, July 12, and Wednesday, July 16.( Harald Hoffmann)
MASTER PIANIST SEONG-JIN CHO RETURNS TO TANGLEWOOD TO CELEBRATE RAVEL’ S 150TH
This summer, Seong-Jin Cho takes center stage at Tanglewood in a celebration of the 150th anniversary of Maurice Ravel’ s birth. On July 12, Cho will once again join the Boston Symphony Orchestra( BSO) under the baton of Andris Nelsons to perform Ravel’ s two piano concertos, followed by a solo recital on July 16 featuring the composer’ s complete solo piano works. These two remarkable events are part of a celebration of Ravel’ s legacy that includes a production of his opera L’ Enfant et les sortilèges and a concert-theater presentation of Letters to a Young Poet.
Regarded as one of the greatest French composers of the early 20th century, Ravel( 1875 – 1937) was a master of orchestration and a meticulous craftsman. His works balance lush, impressionistic harmonies with a sharp sense of structure and precision. His piano compositions,
including Miroirs, Jeux d’ eau, and Le Tombeau de Couperin, are celebrated for their technical difficulty and evocative expression. This year’ s Tanglewood festival honors his vast contributions to classical music, with Cho’ s performances standing as a centerpiece.
Cho’ s career as a pianist has flourished since winning First Prize at the International Chopin Piano Compeition in 2015, securing his place as one of the leading classical musicians of his generation. His expressive sensitivity and technical brilliance have earned him widespread
22 // BERKSHIRE MAGAZINE Holiday July 2025 2023