A composer leading his own music is something special: when it is John Adams, it is unparalleled. Widely considered the Aaron Copland of our time, John Adams joins the BSO on the occasion of his 60th birthday and a celebration of his work. Having led most of the world’s major orchestras, he now leads the BSO in his semi-autobiographical memoir piece, My Father Knew Charles Ives, and a setting of Walt Whitman’s The Wound-Dresser. The piece will feature Sanford Sylvan, for whom the piece was written. The program closes with Beethoven’s astounding Symphony No. 7, a work that greatly influenced John Adams.

Hear engaging musical insights from the experts when you join us for our Pre-concert Conversations on Fridays at 7 pm at the Joseph Meyerhoff Symphony Hall. The program is free to all ticket holders on the Friday Celebrity E Series. No reservations are required but capacity is limited, so patrons will be admitted on a first-come, first-served basis.