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Arts & Culture

GREAT PERFORMANCES: Boston Symphony Orchestra: Andris Nelsons' Inaugural Concert

Jonas Kaufmann, Kristine Opolais and Andris Nelsons as seen in GREAT PERFORMANCES "Boston Symphony Orchestra: Andris Nelsons Inaugural Concert."
Courtesy of Chris Lee
Jonas Kaufmann, Kristine Opolais and Andris Nelsons as seen in GREAT PERFORMANCES "Boston Symphony Orchestra: Andris Nelsons Inaugural Concert."

Airs Sunday, June 21, 2015 at 12:30 p.m. on KPBS TV

Watch television’s longest-running performing arts anthology, GREAT PERFORMANCES, to enjoy the best in music, dance and theater.

Andris Nelsons conducts the Boston Symphony Orchestra in his inaugural concert as music director.
Courtesy of Chris Lee
Andris Nelsons conducts the Boston Symphony Orchestra in his inaugural concert as music director.
Kristine Opolais and Andris Nelsons as seen in GREAT PERFORMANCES "Boston Symphony Orchestra: Andris Nelsons Inaugural Concert."
Courtesy of Chris Lee
Kristine Opolais and Andris Nelsons as seen in GREAT PERFORMANCES "Boston Symphony Orchestra: Andris Nelsons Inaugural Concert."

This wide-ranging, one-night-only event celebrates the start of Boston Symphony Orchestra music director Andris Nelsons’ tenure as the 15th music director of the orchestra and features two of the conductor’s close colleagues, the acclaimed Latvian soprano Kristine Opolais and the internationally acclaimed German tenor Jonas Kaufmann.

Each sings selections from the Wagnerian and Italian verismo repertoires, they then join forces for a powerful duet from Puccini’s "Manon Lescaut." The concert opens with Wagner’s "Tannhäuser" Overture—the work that first inspired a five-year-old Nelsons to a life in music—and closes with Respighi’s spectacular orchestral showcase, "Pines of Rome."

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"Boston Symphony Orchestra: Andris Nelsons’ Inaugural Concert" was directed by Bill Cosel. For GREAT PERFORMANCES, John Walker is producer. Bill O’Donnell is series producer and David Horn is executive producer.

Past episodes of GREAT PERFORMANCES are available for online viewing. GREAT PERFORMANCES is on Facebook, and you can follow @GPerfPBS on Twitter.

Boston Symphony Orchestra is on Facebook, Google +, and you can follow @BostonSymphony on Twitter.