“There were banners across the city, a welcoming party of hundreds in Symphony Hall, and a ceremonial first pitch delivered at Fenway Park. It was a fine way to mark the city’s official Andris Nelsons Day,” writes Geoff Edgers in Wednesday’s (6/26) Boston Globe. “Nelsons, the Latvian conductor chosen to become the 15th music director in the history of the Boston Symphony Orchestra, was embraced by his new city at every turn Tuesday.… Nelsons flew into Boston late Monday night, signed his deal, conducted interviews, lunched with trustees, performed with a brass ensemble at Faneuil Hall, threw out his Fenway pitch, and then was set to fly back to England for a Wednesday rehearsal with the City of Birmingham Symphony Orchestra, where he is music director…. As night fell, Nelsons headed into Gate C at Fenway for perhaps his most difficult assignment.… After getting a uniform with number 15, Nelsons ran into Red Sox great Pedro Martinez, who offered advice. ‘Just don’t bounce it,’ he said, smiling. Nelsons didn’t. A few minutes later, on the mound and in uniform, the maestro let the ball go hard. It sailed through the air, arcing a good 25 feet over the catcher and into the hands of a photographer.… Fans cheered, another signal the Nelsons era had begun.”
Posted June 26, 2013
