The big list of summer 2024 book recommendations from your local librarians
For Under the Radar's annual summer reading special, three of our local librarians return with their curated lists for summer, including thrillers, histories, young adult stories, romance and mysteries.
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Concerts to Watch
GBH Music Presents: The Boston Symphony Chamber Players
Experience a live performance by one of the world's most distinguished chamber music ensembles, on demand. The Boston Symphony Chamber Players, the BSO's first-chair string and wind players, visited GBH Fraser Performance Studio on May 16 to perform for a limited in-person audience. In celebration of Serge Koussevitzky's 150th birthday, the concert salutes the former BSO Music Director's profound impact on the music of his time.
Brian McCreath, producer and host of CRB Classical 99.5's Boston Symphony Orchestra broadcasts from Symphony Hall and Tanglewood, hosted the event.
Boston Symphony Chamber Players Program
Serge KOUSSEVITZKY Second movement (Andante) from Double Bass Concerto, and Valse miniature, for double bass and piano
Walter PISTON Quintet for flute and strings
Olivier MESSIAEN Abîme des oiseaux from Quartet for the End of Time, for solo clarinet
Jean FRANÇAIX Dixtuor, for winds and strings
Featured Musicians
Alexander Velinzon, violin
Lucia Lin, violin
Cathy Basrak, viola
Blaise Dejardin, cello
Edwin Barker, bass
Elizabeth Rowe, flute
John Ferrillo, oboe
Bill Hudgins, clarinet
Richard Ranti, bassoon
Richard Sebring, horn
Randall Hodgkinson, piano
Photo Credit: Robert Torres
This event is presented with support from Comcast Xfinity Internet.
Brian McCreath, producer and host of CRB Classical 99.5's Boston Symphony Orchestra broadcasts from Symphony Hall and Tanglewood, hosted the event.
Boston Symphony Chamber Players Program
Serge KOUSSEVITZKY Second movement (Andante) from Double Bass Concerto, and Valse miniature, for double bass and piano
Walter PISTON Quintet for flute and strings
Olivier MESSIAEN Abîme des oiseaux from Quartet for the End of Time, for solo clarinet
Jean FRANÇAIX Dixtuor, for winds and strings
Featured Musicians
Alexander Velinzon, violin
Lucia Lin, violin
Cathy Basrak, viola
Blaise Dejardin, cello
Edwin Barker, bass
Elizabeth Rowe, flute
John Ferrillo, oboe
Bill Hudgins, clarinet
Richard Ranti, bassoon
Richard Sebring, horn
Randall Hodgkinson, piano
Photo Credit: Robert Torres
This event is presented with support from Comcast Xfinity Internet.
Music & Culture Events
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In Person
June Outspoken Saturdays
GBH will host Outspoken Saturdays, a spoken word poetry event for emerging artists. Every first Saturday of the month, the series will be created in collaboration with spoken word artist Amanda Shea.
Registration is encouraged for this free event.
Note: This event was originally scheduled to take place at the GBH Studio at the BPL but due to their broken air conditioning, this event will now take place at GBH’s main studios in Brighton. Please find details below.
Location: GBH Studios, One Guest Street Brighton, MA 02135
Directions and parking: https://www.wgbh.org/foundation/where-we-are/brighton-studios
15 Guest Street Parking Ticket Validation: GBH will validate parking tickets for guests who park in the 15 Guest Street Garage. Please bring your ticket inside to the registration table when you arrive. Parking ticket validation will happen as guests arrive to the event. -
In PersonVirtual
GBH Music Presents JazzNOW: A Salute to Duke Ellington, featuring Aardvark Jazz Orchestra
GBH Music, JazzBoston, and the Aardvark Jazz Orchestra present a special tribute to Duke Ellington to celebrate the 125th anniversary of the iconic jazz pianist, composer, and bandleader's birth.
The Aardvark Jazz Orchestra, one of the longest-running large jazz ensembles in the world, will showcase Ellington's works, such as Caravan, by Duke and Juan Tizol, Come Sunday, and I’m Beginning to See the Light featuring Aardvark vocalist Grace Hughes, for live audiences in Calderwood Studio and streaming for audiences at home.
The performance will explore the music of Ellington and his long-time artistic collaborator, jazz composer, pianist, lyricist, and arranger Billy Strayhorn. Guests will hear Blues to Be There from the Ellington/Strayhorn Newport Jazz Festival Suite, Chinoiserie from The Afro-Eurasian Eclipse Suite, and It’s Freedom, from the Second Sacred Concert.
Mark Harvey, the music director of the Aardvark Orchestra, will lead the Aardvark Jazz Orchestra and acclaimed pianist Tim Ray.
This event will be hosted by James Bennett II, a co-host of GBH’s The Culture Show and an arts and culture reporter for GBH News.
This magical night is bound to sell out. Get your tickets today! You have two ticket options:
* $50 in-person event experience from 7:15-9:15pm, includes wine and cheese pre-reception or
* Virtual Tickets (Free) from 8-9:15pm. The performance can be streamed for free with an advanced RSVP
Please note by registering for this event your name and email will be shared with GBH and JazzBoston.
About Jazz Boston JazzBoston connects, promotes and advocates for the musicians, audiences and venues of Greater Boston’s dynamic and diverse jazz community. The nonprofit organization spreads the music and message of jazz and celebrates Boston as one of the world’s great jazz cities. Find more information at jazzboston.org.
By RSVPing for this event, you agree to receive timely news and updates on events, films, and special offers from GBH.
Photo credit: Kate Matson
This event is presented with support from our sponsor The Goldstein Family Fund.
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Virtual
Beyond the Page with Elin Hilderbrand
GBH is thrilled to present the Queen of Summer Fiction Elin Hilderbrand in conversation during our Beyond the Page event! Hilderbrand is the New York Times bestselling author of 28 novels, including The Hotel Nantucket (2022), Summer of ‘69 (2019), and The Five-Star Weekend (2023).
Hilderbrand will be answering your questions about her novels, the publishing process, along with giving insights about her writing process in the Q&A session. She will also be sharing more about her new novel, Swan Song, which releases on June 11.
Swan Song, the finale of Hilderbrand’s Nantucket series, follows Chief of Police Ed Kapenash as he solves one last mystery involving the newest couple in town, the Richardsons. After the 22-million dollar house purchased by the Richardsons burns down and their personal assistant is deemed missing, Kapenash is forced to delay his retirement and look into these flashy newcomers who have stirred up the tranquil island community. Swan Song delivers a compelling blend of sun-soaked drama, glittering gatherings, and intriguing mystery, while celebrating the allure of Nantucket itself.
GBH News' Callie Crossley will moderate this conversation. Callie Crossley hosts the radio show and podcast Under the Radar with Callie Crossley and shares radio essays each Monday on GBH’s Morning Edition. She also co- hosts The Culture Show radio program which focuses on local and national cultural trends and perspectives. And she also offers commentary about cultural issues on the evening news program Greater Boston and on Boston Public Radio, GBH’s midday talk show. She is also a fill in host for the national podcast “Our Body Politic” and a frequent commentator on local and national television and radio programs.
At Beyond the Page, we believe in the power of knowledge, the magic of stories, and the beauty of shared experiences. This event series features interactive sessions with renowned authors discussing their latest work and their writing process. Whether you're seeking profound discussions or heartfelt emotions, these events offer something truly special for everyone.
This event offers two ticket options:
Attend the event $0
Attend the event + a SIGNED copy of Swan Song + GBH membership $60
Please note that books will be shipped out following the event.
Recording
This event will be recorded and shared with anyone who RSVPs for this event.
Culture in the News
Jesus Molina: finding joy in complexity with the Boston Pops
Jazz pianist Jesus Molina is performing with Branford Marsalis and the Boston Pops on May 22nd and 23rd at Symphony Hall, right before releasing his new album "Selah." He and Jazz on 89.7 host Al Davis caught up before the show.
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'A Dangerous Assignment:' Meet a journalist covering corruption in Venezuela
A new FRONTLINE documentary sheds light on a shadowy corruption scandal spanning from Venezuela to the United States. -
Jane Schoenbrun talks nostalgia, horror and trans identity in 'I Saw the TV Glow'
In the new film “I Saw the TV Glow”, two teenagers bond over their shared love of “The Pink Opaque,” a television show reminiscent of the teen drama “Buffy the Vampire Slayer.” -
After return of the Taliban, ArtLords continue artistic crusade for peace in Afghanistan
Driven by the transformative power of art and a desire to promote the artists who translate that power, artist and activist Omaid Sharifi co-founded ArtLords in 2014 to help convert the negative psychological impact of blast walls on the people of Kabul into a positive visual experience.
GBH Music
Open Studio with Jared Bowen
You & Julia
“You & Julia” is a series that celebrates the legacy of Julia Child. Top chefs share their favorite stories, recipes, kitchen hacks, and other culinary tasks that they learned from the unforgettable chef, exploring how her contributions to the culinary world still resonate with cooking today. In the spirit of Julia, we encourage viewers to “be fearless, and above all have fun” by following along at home.
More Culture Programs
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Patrick Wilson Performs "Oh, What a Beautiful Mornin"
Patrick Wilson performs "Oh, What a Beautiful Mornin" from "Oklahoma."| 2:36 -
Chairman of the Joint Chiefs of Staff Gen. CQ Brown, Jr. Address
Chairman of the Joint Chiefs of Staff Gen. CQ Brown, Jr. addresses the crowd on the 2024 Concert. -
Episode 22, Season 51<br> Rodgers & Hammerstein's 80th Anniversary: Extended Performance
Features an all-star cast at London’s Theatre Royal Drury Lane.| 2:24:52 -
Audra McDonald Performs "Climb Ev'ry Mountain"
Audra McDonald Performs "Climb Ev'ry Mountain" in this anniversary concert.| 1:05