A group of dedicated Boston Symphony Orchestra patrons are are going above and beyond in their effort to try and reinstate BSO Music Director Andris Nelsons.
Members of the BSO Patron Action Network have been handing out roses at BSO performances and asking devoted fans to sign a petition to keep Nelsons as the symphony’s music director.
Group co-coordinator George Whiting gave roses to conductor Nelsons ahead of Wednesday night’s performance at Symphony Hall. Then he and others traveled to Thursday night’s performance at Carnegie Hall in New York City, where they bestowed upon Nelsons a large bouquet.
“The BSO performed Dvorak’s Symphony No. 9, ‘From the New World,’ and at the end of that, the entire house was on their feet, clapping, doing a standing ovation, “ said Whiting.
Whiting said it was a “touching” moment after nearly two minutes of applause that an unassuming Nelsons accepted a dozen red roses.
“And then when Andris left stage to come back to the backstage, the entire house, the musicians, everyone in the audience were stomping their feet to get him back out to the podium,” he said.
Last month, the orchestra’s CEO and board abruptly announced the conductor would depart after the 2026-27 season, citing differences in their vision for the BSO’s future.
Whiting said that BSO president and CEO Chad Smith and other board members were in attendance at the Carnegie Hall performance, where Renee Fleming also performed.
Bettina Norton, 90, of Beacon Hill, is a long-time patron since 1944.
“My father took me to my first concert at the age of 8 and I’ve been an aficionado since then,” she said.
Norton said the group wants to show solidarity with Nelsons as BSO leadership pushes him out and added that she is delighted there’s such a groundswell of support for Nelson.
“They don’t just like him as a person. They like him professionally. And I think that should be stressed,” she said.
Norton said she hopes the BSO board of trustees reverses its decision, and said some patrons are even considering halting their BSO subscription membership as a result of the decision not to renew Nelsons’ contract.
“I think that I’ve been on boards enough to know that the board is going to want a scapegoat, if they do back down,” she said. “But really, the whole thing hinges on the makeup of the board and whether there are any people on the board who feel that this has been badly handled and they made a mistake and they should get a graceful exit,” Norton said.
In a statement sent to GBH News, a BSO spokesperson said, “While the trustees have communicated with the orchestra that their decision regarding Andris Nelsons’ contract will not be reversed, we respect and share the petitioners’ passionate desire for the musicians and the community to have a meaningful voice in shaping the BSO’s future.”
“Moving forward, we are committed to working with the Orchestra and other stakeholders to shape our next chapter in order to ensure our beloved and globally renowned institution can grow and thrive for generations to come. We hope the community will join us over the next 17 months as we continue to celebrate Andris and his tenure as music director.”
Whiting said the roses and the petition is a way for patrons to ruffle feathers respectfully.
“It’s just been really well-received as a small gesture that’s both peaceful and poignant. We’re being loud in our own way, and we’re trying to be sensitive to the institution because we respect it,” he said.
