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John Nelson, conductor who championed Berlioz, dies at 83

John Nelson, conductor who championed Berlioz, dies at 83

Boston Globe10-04-2025

He served for more than a decade as music director of the Indianapolis Symphony Orchestra, a group he helped elevate through national tours that stopped at Carnegie Hall and the Kennedy Center. He later worked for years in France, recording a complete set of Beethoven's symphonies while leading the Ensemble Orchestral de Paris.
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Mr. Nelson was a prolific guest conductor, directing major orchestras worldwide. He also won a Grammy Award for directing the English Chamber Orchestra and star soprano Kathleen Battle in a recording of Handel's 'Semele,' released by Deutsche Grammophon in 1993.
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But he remained best known as an interpreter of Berlioz, whom he described as 'my patron saint in music.' He traced his interest in the French composer back to a conversation he had with his manager, Matthew Epstein, at age 28, when Mr. Nelson was a young Juilliard grad leading New Jersey's Pro Arte Chorale.
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'John,' he recalled Epstein saying, 'you need to do something to haul yourself out of your choral doldrums - something spicy and interesting that'll make a splash in New York. Why don't you do 'The Trojans?''
Commonly known by its French name, 'Les Troyens,' the opera was Berlioz's most ambitious work, retelling the tragic love story of Dido and Aeneas in a run time that regularly exceeds four hours. (The composer, who died in 1869, didn't live to see it performed in full.)
Mr. Nelson told Gramophone magazine that he studied the work by picking up conductor Colin Davis's recently released 1970 recording of the opera - a listening experience he likened to 'being struck by a thunderbolt.'
Deciding 'to go for broke,' as he put it, he and Epstein arranged for the Pro Arte Chorale to perform the opera in 1972, in concert at Carnegie Hall. It was one of the work's first full performances in the United States.
'It started around 7 P.M., ended around midnight, and at the end a mighty roar went up,' wrote New York Times classical music critic Harold C. Schonberg, praising the 'extraordinary vitality and understanding' that Mr. Nelson brought to the music.
'Carnegie Hall,' he continued, 'has heard nothing like that yell of approval since the 'Götterdämmerung' performance two seasons ago by Georg Solti and the Chicago Symphony.'
Decades later, Mr. Nelson dryly noted that in some ways the performance was a disaster for his choral group: 'It cost $50,000, which it took the board 10 years to pay off - and they lost their music director in the process.'
Mr. Nelson left the company after directing high-profile concerts, including in 1973 when he made his debut at the Metropolitan Opera, conducting 'Les Troyens' as a last-minute substitute for the group's ailing director, Rafael Kubelík.
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Nearly 45 years later, in 2017, he made an acclaimed four-CD recording of the opera for the classical label Erato. Mr. Nelson said he spent about a year and a half planning the project and assembling the musicians, settling on a lineup that included France's Orchestre Philharmonique de Strasbourg, three choirs, and a 16-person cast led by Joyce DiDonato, Michael Spyres, and Marie-Nicole Lemieux.
The album was named Gramophone's record of the year. It won top prizes at the International Opera Awards and France's Victoires de la Musique Classique.
'Nelson never allows the dramatic pace to slacken, which is no mean achievement in itself in a work that even its greatest admirers would admit has occasional longueurs,' music critic Andrew Clements wrote in the Guardian. The record, he added, was 'now unquestionably the version of Berlioz's masterpiece to have at home.'
Mr. Nelson led the Boston Symphony Orchestra in Chopin's Piano Concerto No. 1 with Evgeny Kissin as soloist in 2011.
Stu Rosner
John Wilton Nelson was born in San José, Costa Rica, on Dec. 6, 1941. His parents were Protestant American missionaries, his mother a nurse and his father a minister. Mr. Nelson said he spent much of his childhood traveling the countryside with his family, at times playing the accordion in a trio with his dad, who played the saxophone, and his brother, who played guitar.
He was 6 when his family bought a Steinway piano for $50 and enrolled him in lessons. Mr. Nelson was later sent to the United States to study at a private school in Orlando. He continued at the piano, although he moved away from the instrument - eventually turning to conducting - after losing the tip of his right pinkie in a childhood accident, according to the magazine Christianity Today.
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Mr. Nelson studied music at Wheaton College in Illinois, receiving a bachelor's degree in 1963. He went on to train in conducting at Juilliard, where he studied under Jean Morel, and received a master's degree in 1965. He taught at the school for a few years while launching his career, directing the Greenwich Philharmonia in Connecticut in addition to the Pro Arte Chorale.
'It was clear that I could not have a music directorship in a major city, so I went to the boondocks to settle down, work on repertoire and get my feet wet as a music director,' he told The Boston Globe in 1991, explaining his decision to join the Indianapolis Symphony.
Mr. Nelson toured and recorded with the group while taking on additional responsibilities as director of the Opera Theatre of Saint Louis and the Caramoor music center in Katonah, N.Y.
But by 1987, he was tired and burned out and decided to leave his main job in Indianapolis. 'I said goodbye to the orchestra at the last stop of our first European tour, in Nuremberg,' he said in a Los Angeles Times interview. 'My wife and I got into the car and drove off into the sunset - to Paris.'
Mr. Nelson and his wife, the former Anita Johnsen, married in 1964. She died in 2012. The John and Anita Nelson Center for Sacred Music at Wheaton, where she was also an alum, was later dedicated in their honor.
Mr. Nelson leaves two daughters, Kirsten Nelson Hood and Kari Magdalena Chronopoulos; four grandsons; and three great-grandchildren.
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After the success of his 'Les Troyens' recording, Mr. Nelson continued to record major works by Berlioz, reuniting with Erato and the Orchestre Philharmonique de Strasbourg for well-received versions of 'La Damnation de Faust' (2019), 'Les Nuits d'Eté' and 'Harold en Italie' (both in 2022),
and 'Roméo et Juliette' (2023). He also led a 2019 live recording of Berlioz's 'Requiem,' at
St. Paul's Cathedral in London, to mark the 150th anniversary of the composer's death.
His final recording, with the English Concert & Choir, was of Handel's 'Messiah' (2023), an oratorio he had first conducted as a college sophomore, in a Baptist church with organ accompaniment. This time he led the performance at England's Coventry Cathedral, in a concert that was shaped 'with intelligence and flair,' Lindsay Kemp wrote in Gramophone.
'Just listen,' Kemp added, 'to the way he builds towards the 'Wonderful, Counsellor' outbursts in 'For unto us,' with the cellos at one point contributing joyful spread chords. Or how 'and of his Christ' stands out in the 'Hallelujah,' and the final 'amen' is so carefully unfolded. Nelson gets these kinds of things right time and again.'

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25 Creative Lobster Dishes To Enjoy In Honor Of National Lobster Day
25 Creative Lobster Dishes To Enjoy In Honor Of National Lobster Day

Forbes

time19 minutes ago

  • Forbes

25 Creative Lobster Dishes To Enjoy In Honor Of National Lobster Day

National Lobster Day is celebrated on June 15. While steamed lobster on a plate is always appealing – isn't this holiday a great opportunity to kick the creativity up a notch? Restaurants nationwide are giving lobster the special treatment, as it so richly deserves. Spicy, fried, or with pasta – there's endless creative and delicious ways to enjoy the most luxurious of crustaceans as you never have before. Seared Lobster Tails With a Cashew, Fennel Glaze, and Palak Sauce at LORE Brooklyn. Delicate lobster is bursting with a blend of unexpected flavors that pair beautifully. 'This juicy lobster tail dish is seared with ginger and garlic for a bold kick, glazed with a creamy coconut sauce infused with fennel and smoked paprika. Served over sautéed spinach and mint, it's a mix of comfort, insane flavors, and fullness in every bite,' said Chef Jay Kumar, owner and chef of LORE Brooklyn. Lobster Knuckles "Escargot Style" at Breva Brighton Beach in Brooklyn, New York. 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'Bourbon Steak was born here in DC, and it's been incredible to see the Lobster Pot Pie become a hallmark of the MINA experience nationwide. It's one of those dishes that stops people in their tracks. When the crust cracks and that lobster bisque starts pouring in, there's this collective hush at the table. No matter where it's served, it delivers effortless indulgence and that unmistakable wow factor," said Quentin Welch, Executive Chef, Bourbon Steak DC. Lobster BLT at Sailor's Choice, Hudson Yards in New York City. At Sailor's Choice, Hudson Yards in New York City, the Lobster BLT is a a perfect union of crisp Applewood-smoked bacon, peak-season heirloom tomatoes, crunchy lettuce, and sweet, poached Maine lobster. Served on a griddled bun and finished with a bright tarragon aioli, it's both familiar and indulgent. Kerry Heffernan, Culinary Director at Sailor's Choice says: 'We created the Lobster BLT as the ultimate mash-up — the soul of a classic BLT meets the lobster roll we've been perfecting for over a decade at Grand Banks. We use heirloom tomatoes at their sun-ripened best, Nodine's incredible smoked bacon, and our signature lobster roll base. It's everything we love about coastal summer days, packed into one killer bite.' Lobster Rolls at Cathedrale. At Cathedrale in New York City and Las Vegas, this dish featuring sweet Maine lobster is dressed in Calabrian chile mayo for a subtle kick, topped with fresh chives, and served on housemade Pain au Lait buns. 'We treat high quality ingredients like sweet Maine lobster, simply dressed and kicked up a notch with Calabrian chile-spiked mayo to offer the best of a Connecticut-style, lightly dressed and married with the just-warm-enough, buttery house-made pain au lait bun, to offer the decadence of a Maine-style roll all wrapped into one,' said Chef Jason Hall. Chicken Fried Lobster at Phil's Steak House, located inside Treasure Island Hotel in Las Vegas. At Phil's Steak House, located inside Treasure Island Hotel in Las Vegas, the chicken fried lobster dish includes chicken fried lobster served with truffle aioli and charred lemon. 'At Phil's Steak House, we enjoy putting a unique spin on classic flavors, and our Chicken Fried Lobster is a perfect example. Crispy, golden-fried chicken meets rich, buttery lobster in a dish that's pure comfort with a touch of luxury," said Chef Shaun Muldoon. Lobster en Croûte at Carversteak at Resorts World in Las Vegas. 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Fresh vanilla bean in the mayo adds a floral sweetness that complements the lobster, while diced apple brings crunch and brightness. A citrus-ginger gel and fresh tarragon finish it with bold pops of flavor.' Lobster Roll at Benny's on the Beach in Lake Worth Beach, Florida. At Benny's on the Beach in Lake Worth Beach, Florida, they've been serving Maine lobster rolls for nearly 40 years at its landmark location perched above the Atlantic Ocean on the Lake Worth Pier. 'While we serve up both warm and cool temp versions at Benny's, our warm lobster roll on a split-top brioche roll complete with house made garlic butter is by far a best selling menu item, despite our warm climate year round. I attribute this to our house made tomato relish, an unexpected ingredient on our warm roll which most guests are surprised by, but end up falling in love with,' said Dylan Lipton, Co-Owner, Benny's on the Beach. Loaded Lobster Grilled Cheese at Floridays Woodfire Grill & Bar in Anna Maria Island, ... More Florida. At Floridays Woodfire Grill & Bar in Anna Maria Island, Florida, this restaurant is a fun experience, with seafood dishes inspired by Florida's Gulf Coast and quirky decor. 'Continuously one of our best selling items, Floridays' Loaded Lobster Grilled Cheese is an elevated take on a casual favorite. We're serious about the 'loaded' part, so our version features a generous portion of cold water lobster meat nestled in between golden grilled sourdough, with butter, cheddar, swiss cheeses and topped with applewood smoked bacon,' said Executive Chef Ken Gilcrest, Floridays Woodfire Grill & Bar. Mezzelune Di Aragosta at Serena Pastificio (locations in Atlanta & Boca Raton). At Serena Pastificio (locations in Atlanta & Boca Raton), lobster, ricotta and mozzarella filling, lobster meat, lobster tomato jus, confit heirloom tomato, charred cippolini, chive. 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As we were testing the dish, we really liked the combination of red curry and, ultimately, we ended up adding more and more. It is among our most bold and flavorful dishes and one of the most popular. It's now a mainstay on the menu.' Spiny Lobster at Four Flamingos, A Richard Blais Key West Kitchen. At Four Flamingos, A Richard Blais Key West Kitchen, the Spiny Lobster entrée is served as two lobster tails split with Jamaican curry and drawn butter, with a side of yucca fries. Leo Minelli, Executive Chef: 'Sourced from the warm Caribbean waters, our Spiny Lobster tails are meaty, sweet and irresistibly tender. The vibrant Jamaican curry adds a bold and aromatic kick, beautifully balancing the lobster's natural sweetness. On the side, we serve crispy yucca fries which are crunchy on the outside and fluffy on the inside, delivering an earthy, nutty contrast that perfectly complements the dish's tropical essence. 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I stopped by the local Asian market, saw the Tteokbokki, and it all clicked bringing in those known flavors and old memories but making them ours. I leaned into the process, bringing in the Filthy Animal edge and letting the dish come together with our mother house sauce, Mala. This wasn't just about reworking a dish, it was about creating something bold, fun, and totally Filthy Animal," said Chef Rene Vargas, Executive Chef of Filthy Animal. Lobster Tagliatelle at Wren & Wolf in downtown Phoenix. At Wren & Wolf in downtown Phoenix, the Lobster Tagliatelle involves delicate ribbons of pasta that are bathed in a white wine and garlic sauce, crowned with half a Maine lobster, stuffed with a sumptuous blend of king crab and Spanish chorizo. 'We wanted a pasta dish that celebrated multiple cuisines—the brininess of Italian puttanesca, the satin glaze of French beurre montè and the American delight of crab-stuffed Maine lobster. The pasta is buttery with olive and garlic, accented by the texture and smoked paprika of Spanish chorizo. The best part is finishing it off by dragging the lobster and crab cake stuffing through the sauce for a truly mouthwatering bite," said Chef Kyle Bateman, Executive Sous Chef Wren & Wolf. Lobster Boil at The Boiling Crab. The Boiling Crab isn't just about boiling crab, you can boil all kinds of seafood, including delicious lobster. Choose your shellfish of choice, along with spice level and sauce preference. It's like an interactive lobster choose your adventure. 'At The Boiling Crab, every day is a good day for lobster, but today, we crack a few extra claws in its honor. On National Lobster Day, we celebrate the timeless joy of sharing seafood around the table, and there is no better place to do it than with us,' says David Nguyen, COO. Lobster Kale Caesar Chopt Creative Salad Co. is known for their creative salads. In fact, it's part of their name. 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At Estiatorio Milos at Hudson Yards (as well as other locations), this is a signature Milos dish, made with Athenian-style lobster pasta tossed with pasta, and finished simply with herbs and olive oil. Chef Costas Spiliadis says: 'Our cuisine is not based on recipes but on ingredients that the land and sea can provide us with.'

How to stream ‘Jaws' (and all the sequels) this weekend
How to stream ‘Jaws' (and all the sequels) this weekend

Boston Globe

time33 minutes ago

  • Boston Globe

How to stream ‘Jaws' (and all the sequels) this weekend

Get Starting Point A guide through the most important stories of the morning, delivered Monday through Friday. Enter Email Sign Up Advertisement 'Jaws 2' Picking up four years after the events of the first film, 1978's 'Jaws 2″ sees Amity Island facing another killer shark threat. While Spielberg did not return to direct the sequel, with those duties going to French director Jeannot Szwarc, it did feature the return of Scheider, who reprises his role as police chief Brody. Lorraine Gary, who plays Brody's wife Ellen in 'Jaws,' also returns, as does Murray Hamilton as the infamous Mayor Vaughn. Available on Tubi through Saturday; streams on Peacock beginning Sunday Advertisement 'Jaws 3-D' Directed by Joe Alves, the second sequel, 1983's 'Jaws 3-D' (or just 'Jaws III' if you've left your red and blue glasses in the '80s), ditches Amity Island for SeaWorld and a new cast of characters facing their own fishy situation. Dennis Quaid stars as Mike Brody, the son of Scheider's character, an engineer at the theme park who, along with girlfriend and biologist Kay (Bess Armstrong), face off with — you guessed it — a massive shark that's infiltrated SeaWorld. Thankfully, they get a little help from the park's resident dolphins, Cindy and Sandy. Available on Tubi through Saturday; streams on Peacock beginning Sunday 'Jaws: The Revenge' The fourth film, 1987's 'Jaws: The Revenge' directed by Joseph Sargent, is the laughable last entry in the saga. Despite its poor reception from critics and fans, it does feature an interesting main cast, with Gary reprising her role as Ellen from the first two films, while Oscar winner Michael Caine plays franchise newcomer Hoagie. Following the death of her son from yet another shark attack on Amity Island, Ellen (now a widow) absconds to the Bahamas to be with her family in mourning. However, a shark with a familiar set of teeth is there looking to exact some sweet revenge. Available on Tubi through Saturday; streams on Peacock beginning Sunday Matt Juul is the assistant digital editor for the Living Arts team at the Boston Globe, with over a decade of experience covering arts and entertainment. Matt Juul can be reached at

Outdated millennial fashion staple could be poised for a comeback /
Outdated millennial fashion staple could be poised for a comeback /

Newsweek

time38 minutes ago

  • Newsweek

Outdated millennial fashion staple could be poised for a comeback /

Based on facts, either observed and verified firsthand by the reporter, or reported and verified from knowledgeable sources. Newsweek AI is in beta. Translations may contain inaccuracies—please refer to the original content. The 2010s called, and they want their dresses back. The club classic bandage dress has officially returned to the fashion zeitgeist, with celebrities and influencers stepping back in time to embrace the skintight silhouette. The body-hugging dress—made of intersecting strips or panels resembling bandages—first debuted on the runway in 1992, after its invention in the 1980s by French designer Hervé Léger. The iconic style quickly became a staple of early 2000s and 2010s nightlife, made famous by stars such as Kim Kardashian, Rihanna, Blake Lively, Beyoncé, and Victoria Beckham. Celebrities such as Hailey Bieber and Kaia Gerber have recently been spotted in the sleek silhouette—and even Pippa Middleton was seen in a variation of the formfitting look, signaling that the trend is back in rotation. File photo: Kaia Gerber poses at Princess of Wales Theatre on September 12, 2024 in Toronto, Ontario. File photo: Kaia Gerber poses at Princess of Wales Theatre on September 12, 2024 in Toronto, Ontario. Getty Images Entertainment/Sonia Recchia / Stringer Jennifer Johnson, founder of True Fashionistas—the largest lifestyle resale store in Florida—has observed this revival firsthand. She told Newsweek that demand for bandage dresses has surged. "Every time we get one in, it sells rather quickly." Johnson noted that customers are increasingly signing up for the store's wishlist for Hervé Léger. "Fashion always recycles itself, and it's time for the bandage dress to have its day again," Johnson said. "We've gone from having a lot of flowy, floral, and very girly looks to people being tired of that aesthetic. They want to show off their figure and look sexy again—and I think that has played a large part in why this dress is back." File photo: Victoria Beckham poses at Marc Jacobs Spring 2008 during Mercedes-Benz Fashion Week at the New York State Armory on September 10, 2007 in New York City. File photo: Victoria Beckham poses at Marc Jacobs Spring 2008 during Mercedes-Benz Fashion Week at the New York State Armory on September 10, 2007 in New York City. Djamilla Rosa Cochran/WireImage Johnson added that Gen Z is driving much of the demand, describing them as a generation that embraces both current and throwback looks. "This generation is very concerned about sustainability, and perhaps that's why we are seeing these dresses become so popular on the resale market," she said. "The price may also be part of it, considering the cost of a new dress is upward of $1,000. House of CB, a popular U.K.-based fashion label known for curve-accentuating evening wear, announced its own return to the trend with a new collection. In an Instagram post shared last week, the brand launched its new collection: "Bandage is back and better than ever." On its website, House of CB added, "We heard you OG's—our iconic House of CB silhouette is back. Your favorite bandage dresses are contoured to perfection and ready for the dance floor." However, not everyone is a fan. Georgie James (@georgiejxmes) tried on the new collection and shared the results on her TikTok page, amassing more than 1.7 million views. She said she felt the tight silhouettes suited only skinny and hourglass figures. James told Newsweek: "I think it's an attempt to return to a time that feels simpler in hindsight. The decline of the nightclub, to many feels like a decline in fun in general, especially with the emphasis nowadays on living 'clean'; clean makeup, clean food, etc. "The bandage dress resurgence is an attempt to return to fun. I fear that ship has sailed somewhat, and the bandage dress definitely doesn't suit a wide range of figures, as I demonstrated. But I can't begrudge the attempt." The resurgence of the bandage dress has pleased nostalgic millennials elsewhere on social media. One user posted: "I love bandage I was that girl wearing bandage dresses all the time." Another wrote, "The 2010s are back!!" while a third commented: "Bandage dresses being back is a recession indicator." TikTok creator Grace summed it up: "It's 2009. I've squeezed myself into an H & M bandage dress. My side fringe is blocking my vision. Stilettos on, I'm ready to hit the club in my business casual blazer. Life is good." Do you have any viral videos or pictures that you want to share? We want to see the best ones! Send them in to life@ and they could appear on our site.

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