InTune

With the excitement of the Tanglewood season quickly approaching, we sat down with Ed Gazouleas, Interim Director of the Tanglewood Music Center. Many are quite familiar with Ed as he has deep roots with the Tanglewood Music Center (TMC) and the Boston Symphony Orchestra with over 17 years as TMC faculty and 24 years as a violist in the BSO. During his time with the Orchestra, he held the Lois and Harlan Anderson Viola Chair and led the viola section on many occasions both in a variety of performance settings and also chairing the orchestra’s Artistic Advisory committee. In addition to being an in-demand violist, Ed is an active educator, clinician, and currently is the Artistic Director and Provost of the Curtis Institute of Music.

In our conversation with Ed, who resides in the Berkshires, we talked all things TMC – what to look for this season, what makes Tanglewood special to him, and what to look forward to in TMC summers to come. Ed will be seen and heard throughout the grounds of Tanglewood this summer, fully immersed in the TMC twenty-four hours a day.

InTune: Each season, the TMC consistently elevates the experience for both the audience and our fellows. What will be unique about the Tanglewood Music Center 2023 season?

Ed Gazouleas: While I’ve experienced Tanglewood both as a performer and faculty member, this will be my first in being the Interim Director of the TMC. I’m looking forward to the new challenge of being an interim leader while continuing to build on the rich history of the TMC.

In particular, I’m excited for the Festival of Contemporary Music (FCM). Our Co-Curators this year are composers Reena Esmail, Gabriela Lena Frank, Tebogo Monnakgotla, and Anna Thorvaldsdottir. Through these composers, the festival is bringing forward new voices, exploring different styles and genres, and highlighting music written with powerful influences outside of traditional Western music.

We are very much looking forward to Susanna Mälkki conducting Beethoven’s Symphony No. 9 with the TMC Orchestra near the end of the summer. Susanna is an internationally known conductor with a broad repertoire. She will bring a fresh perspective to this most innovative of masterpieces. Our dearest Tanglewood audiences are familiar with the tradition of the BSO performing Beethoven’s 9^th at the end of the summer in the Shed, but with the Orchestra on tour to Europe in late August, this amazing opportunity has opened for the TMC Orchestra. In programming the TMC repertoire, each season we aim to find balance in the program for both the enjoyment of the audience and also keeping in mind the pedagogic importance for the fellows.

InTune: You’ve experienced Tanglewood from a number of unique perspectives: performer, teacher, leader, and audience member. What particular TMC elements are you most looking forward to this summer?

EG: The fellows! While this will be my first summer navigating as Interim Director, I am looking forward to being in regular contact with the fellows through coaching individually and collaborating with the faculty. I’ll even be sitting in with the TMC Orchestra for the performance of Beethoven’s 9^th in the Shed. By sitting and performing side by side with the fellows, I’m able to have a direct view and impact on our growing BSO community. I try not to make them nervous!

Additionally, I look forward to collaborating with the TMC faculty and staff. Leading the TMC this summer is most exciting and gratifying, it is a privilege to serve them in this new way. There are many colleagues and collaborators to thank as much preparation went into putting this season together. In ramping up for this season, I extend my complete gratitude and thanks to Matthew Szymanski, Associate Director and Dean of Fellows and Gary Wallen, Associate Director for Scheduling & Production and of course, our Interim CEO Jeff Dunn.

InTune: We have fellows joining us this summer from all over the world with a breadth of musical backgrounds as well as varying exposure to the Tanglewood Music Center. What would be your advice for a first-time TMC fellow?

EG: Tanglewood is unlike any other festival. Here we look to create a real-life working experience, one that feels like a professional environment but in the safest way possible. We encourage fellows to take interpretive risks and go to the edge expressively. Our audiences are the most embracing and loving around, and we push our fellows to have fun while being on this big stage. The repertoire selection is intentional to both provide classic works that are fundamental to a working musician as well as incorporating new works that stretch them to new heights.

InTune: Although we are eagerly anticipating the start of the 2023 Tanglewood season, we are also looking ahead to what the future holds. What should we look forward to in summer 2024 with the Tanglewood Music Center?

EG: We’ve already started thinking about 2024 in many ways!

For next season, we plan to continue and build on the cross-fertilization between the TMC and the Tanglewood Learning Institute. This summer, we are seeing this wonderful collaboration in motion through the Open Conducting Workshop with Andris Nelsons on August 9 (The Joseph H. Silverstein Master Class for TMC Fellows). This workshop pulls back the curtain on the pedagogical process, inviting our audiences to a behind-the-scenes look at how the TMC Fellows develop their skills under the guidance of esteemed faculty like Andris.

Ideas are also starting to form for the 2024 Festival of Contemporary Music. Collaboratively across the organization, we’ve started looking at the calendar at dates but more broadly we are discussing thematic programming, core repertoire, amplifying diverse artistic voices in guest performers, and further exploring opportunities and partnerships for TMC fellows beyond the Tanglewood grounds – stay tuned!

Finally, we are energized to further the history and education richness of the TMC String Quartet Series. This opportunity for TMC Fellows is a vital experience to provide breadth in the experience of smaller group instrumentation as well as exposure to repertoire both new and revered.

InTune: We are thrilled to have you with us throughout the Tanglewood campus this summer, your presence will be felt and appreciated everywhere. Outside of the fellows and performances, how do you enjoy your time at Tanglewood and in the Berkshires?

EG: My wife and I are now based in the Berkshires full-time and this opportunity really gives me time to be closer to home for the summer. I fully anticipate and expect my responsibilities with the TMC will be filling 24 hours of each and every day – which excites me! I’ll be on the grounds all summer and hope to connect with as many of our BSO family at performances, workshops, and gatherings.

Please note: this interview took place shortly after the news of the passing of BSO Life Trustee Steve Weber. Ed and the entire BSO family send our sincere condolences to the Weber family. We are forever grateful for his leadership, passion, generosity, and impact on Tanglewood and the Tanglewood Music Center.