The biggest takeaway from the evening was the superb quality of the BPO’s playing: each of the orchestra’s readings were rhythmically alert, emotionally vivid, and glossed with high polish.

Why should you attend the November Wagner concert?

Audience members reflect on the opening concert of the 2015-2016 season.

BPYO members reflect on the opening concert of the 2015-2016 season.

Alwyn Mellor as Brünnhilde and Stefan Vinke as Siegfried, from the BPYO's April 2015 performance of Wagner's Siegfried, Act III.

Benjamin Zander re-introduces Alwyn Mellor to the Boston Philharmonic audience.

Benjamin Zander discusses Holst's The Planets and Strauss' Also Sprach Zarathustra.

BPYO members are asked not only to master their parts and to gain a deep understanding of the musical score, but also to compete weekly leadership assignments from Mr. Zander. Musicians engage in dialogue with Mr. Zander through "white sheets" each week, where they are invited to share their thoughts on all aspects of the music and the rehearsal process, as well as offer feedback and reflections about the leadership assignments and their musical and life experiences.

To dramatize this assignment, I told the orchestra the story of the great cellist Jaqueline Du Pré, who, at the age of five, entered her first competition. She was seen running gleefully down a corridor with her cello held high, like a banner. The parent of another child, seeing the broad grin on Jackie’s face, said: “Well, I can see that you have already played”. “No!” Jackie flashed back, “I am just about to!”

Emily used the first assignment to resolve a difficult situation concerning a perennial issue for musicians playing in orchestras – namely her seat assignment, and thereby, came up with an insight that could be useful for everybody: