Bernstein & Bartók

Completing this season’s three-part exploration of tragic lovers Romeo and Juliet is Leonard Bernstein’s suite of Symphonic Dances from West Side Story, overflowing with familiar tunes such as “Somewhere,” “Cool,” and “Maria.” Bernstein opens the program as well when violinist Tai Murray takes the stage with his Serenade (after Plato’s Symposium), which the composer referred to as “a series of related statements in praise of love.” Finally, Bartók’s The Miraculous Mandarin — which describes a game of thievery and seduction that goes awry — was once banned from performance on moral grounds. Stefan Asbury conducts this program of vibrant stories set to music.