“Malcolm Lowe, the Boston Symphony Orchestra’s concertmaster, has announced that he will be retiring from his position,” write Zoë Madonna and Isaac Feldberg in Thursday’s (9/12) Boston Globe. “Lowe’s retirement will take effect just prior to the opening concert of the 2019-20 BSO season on Sept. 19…. Over his 35 years with the orchestra, the Manitoba-born musician performed countless staple violin solos of the orchestral repertoire, appeared on more than 100 recordings, and participated in more than 25 international tours across Canada, Europe, Asia, and South America. Lowe also served as first violin and artistic director of the Boston Symphony Chamber Players…. Lowe was notably absent from the Symphony Hall stage for over a year after he sustained a concussion while avoiding a cyclist in early 2018…. His full return from medical leave came at the beginning of this summer’s Tanglewood season…. He’s now back ‘at 100 percent,’ Lowe said…. As Lowe’s strength returned, though, he came to realize that few events could end his time with the BSO on as high a note as his own recovery…. The final piece he played with the orchestra was Beethoven’s Symphony No. 9 at the summer’s farewell concert, conducted by Giancarlo Guerrero.”
Posted September 13, 2019
