On Feb.18th, the Boston Modern Orchestra Project under the direction of its leader Gil Rose will perform the Boston premieres of the Tirol Concerto for piano & orchestra (2000) with pianist Anton Batagov, and Glass’s Second Symphony. The concert will also feature “The Drawf Planets” by composer Benjamin Park.

In many respects this is an interesting concert.  As a Boston native, I have emotionally and unjustly thought of Boston as being unreceptive to Glass’s music. I held that believe until I recently compiled a list of Glass’s music that’s been performed in Boston both over the long term (A.R.T. in Cambridge began premiering Glass operas with The Juniper Tree in 1985, then a handful of years later they premiered Orphée, then another handful of years later the theater also premiered Glass’s The Sound of a Voice) and the short term including last year’s memorial performance under Evan Ziporyn at M.I.T. of Symphonies Nos.1 & 4.

But there’s been ballets by Boston Ballet, chamber music performances, major opera productions by the Boston Lyric Opera including Akhanten and last season’s In the Penal Colony at the Cyclorama.

This fall, the dynamic chamber orchestra A Far Cry will be performing the world premiere of Glass’s Piano Concerto No.3 with pianist Simone Dinnerstein at the keyboard.  So while not every institution in town has jumped onto the dance floor, there have been many that have. And as a Boston native, I am grateful for every performance. – RG