The Boston Pops said it will move its 2021 July 4 concert from the Esplanade to Tanglewood due to ongoing COVID-19 safety concerns, the famed ensemble announced Friday.The Pops said the July 4 concert will be strictly limited to an audience of 9,000, per the allowance set for all Tanglewood season performances by the Berkshire local health authorities.Free tickets will be made available to the general public, on a first-come, first-served basis, the Pops said.The fireworks finale will take place from the Boston Common, but there will be no video jumbotrons or concert sound to accompany the display.The Pops said there will be no fireworks show at Tanglewood.The show and fireworks will be broadcast on television, radio and online. “Though health concerns related to the pandemic have abated over the last few weeks, after careful consideration we determined there wasn’t enough time to organize the many forces needed to safely return to the Esplanade and present what is considered one of the largest concert events in the world. We decided that it just wasn’t advisable to squeeze what is normally a ten-month planning period into a five-week window,” Conductor Keith Lockhart said of the move. Last year’s live concert and fireworks were canceled and a salute to front-line COVID-19 workers was broadcast in its place.The annual Boston Pops Fourth of July celebration has been held on the Charles River Esplanade since 1929. Fireworks and cannons were added in 1974.The Boston Symphony Orchestra and the Pops canceled the 2020 seasons, including the beloved Holiday Pops series. Last year’s seasons were also set to celebrate Lockhart’s 25th anniversary at the helm. The show is expected to return to the Esplanade in 2022.
BOSTON —
The Boston Pops said it will move its 2021 July 4 concert from the Esplanade to Tanglewood due to ongoing COVID-19 safety concerns, the famed ensemble announced Friday.
The Pops said the July 4 concert will be strictly limited to an audience of 9,000, per the allowance set for all Tanglewood season performances by the Berkshire local health authorities.
Free tickets will be made available to the general public, on a first-come, first-served basis, the Pops said.
The fireworks finale will take place from the Boston Common, but there will be no video jumbotrons or concert sound to accompany the display.
The Pops said there will be no fireworks show at Tanglewood.
The show and fireworks will be broadcast on television, radio and online.
“Though health concerns related to the pandemic have abated over the last few weeks, after careful consideration we determined there wasn’t enough time to organize the many forces needed to safely return to the Esplanade and present what is considered one of the largest concert events in the world. We decided that it just wasn’t advisable to squeeze what is normally a ten-month planning period into a five-week window,” Conductor Keith Lockhart said of the move.
Last year’s live concert and fireworks were canceled and a salute to front-line COVID-19 workers was broadcast in its place.
The annual Boston Pops Fourth of July celebration has been held on the Charles River Esplanade since 1929. Fireworks and cannons were added in 1974.
The Boston Symphony Orchestra and the Pops canceled the 2020 seasons, including the beloved Holiday Pops series.
Last year’s seasons were also set to celebrate Lockhart’s 25th anniversary at the helm.
The show is expected to return to the Esplanade in 2022.