The Classical Beat: Tanglewood, Sevenars Festivals Begin; Taconic Blossoms

By Stephen DanknerGuest Column
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Tanglewood commences its classical concert season this week with BSO Music Director Andris Nelsons at center stage in the Shed for three spectacular orchestral programs: the brilliant pianist Daniil Trifonov is featured in Prokofiev's monumental Third Piano Concerto on July 7, and violinist Hilary Hahn will perform Brahms' supremely lyrical Violin
Concerto with the BSO on Sunday afternoon, July 9. Maestro Nelsons will also conduct the Tanglewood Music Center Orchestra in its first concert the next evening in a program of masterworks by Debussy, Ravel and Stravinsky.
 
Be sure to also consider attending the remarkable Taconic Music Festival in Manchester, VT. for brilliantly performed chamber music. 
 
There is also the welcoming atmosphere and musical artistry of Sevenars Concerts in Worthington, MA. This season marks their 55 th anniversary, as they present a festival season of seven weekly Sunday afternoon concerts.
 
Tanglewood Shed Concerts
  • Friday, July 7, 8:00 p.m.: Opening Night at Tanglewood with BSO Music Director Andris Nelsons leading the first Boston Symphony concert of the Tanglewood 2023 season, featuring Wynton Marsalis' "Herald, Holler, and Hallelujah," Prokofiev's scintillating Third Piano Concerto with the electrifying Daniil Trifonov as soloist, and Tchaikovsky's ultra-passionate Symphony No. 4. 
  • Saturday, July 8, 8:00 p.m.: Keith Lockhart and the Boston Pops Orchestra will reprise their highly acclaimed presentation of "Ragtime: The Symphonic Concert," prepared by original creators Terrence McNally, Lynn Ahrens, and Stephen Flaherty for the Pops.
  • Sunday, July 9, 2:30 p.m.: Andris Nelsons and the BSO, joined by classical singer Julia Bullock and the superb violinist Hilary Hahn, present a program including the world premiere of Iman Habibi's "Zhiân," Jessie Montgomery's "Freedom Songs," and Brahms' magisterial Violin Concerto. 
  • Monday, July 10, 8:00 p.m.: Maestro Nelsons conducts the Tanglewood Music Center Orchestra (TMCO) in a program of Debussy ("La Mer"), Ravel ("Alborado del grazioso" and "Mother Goose Suite") and Stravinsky ("Jeu de cartes").

Tanglewood Ozawa Hall Concerts

  • Saturday, July 8, 6:00 p.m.: Prelude Concert, Tanglewood Music Center chamber music; works by Schumann/arr. Debussy, David Roche, and Stravinsky. The program features the world premiere of "Thousandth Hymnal," a TMC-commissioned composition by David Roche, TMC '22. 
  • Sunday, July 9, 10:00 a.m.: Tanglewood Music Center chamber music; works by Grieg, Ligeti, Osvaldo Golijov, and Mozart. The program features the world premiere of "Breathing Chords," a TMC- commissioned composition by Peter Shin, TMC '22.
  • Sunday, July 9, 6:00 p.m.: Tanglewood Music Center vocal music: works by Lili Boulanger, Osvaldo Golijov, Ruth Crawford Seeger, Henri Dutilleux, Oliver Knussen, Charles Ives, and Charles Fussell.
Tanglewood Music Center and Tanglewood Learning Institute
Activities in Studio E of the Linde Center
 
  • Wednesday, July 5, 1:30 p.m.: Open Piano Workshop with Marc-André Hamelin and TMC Fellows (joint presentation by TLI and TMC) 
  • Thursday, July 6, 1:00 p.m.: TLI In Conversation with Boston Pops Conductor Keith Lockhart. 
  • Friday, July 7, 5:30 p.m.:TLI Immersion: Themes from "Ragtime" with Angela M. Farr Schiller, Ph.D. 
  • Saturday, July 8, 2:30 p.m.:TLI Immersion: Themes from "Ragtime" with Nicholas Phan, tenor, and TMC Fellows. 
  • Sunday, July 9, 8:00 p.m.: TLI Pamela Z, composer/media artist.

Taconic Music Festival

  • Monday, July 10, 7:00 p.m.: Young Artists Concert II at the Riley Center for the Arts at Burr and Burton Academy, 57 Seminary Avenue, Manchester, VT. The program will feature the following works and performers:

Sergey Prokofiev: String Quartet in F Major, No. 2, op. 92 ("Kabardinian"). Performers: Christina Shari and Paula Lastra-Cancela, violins; Samantha Rehorst, viola; Robert Feifan Hurley, cello.

Florence Price: Piano Quintet in A Minor. Performers: Olena Kaspersky and Nathaniel Parker, violins. Samantha Rehorst, viola; Benjamin Adams, cello; Rosa Burke, piano.

Caroline Shaw: "Blueprint." Performers: Paula Lastra-Cancela and Olena Kaspersky, violins; Rachel O'Connor, viola; Benjamin Adams, cello.

Felix Mendelssohn: String Quartet in F Minor, Op. 80. Performers: Nathaniel Parker and Christina Shari, violins; Rachel O'Connor, viola; Robert Feifan Hurley, cello.
 
This concert is free, though reservations are recommended. Free-will offering at the door. Suggested: Adults $15, Students/Kids Free.
 
This concert will also be livestreamed; the virtual concert hall opens at 6:45 p.m.
 
For specific repertoire listings during the season and other information, including tickets, and Taconic Music's year-round programs, call (802) 362-7162 or visit online at taconicmusic.org.
 
Sevenars Music Festival
Founded in 1968, Sevenars Concerts is showcasing its 55th anniversary season of six summer concerts, held at the Academy in the historic village of South Worthington, Mass, located at 15 Ireland Street, just off MA Route
112. Phone: (413) 238-5854 (Leave return call phone number). Web: www.sevenars.com . Admission by donation (suggested $20.) Free refreshments will be available.
 
  • Sunday, July 9, 4:00 p.m.: Opening Concert of Sevenars MusicFestival 55th anniversary season - piano, cello, duos, solos, including twoUS premieres. Schrade and James family musicians play piano and cello solos and duos by Debussy, Lalo, Milhaud, Rachmaninoff, Rorem, Sibelius, and selections from "Amazing Africa" by Sören Sieg.
 
 
If you would like to contribute information on this article, contact us at info@iberkshires.com.

Ventfort Hall: Baseball in the Berkshires

LENOX, Mass. — Larry Moore, Director of the nonprofit Baseball in the Berkshires, and a retired Physical Education Specialist, will tell about the history of baseball in the Berkshires at Ventfort Hall on Tuesday, July 16 at 4 pm. 
 
A tea will be served after the presentation.
 
According to a press release:
 
The game of baseball has a long and storied history in the Berkshires. From the broken window by-law of 1791 and the first college game ever played in 1859, there were 60 years of minor league teams calling the Berkshires their home. There are 40 major league players coming from the Berkshires and two of them are in the National Baseball Hall of Fame. Over 220 minor league players were born, raised or settled in the Berkshires. Just when you think you have a grasp on those stories someone asks about women's baseball and black baseball in the Berkshires. Going back to the late 1800's both the history of women and people of color have strong roots here. The long list of famous baseball visitors that left parts of their stories here contains the names of "Say-Hey Kid," "Joltin' Joe," "The Iron Horse" and of course, "The Babe."
 
Larry Moore worked as a Physical Education Specialist in the Central Berkshire Regional School District for 37 years. He taught a popular yearlong unit about the history of baseball for 25 years, along with his regular Physical Education program, to his fifth graders culminating with a trip to the Baseball Hall of Fame. He now volunteers at the National Baseball Hall of Fame as an Outreach Educator. Nine years ago he, along with Tom Daly, Jim Overmyer and Kevin Larkin, established a group of baseball enthusiasts who established the nonprofit organization, Baseball in the Berkshires. Its mission is to tell the fascinating stories of baseball in the Berkshires through exhibits and educational programming.
 
As director of this group he, and his fellow volunteers, have created numerous exhibits and educational programs throughout the Berkshires. He co-authored the book "Baseball in the Berkshires: A County's Common Bond." 
 
He is a resident of Lenox and has spent many years working with the young people of the Berkshires, as an educator, coach, official, and business owner.
 
Tickets are $40 for members and with advance reservation; $45 day of; $22 for students 22 and under. Ticket pricing includes access to the mansion throughout the day of this event from 10 am to 4 pm. Reservations are strongly encouraged as seats are limited. Walk-ins accommodated as space allows. For reservations visit https://gildedage.org/pages/calendar or call at (413) 637-3206. Please note that all tickets are nonrefundable and non-exchangeable. The historical mansion is located at 104 Walker Street in Lenox.
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