The Classical Beat: Tanglewood + Sevenars = Classical Music Heaven

Ozawa Hall

Tanglewood enters its third week, and the highlights are many; indeed, every concert will be memorable. Two beloved masterworks, "Appalachian Spring" and the "New World" Symphony by Aaron Copland and Antonín Dvo?ák, respectively, top this week's listing of stellar performances of great and amazingly diverse musical offerings. 

Wait … there's more: a Handel opera in concert, a regional Americana classic by Duke Ellington, Richard Wagner's poignant "Siegfried Idyll" and a sampling of Mozart's mature symphonies and piano concerto masterworks amply demonstrate that at Tanglewood, the spectrum of musical offerings is both broad and deep.

If, for whatever inexplicable reason the bounteous musical fare at Tanglewood isn't enough to pique your interest, there's also the captivating Sevenars Chamber Music Festival, in South Worthington. This week, expect a rich musical palette showcasing stylistic diversity, with a program of classics by Brahms, Norwegian composer Trygve Madsen, Frederic Duvernoy, and the world premiere of "Triptych for Horn Trio" by Los Angeles film composer Max Mueller. 

Both venues present outstanding classic and contemporary music performed at magnificent venues in pristine, bucolic settings by marvelous performers. Read below for the details.

Tanglewood: Concerts in the Shed

• Friday, July 21, 8 p.m.: Xian Zhang, in her seventh season as music director of the New Jersey Symphony, makes her BSO conducting debut leading Copland's "Appalachian Spring" — in a rare collaboration, featuring performers from Nimbus Dance (BSO debut) and local youth dancers — and Dvo?ák's perennial favorite "New World" Symphony No. 9 in E Minor. 

• Saturday, July 22, 10:30 a.m.: BSO Youth and Family Concerts conductor Thomas Wilkins leads the orchestra in Tanglewood's annual Family Concert; this year's program is entitled "May I Have Your Attention Please?" The program features music by Rimsky-Korsakov, Rossini, Beethoven, Haydn, Jessie Montgomery, Bartók, and Mendelssohn.  

• Saturday, July 22, 8 p.m.: Guest conductor David Afkham leads the BSO in Wagner's sensuously beautiful masterwork "Siegfried Idyll," Mozart's magisterial Symphony ("Jupiter") No. 41, and Mozart's towering masterpiece Piano Concerto No. 25 in C, with returning soloist Martin Helmchen.  

• Sunday, July 23, 2:30 p.m.: Thomas Wilkins, who also leads the Family Concert (7/22), conducts Coleridge-Taylor's Ballade in A minor, Jeff Midkiff's Mandolin Concerto, ("From the Blue Ridge") — with the composer (in his BSO debut) as soloist — and the suite from Duke Ellington's ballet score "The River." This concert is designated as "Berkshire Day."

Tanglewood: Opera, Discussion and Music in Ozawa Hall

• Thursday, July 20, 6 p.m.: The Philharmonia Baroque, under the direction of conductor/harpsichordist Richard Egarr, in his Tanglewood debut, presents their production of Handel's opera "Acis and Galatea." 

• Saturday, July 22, 5 p.m.: Pulitzer Prize-winner Isabel Wilkerson discusses her bestselling non-fiction book "Caste: The Origins of Our Discontents" in a TLI Spotlight Series talk, followed by a book signing.

• Sunday, July 23, 8 p.m.: Xian Zhang and TMC Conducting Fellows lead the Tanglewood Music Center Orchestra in music of Strauss, Gabriela Lena Frank (co-curator of the 2023 Festival of Contemporary Music), and Prokofiev.

Tanglewood Learning Institute/Linde Center: Studio E

• Wednesday, July 19, 1:30 p.m.: Open percussion workshop with percussionist Daniel Bauch.

• Thursday, July 20, 1:00 p.m.: A conversation with German guest conductor David Afkham.

For tickets for all Tanglewood/BSO concerts (lawn and Shed seating) and for special events call 617- 266-1200 (TDD/TTY: 617-638-9289) or to go tanglewood.org.

'Tanglewood in the City' Celebrates Music and Community at Pittsfield Common

Designed to appeal to audiences of all ages, the 5th annual "Tanglewood in the City" on July 29 offers family-friendly activities including live performances by local artists, food trucks, and vendors and culminates in a screening of a Boston Symphony Orchestra performance on a large video wall. Mill Town Foundation, Boston Symphony Orchestra, and the city of Pittsfield have partnered on this free, community event since 2019. Pre-concert activities begin at 5 p.m. and the Tanglewood concert screening begins at 7:30.  

Live pre-concert activities include performances by Wandering Dance Society, Kids 4 Harmony, Barrington Stage Company's Celebration of Black Voices, and the Eagles Trombone Ensemble. Berkshire Health Systems will provide a complimentary session of "Yoga on the Lawn." Additional vendors, local organizations, and makers will also be on site including food trucks BB's Hot Spot and La Chalupa y La Enchilada, and ice cream from Cravin's.  

The screened concert will feature BSO Music Director Andris Nelsons conducting the orchestra in Tchaikovsky's Symphony No. 4 and Wynton Marsalis' "Herald, Holler, and Hallelujah," with guest soloist the phenomenal Daniil Trifonov performing Prokofiev's exuberant and powerful Piano Concerto No. 3. 

Sevenars Music Festival

• Sunday, July 23, 4 p.m.: Sevenars presents the superb MOSSO — Springfield Chamber Players' Horn Trio. Performing artists include violinist Beth Welty, hornist Sarah Sutherland and pianist Elizabeth Skavish. The program will include as the centerpiece Johannes Brahms' masterful Horn Trio, Op. 40, plus the colorful trios of Frederic Duvernoy (1765-1838) and Norwegian composer Trygve Madsen (b. 1940). The Trio will also showcase a commissioned new work for this concert — the premiere of "Triptych for Horn Trio," composed by Max Mueller. 

These musicians will bring new, unique, and classic treasures to the magnificent Sevenars venue — this is a program not to be missed!

The Sevenars Academy is located at 15 Ireland St., just off Route 112 in South Worthington. Admission is by donation (suggested $20). Phone: 413-238-5854 (Leave return call phone number). Web: www.sevenars.com. Free refreshments will be available.

Rain Slows Growth of Butternut Fire

By Brittany PolitoiBerkshires Staff
05:35PM / Thursday, November 21, 2024

GREAT BARRINGTON, Mass.— Rain has slowed the Butternut Fire's growth but it's estimated at about 1,200 acres at this point. 

It's the largest wildfire in the Berkshires since nearly a 1,000 acres burned in Clarksburg State Forest back in 2021. 

"We want to start with some good news. Ground patrols are finding minimal new fire activity since this morning's rains began," the Great Barrington Fire Department posted on its Facebook page at 12:45 p.m..

"We want to reiterate that the rain will not extinguish the fire but it is helping to stop the spread. The weather has also delayed some of the drone operations — as a result we do not have an official size. What we do know — the growth has been minimal."

Fire Lt. Brian Mead earlier Thursday morning said the fire had seen some growth overnight but not to extent of Wednesday's surge. Fire was reported within a quarter mile of homes and was "stopped in its tracks." There are now more than 100 personnel on the ground and there has been one injury related to the fire, which he did not elaborate on.

 

"The rain will help to some extent but it will not extinguish the fire," said Mead. "We will remain on scene for the days and weeks to come but we still need your help. Please, please follow the local and state bans on outdoor fire. The last thing we need is another preventable fire."

At 4 p.m., the department reported that it will continue to operate under unified command with support from local, state, and federal agencies. Friday's operations will be scaled back with smaller crews and focused on monitoring and reporting.

At the last live update of the day, Mead said the fire would continue to be monitored and fire crews dispatched as needed. 

 

"There is a lot of misinformation on out social media and we ask that you please, please rely on local official sites," he said. "Please avoid the areas and allow us to do our work."

 

The rain and smoke has made drone monitoring difficult so the exact size of the fire is not known; he estimated it grew about 100 acres over the past 24 hours. 

Two rumors he dispelled were that the fire did not start at Camp Eisner. Mead said the initial location of the burn has not been identified but it did not start at the camp, which is occupied. Ski Butternut is also not in danger and that fire crews have kept the blaze to a safe distance. 

A section of the Appalachian Trail has been affected and that area shut down. 

Thursday's rain slowed growth and allowed crews to establish strong fire boundaries meaning that swaths have been cut and cleared to create fire breaks — which are holding.

At this time, no homes or structures are in immediate danger.

The fire near Brush Hill Road off East Mountain was first reported Monday evening. On Tuesday, it spread over 100 acres, and on Wednesday, it covered over 1,100 acres, expanding into Sheffield.

The town remains in a state of emergency, as declared by the Select Board on Tuesday, but first responders assure that Great Barrington is not in danger.

Firefighters were dispatched to three locations for concerns of fire extension into homes and in one instance, the fire was allowed to continue in a controlled state to a driveway and self-extinguished.  They are aware of one injury from the fire and urge community members to avoid the area and leave firefighting to the professionals.

"More than 120 personnel are on the ground today fighting this fire," Mead reported on Thursday morning.

He said the day’s rain will help to some extent but will not extinguish the fire, explaining "We will remain on scene for the days and weeks to come."  

At this time, the primary focus remains the protection of life and property, as patrols and alert residents identified some encroaching fire and stopped it in its tracks.

"We have strategically placed structural task forces, prepared to protect homes and property. Although they are staged and at the ready — there is NO immediate threat to residents," the department wrote in the 12:45 update.

"At the same time, crews have been working through the rain cutting fire breaks in the forest to further stop any expansion. Those control lines are holding."

Area residents can expect smoke to linger for the next several days. The Southern Berkshire Public Health Collaborative released guidance for the poor air quality, as it can worsen allergies and cause respiratory infections, especially for those with heart disease asthma, or other lung diseases.

Residents are urged to monitor air quality and symptoms, move outdoor activities inside, wear a KN-95 mask when outdoors, close windows and vents in homes, and use HEPA filters.

Even with recent rains — there is a burn ban in Great Barrington until further notice. Additionally, state officials are evaluating week by week for statewide bans.

"With an immense amount of appreciation, we are not accepting donations at this time. In true New England fashion — neighbors have truly helped neighbors," the department wrote. "We are grateful to the community for once again showing your support."

Mead urged the community to "please please follow the local and state bans on fire, the last thing we need is another preventable fire."