The Classical Beat: Tanglewood, Sevenars Attain Their Peak This Week

George Gershwin composing "Porgy and Bess."

During this week of the Tanglewood Festival, the spotlight will focus on a wide range of extraordinary soloists and conductors. As a sample, we can look forward with eager expectation to the following:

• Maestro Andris Nelsons conducting the BSO in programs with stellar soloists violinist Leonidas Kavakos, and pianist Jean-Yves Thibaudet.  
• Esteemed Finnish conductor Susanna Mälkki leading concerts with the BSO and the Tanglewood Music Center Orchestra, and participating in a TLI In Conversation event. 
• TLI In Conversation with American composer Carlos Simon.
• A unique Shed recital with Emanuel Ax, Leonidas Kavakos, and Yo-Yo Ma performing an all-Beethoven program

Looking a bit further ahead, these last two months of magnificent music making are but a prelude to the late summer/early fall array of area classical offerings on the horizon. Two notable examples are South Mountain Concerts in Pittsfield in September and into October, and the Berkshire Opera Festival, which will be presenting Puccini’s grand opera, "La Bohéme." I’ll highlight both these outstanding organizations’ offerings in my Classical Beat column next week. For now, here are the particulars for the next several days at Tanglewood and at the Sevenars Music Festival.

Tanglewood Shed Concerts

• Friday, August 18, 8 p.m.: Maestro Andris Nelsons and the BSO are joined by pianist Jean-Yves Thibaudet for two of his signature pieces—Saint-Saëns’ Piano Concerto No. 5, ("Egyptian") and Gershwin’s beloved Piano Concerto in F (both of which Thibaudet will reprise with the BSO on its upcoming European tour)—on a program that opens with Carlos Simon’s BSO commissioned "Four Black American Dances."
• Saturday, August 19, 8 p.m.: For the final BSO concert of the season, Maestro Nelsons leads an all-Russian program: Tchaikovsky’s Violin Concerto with soloist Leonidas Kavakos, and Prokofiev’s popular Symphony No. 5.  
• Sunday, August 20, 2:30 p.m.: Maestra Susanna Mälkki leads the Tanglewood Music Center Orchestra in the traditional annual performance of Beethoven’s Ninth Symphony, featuring the vocal soloists soprano Amanda Majeski, mezzo soprano J’Nai Bridges, tenor Stephen Costello, and bass Jongmin Park, along with the Tanglewood Festival Chorus—which without intermission is preceded by "Five Spirituals" excerpted from British composer Michael Tippett’s "A Child of Our Time," conducted by James Burton. 

Ozawa Hall concerts

• Friday, August 18, 6 p.m.: Members of the Tanglewood Festival Chorus, James Burton, conductor, perform a Prelude Concert, joined by J’Nai Bridges and Stephen Costello (mezzo-soprano and tenor soloist in the August 20 performance of Beethoven’s "Ninth"). On the program are Roxanna Panufnik’s "Love Endureth," Thompson’s "The Peaceable Kingdom," and "Five Spirituals," excerpted from Tippett’s  cantata "A Child of Our Time."
• Saturday, August 19, 5 p.m.: In this TLI Spotlight Series event, versatile artist Carrie Mae Weems and cellist Yo-Yo Ma join forces to share their perspectives on the role of artists and their civic responsibilities.
• Sunday, August 20, 10 a.m.: Tanglewood Music Center Chamber Music presents Beethoven’s Septet in E-flat, Op. 20; Olli Mustonen’s "Nonetto II": and Beethoven’s masterwork String Quartet in C-sharp minor, Op. 131.  
• Sunday, August 20, 8 p.m.: TLI Presents the Gerald Clayton Trio, headed by the acclaimed pianist/composer, performing at Tanglewood for the first time.  
• Tuesday, August 22, 8 p.m.: Tony Award winner Kelli O’Hara, joined by pianist Dan Lipton, displays her musical versatility in an evening of Broadway classics and personal stories.  

TLC and TLI Activities in Studio E of the Linde Center 

• Wednesday, August 16, 1:30 p.m.: TLI Open Violin Workshop with American violinist Tai Murray and TMC Fellows (a joint presentation of TLI and TMC) 
• Thursday, August 17, 1 p.m.: A TLI In Conversation with composer and Georgia native Carlos Simon, whose BSO-commissioned work, "Four Black American Dances," will be performed on the August 18 BSO program and on the BSO’s upcoming European tour.
• Saturday, August 19, 6 p.m.: A Prelude Concert by TMC musicians, featuring chamber works by Thomas Adès ("Les Baricades mistérieuse"), Prokofiev (Quintet in G minor, Op. 39), and Brahms (String Quintet in G Major, Op. 111). 

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

Sevenars Music Festival

• Sunday, August 20, 4:00 p.m.:  Sevenars Music Festival's 7th concert presents a solo piano recital by Sevenars Director, the esteemed pianist Rorianne Schrade, offered in celebratory tribute to the great Russian composer/pianist/conductor Sergei Rachmaninoff, in homage of his landmark 150th birthday year.

Composer/pianist Sergei Rachmaninoff

As a Steinway Artist and winner of over a score of prizes (from Concert Artists Guild International Competition, Washington International Competition, the Kosciuszko National Chopin Competition, the Liederkranz Foundation, the National Arts Club, Artists International, N.Y. Chopin Foundation Council, The Marcia Polayes Competition, and many others), Rorianne Schrade has been likened to "a whirlwind unleashed" (Gannett Westchester Newspapers).

The program will consist of works by Rachmaninoff: Sonata No. 2 and selections from his songs, "Etudes-Tableaux." "Moments-Musicaux," and also of transcriptions by the composer of music by Bach, Schubert, Mendelssohn, Mussorgsky, and Fritz Kreisler. The program will conclude with the rarely-heard virtuoso transcription by Vladimir Leyetchkiss of the "Waltz" movement from Rachmaninoff's two-piano "Suite," Op. 17. 

Upcoming: There is an additional concert on Sept 9th this year (Saturday at 2:00) in tribute to Bob Sparkman, who has played a jazz program at Sevenars for about 20 years.

For Sevenars tickets, and general contact information, call: (413) 238-5854 (please leave a message for return call). On the Web: www.sevenars.org. Email: Sevenars@aol.com. Admission is by donation at the door (suggested $20). Refreshments are included. Sevenars Concerts is located at the Academy in South Worthington, MA., located at 15 Ireland Street, just off Route 112.

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."