The Classical 'High Season' Bursts Upon The Scene

It's well known that the Berkshires and environs are a mecca for classical music lovers. With the tourist high season – from late-June through Aug. 31 – concert activity increases exponentially, offering listeners a cornucopia of musical delights, with enough variety to please every taste.

This week, two magnificent presenters share the spotlight, offering fabulous musical pleasures: Tanglewood in Lenox, Mass. and Taconic Music's 8th  Summer Festival in Manchester, Vt.

Tanglewood Music Festival

Tanglewood, among the world's grandest outdoors summer music festivals, is the summer home of the Boston Symphony, and offers outstanding and varied classical performances. Beginning July 6, the Festival will present a wide range of programs that spotlight favorite returning artists and repertoire, while also introducing dynamic new artists, premieres of unfamiliar and new works and diverse styles and genres of programming.

Why go? It's all about the magnitude and the phenomenal diversity of programming. Whether you enjoy the pristine lawns for bring-your-own picnics, or prefer the proximity to gifted musicians in the Shed, Ozawa Hall or in the Linde Center, Tanglewood, in all its incarnations is an informal, yet breathtaking place to relax and enjoy music in the most bucolic setting imaginable.

Here are several upcoming extraordinary concerts you'll want to plan to attend – featuring favorite popular artists and great string quartet chamber music. For tickets to all Tanglewood events, call (888) 266-1200, or go online at tanglewood.org.

The Tanglewood Popular Artist Series features a parade of stars this week and beyond, leading up to James Taylor's July 3 and 4 shows: Jon Batiste (June 28), Trey Anastasio with the Boston Pops (June 29), Brandi Carlile (June 30), and Jason Mraz with the Boston Pops(July 2). Later in July, the Shed will offer An Evening with Pretenders (July 16) and June Beck with the Boston Pops (July 23). 

Late June brings the annual String Quartet Marathon: three distinct free concerts performed by the Fellows of the Tanglewood Music Center on June 30 in Ozawa Hall, preceded by a TLI Open Workshop on string quartet performance technique on June 26. 

Taconic Music Summer Festival

With six remaining of seven concerts over three weeks of great programs in this exhilarating music festival, be sure to include Taconic Music on your "not-to-be-missed" concert agenda.

Why go? Based in Manchester, Vermont, co-founders Ariel Rudiakov and Joana Genova will showcase their outstanding festival-resident teaching/performing artists and young artists.

For information, including tickets, and Taconic Music's year-round programs, call (802) 362-7162 or visit online at directors@taconicmusic.org. Chamber Music Saturdays are $30. for adults, free for students and kids. Reservations are recommended. Concerts will also be livestreamed.  

COME EARLY for an informal pre-concert reception on every Chamber Music Saturday, beginning at 6:30, when the box office also opens. Enjoy a glass of wine or Töst, and mingle with friends before the concert begins.

Here's a listing of the Taconic Festival's programming highlights over the next three weeks:

Wednesday, June 26 at 7pm:
MASTERCLASS with Cellist Roberta Cooper
Experience firsthand how chamber music is refined and brought to a whole new level. Roberta Cooper will offer insights and guidance to our Young Artists as they prepare for their July 1 concert.

Saturday, June 29 at 7:30pm:

CHAMBER CONCERT II:  Mozart, Villa-Lobos, Martin?
Evangelia Leontis, soprano; Megan Shumate Beaumont, clarinet; Gili Sharett, bassoon: Wayne du Maine, trumpet; Taconic Strings; Ariel Rudiakov, viola and conductor; Joana Genova, violin; Hannah Holman, cello; Davide Cabassi, piano

Saturday, July 6 at 7:30pm:

AN EVENING OF POPS

Wednesday, July 10 at 7pm:

MASTERCLASS with violinist Eugene Drucker
Experience firsthand how chamber music is refined and brought to a whole new level. Eugene Drucker will offer insights and guidance to our Young Artists as they prepare for their July 15 concert.  

Saturday, July 13 at 7:30pm:

CHAMBER CONCERT III: Brahms and Mendelssohn
Eugene Drucker and Joana Genova, violins; Ariel Rudiakov and Stefanie Taylor, violas; Raman Ramakrishnan and Roberta Cooper, celli; Drew Petersen, Piano

Monday, July 15 at 7pm:

YOUNG ARTISTS CONCERT II
Our 2024 Young Artists perform works for string quartet and quintet, and piano quartet in the final concert of our summer festival.

Look for weekly "Classical Beat" previews and recommended concert and related events programming at Tanglewood, Taconic Music, Sevenars and at other regional venues throughout July and August.

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."