Classical Beat: Tanglewood Music Festival Concludes Its Classical Season

Tanglewood Music Festival Concludes Its Classical Season 

This week, Tanglewood concludes its magnificently curated, presented and performed 2024 classical music summer festival season with panache by showcasing several performing soloists and a noted Finnish conductor – all making their Tanglewood debut performances. Orchestral masterworks by Brahms, Beethoven, Elgar and Ravel, as well as stellar concerto performances of works by Mozart and Chopin will take center stage in the Shed. These, in addition to several outstanding Ozawa Hall chamber music programs, leading to the traditional Tanglewood Music Festival season- concluding performance of Beethoven's Symphony No. 9 ('Choral') will enthrall listeners. Read below for the details, including the end-of-season Popular Artists appearances in the Shed and in Studio E, Linde Center for Music and Learning..

Four Tanglewood Classical Highlights This Week 

A brilliant violin/piano recital program in Ozawa Hall will feature pianist Alessio Bax and violinist James Ehnes in their Tanglewood debuts performing Mozart (Violin Sonata No. 21 in E minor, K.304); Brahms (Violin Sonata No. 1 in G, Op. 78) and Beethoven (Violin Sonata No. 9 in A, Op. 47 'Kreutzer') (August 21).

The rising star American conductor Ryan Bancroft makes his BSO debut in the Shed, along with the elegantly expressive pianist Bruce Liu in Chopin's enraptured Piano Concerto No. 1, followed by Elgar's deeply moving Enigma Variations (August 23). 

Conductor Karina Canellakis and the BSO accompany violinist James Ehnes in Chausson's sensitively lyrical "Poème" on a program that features the Tanglewood Festival Chorus in the Shed (Brahms: 'Shicksalslied'); they will also perform works by Beethoven and Ravel (August 24).

Ludovic Marlot will conduct BSOs performance of Beethoven’s Symphony No. 9 on Sunday, August 25 at 2:30 pm in the Shed.

Full Tanglewood Schedule of Concerts, Events

Wednesday, August 21

8 p.m., Seiji Ozawa Hall

Tanglewood Recital Series

James Ehnes, violin

Alessio Bax, piano

MOZART Sonata No. 21 in E minor, K.304

BRAHMS Sonata No. 1 in G, Op. 78

BEETHOVEN Sonata No. 9 in A, Op. 47, ('Kreutzer')

______________________

Thursday, August 22

1 p.m., Tent Club

TLI Talks and Walks

Anthony Fogg, moderator, with conductor Karina

Canellakis

______________________

Friday, August 23

6 p.m., Seiji Ozawa Hall

Prelude Concert

Koussevitzky and the Choral Connection: exploring

choral works by composers who were commissioned

by the Koussevitzky Foundation

Tanglewood Festival Chorus

James Burton, conductor

TIPPETT "Dance, Clarion Air"

POULENC Salve Regina

STRAVINSKY Ave Maria

BRITTEN "A Hymn to the Virgin"

Helen GRIME Telling

MESSIAEN O Sacrum Convivium

WALTON "Set me as a seal upon thine heart"

WALKER "Stars"

Augusta Read THOMAS "The Rewaking"

HARVEY "Come, Holy Ghost"

8 p.m., Shed

Boston Symphony Orchestra

Ryan Bancroft, conductor

Bruce Liu, piano

CHOPIN Piano Concerto No. 1

ELGAR 'Enigma' Variations

______________________

Saturday, August 24

10:30 a.m. Shed

Boston Symphony Orchestra

Open Rehearsal, Sunday program

8 p.m., Shed

Boston Symphony Orchestra

Karina Canellakis, conductor

James Ehnes, violin

Tanglewood Festival Chorus

James Burton, conductor

Karina Canellakis conducts Beethoven, Brahms,

Chausson, and Ravel

BEETHOVEN "The Creatures of Prometheus" overture

BRAHMS "Schicksalslied"

CHAUSSON "Poème," for violin and orchestra

RAVEL Tzigane

RAVEL "Daphnis et Chloé," Suite No. 2

______________________

Sunday, August 25

2:30 p.m., Shed

Boston Symphony Orchestra

Ludovic Morlot, conductor

Ambur Braid, soprano

Jess Dandy, contralto

Elgan Llr Thomas, tenor

Davóne Tines, bass-baritone

Tanglewood Festival Chorus

James Burton, conductor

BRUCKNER Ecce sacerdos magnus

BEETHOVEN Symphony No. 9 ('Choral')

THREE TANGLEWOOD POPULAR ARTIST PERFORMANCES

Sunday, August 25

7 p.m., Studio E, Linde Center for Music and Learning

TLI Presents: The Edmar Castaneda Quartet

Edmar Castaneda, harp

Andrea Tierra, vocalist

Shlomi Cohen, sax

Rodrigo Villalon, drums

______________________

Friday, August 30

7 p.m., Shed

Popular Artist Series

Judy Collins, The Indigo Girls, and Rufus Wainwright

______________________

Saturday, August 31

7 p.m., Shed

Popular Artist Series

DISPATCH with the Boston Pops Orchestra

Keith Lockhart, conductor

For tickets to all Tanglewood events, call (888) 266-1200, or go online at tanglewood.org.

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."