The Classical Beat: Tanglewood and Sevenars are Not to be Missed

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This week, as Tanglewood enters its sixth week of classical programming, the two large-scale orchestral works to be performed by the Tanglewood Music Festival Orchestra are 20th century classics - each at the polar opposite of the stylistic spectrum: Béla Bartók’s bold and powerful Suite from "The Miraculous Mandarin" and Sergei Rachmaninoff’s melodically luxuriant Symphony No. 2. Both are audience favorites. Adding to the mix in the chamber music sphere are an evening – the first of four – of a traversal of the complete piano works of Johannes Brahms by the stellar
Garrick Ohlsson - and program three of "Pathways from Prague," featuring
the luminous pianist Emanuel Ax, in partnership with a trio of his brilliant
string colleagues.
 
That’s not all: Tanglewood’s programming in its three fabulous venues presents additional and diversely elucidating musical rewards. See below for the details, covering the period from August 10-16.
 
  • Programs in the Koussevitzky Music Shed

 

• Friday, August 12, 8:00 p.m.: The third "Pathways from Prague" chamber music program, curated by pianist Emanuel Ax, features Mr. Ax, violinist Leonidas Kavakos, violist Antoine Tamestit, and cellist Yo-Yo Ma in music by Janá?ek, Dvo?ák (including the melodious Piano Quartet No. 2 in E-flat), and Kaprálová ("Two Ritournelles" for cello and piano, Op. 25.)
 
• Saturday, August 13, 8:00 p.m.: The brilliant violinist Leonidas Kavakos is the soloist in Mendelssohn beloved Violin Concerto, on a program including the great 20th century French composer Henri Dutilleux "Métaboles," Claude Debussy breathtaking "Prelude to The Afternoon of a Faun," and Maurice Ravel charming fairytale-inspired "Mother Goose" ballet (complete), led by conductor Dima Slobodeniouk.
 
• Sunday, August 14, 2:30 p.m.: Perennial Tanglewood favorite Yo-Yo Ma performs Edward Elgar’s rapturous Cello Concerto on a program with Anna Clyne "Masquerade," Debussy overwhelming "La Mer," and Georges Enescu popular, folk dance-inspired "Romanian Rhapsody No. 1," led by conductor Cristian M?celaru, who, with this program will be
making his BSO debut.
 
• Sunday, August 14, 8:00 p.m.: The Tanglewood Music Center Orchestra, led by maestro Stefan Asbury and TMC conducting Fellows will perform Béla Bartók’s Suite from "The Miraculous Mandarin," Florence Price’s (1887-1953) "Ethiopia’s Shadow in America" and Rachmaninoff’s Symphony No. 2.
 
  • Programs in Ozawa Hall
 
• Thursday, August 11, 2:00-3:30 p.m.: TLI Open Cello Workshop with Yo-Yo Ma.
 
• Tuesday, August 16, 8:00 p.m.: Garrick Ohlsson surveys Brahms' complete piano works with four recitals; this first program includes mostly piano variations, including the virtuosic "Variations on a Theme of Paganini," Op. 35.
 
  • Program in The Linde Center
• Thursday, August 11, 1:00-2:00 p.m.: TLI In Conversation with
pianist Emanuel Ax and host Asadour Santourian at Studio E.
For tickets for these and for all Tanglewood/BSO concerts (lawn and Shed
seating) and for special events call (617) 266-1200 or 888-266-1200.
Online: tanglewood.org.
 
  • Sevenars Music Festival
Founded in 1968, Sevenars Concerts, Inc. is showcasing its 54th anniversary season of six summer concerts, held at the Academy in the historic village of South Worthington, MA, located at 15 Ireland Street, just off MA Route 112.
 
• Sunday, August 14, 4:00 p.m.: For a totally fun season Festival finale, head to the country – specifically South Worthington, Mass., for a great time with Sevenars’ longtime friends – the Bob Sparkman Trio. Wrapping up their summer season, the Music Festival concludes with this ensemble - friends of Sevenars over many years - offering a joyous jazz program for your musical delectation.
 
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.

Tags: Sevenars,   Tanglewood,   The Classical Beat,   

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Tickets On Sale for Berkshire Flyer

PITTSFIELD, Mass. — Amtrak, in conjunction with the Massachusetts Department of Transportation (MassDOT) and New York State Department of Transportation (NYSDOT), announced tickets are now on sale for the Berkshire Flyer.
 
The Berkshire Flyer is a seasonal summer passenger rail service that operates between New York City from Moynihan Train Hall and Pittsfield. The service, which began as a successful pilot in 2022, is scheduled to resume on Friday, June 21 through Monday, Sept. 2 for Labor Day weekend. Trains depart New York City Friday nights and return at the end of the weekend, leaving Pittsfield Sunday afternoon.
 
In addition, for the first time this year, the Berkshire Flyer service now includes a train from New York City to Pittsfield on Sunday mornings.
 
"We're thrilled to announce this season's Berkshire Flyer service," said Transportation Secretary and CEO Monica Tibbits-Nutt. "The Berkshire Flyer makes visiting Western Massachusetts on weekends convenient, relaxing, and easy. We are pleased to continue our successful partnership with Amtrak, the New York State Department of Transportation and CSX."
 
The Berkshire Flyer departs from Moynihan Train Hall at 3:16 p.m. on Fridays and arrives at Joseph Scelsi Intermodal Transportation Center in Pittsfield at 7:27 p.m. The train will make all intermediate station stops as the scheduled Amtrak Empire Service train does in New York State on Fridays, which include Yonkers, Croton-Harmon, Poughkeepsie, Rhinecliff, Hudson, and Albany-Rensselaer Station. 
 
The Sunday return trip, making all the same station stops, will depart Pittsfield at 3:35 p.m. and arrive in New York at 7:55 p.m. The new Sunday Berkshire Flyer train from New York City to Pittsfield will depart Moynihan Train Hall at 10:50 a.m. and arrive in Pittsfield at 3:15 p.m.
 
The Berkshire Flyer is building upon two successful seasons where some of the Pittsfield-bound trains were sold out well in advance. Based on that experience, passengers planning a trip are encouraged to purchase tickets early by visiting Amtrak.com, the Amtrak app or by calling 1-800-USA-RAIL.
 
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