The Classical Beat: Spectacular Music and Celebrations at Tanglewood, Sevenars
 |
| Ozawa Hall & Lawn (Stu Rosner) |
With the arrival of August, we are at the midpoint – the emerging height of the classical music festival season. Programs at Tanglewood this week offer an enthralling and diverse mix of orchestral works by Beethoven, Schumann, Wagner, Sibelius, Debussy, Ravel, Bartok and Stravinsky performed by the Boston Symphony, the Tanglewood Music Festival Orchestra and, for the delight of chamber music lovers, the Danish String Quartet playing late Beethoven. The week's other prominent highlights includes Maestro Nelsons leading the BSO in a concert version of Mozart's iconic comic opera "The Marriage of Figaro." Also scheduled: Yo-Yo Ma's curated concerts, conversations and events under the rubric "We The People," and the activities that comprise the all-day 'Tanglewood on Parade' celebration, always a Tanglewood patron favorite. Read below for more detailed information about these and other performances and related celebratory activities, covering the week of July 30-Aug. 4.
Tanglewood
• Thursday, July 30, 8:00 p.m., Ozawa Hall: The polished Danish String Quartet performs Stravinsky's "Suite italienne," Beethoven's String Quartet No. 16 in F, Op. 135 and a medley of arrangements of Danish folksongs.
• Friday, July 31. 8:00 p.m., in the Shed: Maestro Esa-Pekka Salonen leads the BSO in a compelling program of Wagner (the 'Prelude and Liebestod' from "Tristan und Isolde"); Sibelius (Symphony No. 7) and Beethoven (the magisterial Piano Concerto No. 5) with Yefim Bronfman the stupendous soloist.
• Saturday, Aug. 1, 8:00 p.m. in the Shed: Mozart's uproarious comic operatic masterpiece, "The Marriage of Figaro" is performed in concert with English supertitles by a stellar cast of TMC Vocal Fellows - the Boston Symphony led by Andris Nelsons. The production is directed by James Darrah Black.
Tanglewood on Parade Events - Tuesday Aug. 4
The gates open with a fanfare, followed by events during the afternoon and into the evening; each celebrate Tanglewood's ensembles and performers, including Yo-Yo Ma, Keith Lockhart, Samy Rachid and The Boston Pops, the Tanglewood Festival Orchestra and the Boston Symphony. "Making Music In Community" is the over-arching theme. Visit Tanglewood's website for full program and personnel information, specific events, repertoire and locations. Events throughout the day will occur in Ozawa Hall, the Shed and in the Linde Center. The festivities conclude with the traditional performance of Tchaikovsky's "1812 Overture" by The Pops, accompanied by spectacular fireworks lighting up the Berkshire skies.
For tickets for all Tanglewood/BSO concerts (lawn and Shed seating) and for special events call (617) 266-1200 or (413) 637-5180; online: tanglewood.org or customerservice@bso.org. In Lenox, visit the Tanglewood box office at the Main Gate located at 297 West Street.
Sevenars Music Festival
Founded in 1968, Sevenars Concerts, Inc. is presenting its 58th 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, Aug. 2, 4:00 p.m.: Pianist Paul-André Bempechat will present a solo recital. Renowned for his interpretations of the First Viennese School, Brahms, Schumann, and Chopin - Bempechat - a French-Canadian - is a disciple of the artistic legacies of the Manhattan School of Music and the Juilliard School. Decorated as Chevalier de l'Ordre des Arts et des Lettres by the French Ministry of Culture, he has toured widely throughout Europe.
He will perform four of Beethoven's Sonatas - Op. 22, Op. 27 No 2 ('Moonlight'), Op. 90 and Op. 57 ('Appassionata'.} Currently recording all 32 Beethoven sonatas, Mr. Bempéchat offers the Sevenars audience the thrill of hearing these four stunning masterworks.
The Sevenars Academy is located at 15 Ireland Street, just off Rt. 112 in South Worthington, Ma. Concerts are presented on six consecutive Sundays at 4:00 p.m., through August 16. Phone: (413) 238-5854 (please leave a message for a return call). Visit online at: www.sevenars.org. Admission is by donation at the door (suggested $20). Refreshments will be available at no cost.
