The Classical Beat: Tanglewood and Sevenars Showcase Stunning Diversity

BSO at Tanglewood

The Sparky Quintet plays at Sevenars.

LENOX, Mass. — This week, as Tanglewood embarks upon its bold mid-August schedule of events, the diversity of programming maximizes themed exploratory expression – from solo piano remembrances of personal loss to massed strings recounting the heroism of historic aviator Amelia Earhart; from concert classics by Beethoven (the "apotheosis of the dance" Seventh Symphony) and Aaron Copland's "Appalachian Spring" choreographed by Martha Graham and performed by the BSO - the entire program danced by her eponymous Dance Company, to a career-celebration/tribute to John Williams with live orchestra (the Boston Pops conducted by Keith Lockhart) performing a broad selection of excerpted film clips/scenes composed by maestro Williams, to the Tanglewood Music Center Festival Orchestra, conducted by Marin Alsop performing Gustav Mahler's emotionally overpowering Symphony No. 5…all this and much more is in store for eager audiences this week, from August 12-18. Read below for the details of five of these concert highlights.

• Wednesday, August 12, 8:00 p.m., Studio E, Linde Center: Pianist Adam Tendler, in a themed program entitled "Inheritances" transforms personal loss into luminous art with a collection of 16 commissioned solo piano works. The pianist invited composers Laurie Anderson, Devonté Hynes, Nico Muhly and Missy Mazzoli to create pieces in dialogue with his own reflections.
• Thursday, August 13, 8:00 p.m. in Ozawa Hall: Composer/vocalist/violinist and electronics performer Laurie Anderson performs "Amelia" – a work celebrating aviator America Earhart, scored  for string orchestra, with text from the pilot's log from her final trip around the world. Strings from the Boston Symphony and guest artist Martha Mooke will be conducted by Dennis Russel Davies. 
• Friday, August 14, 8:00 p.m. in the Shed: Conductor Anna Handler leads the Boston Symphony in a program with dance, featuring the Martha Graham Dance Company, Janet Eilber, Artistic Director. Featured works include the glorious Martha Graham-commissioned Aaron Copland score "Appalachian Spring," Beethoven's Symphony No. 7, and Christopher Rountree's "For Martha – Variations on a Theme of Leonard Bernstein."
• Saturday, August 15, 8:00 p.m. in the Shed: Conductor/Music Director Keith Lockhart conducts the Boston Pops in "A Tribute to John Williams – Maestro of the Movies." The Pops celebrates maestro Williams in an ultimate aural feast of his film scoring career, with more than 50 minutes of specially-edited scenes and film clips taken from John Williams' best-loved films, projected in HD and synchronized to his spectacular music.
• Sunday, August 16, 2:00 p.m. in the Shed: Conductor Marin Alsop leads the Tanglewood Music Center Orchestra in a program of composers Anna Clyne ("Masquerade,") Max Bruch (Violin Concerto No. 1,) with featured soloist Ray Chen, and Mahler (Symphony No. 5.)

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 celebrating its 58th season of six summer concerts, held at the Academy - now air-conditioned – a building designated "an acoustic gem in an idyllic setting," located in the  historic village of South Worthington,15 Ireland Street, off MA Route 112.

• Sunday, August 16, 4:00 p.m.: For a totally fun season Sevenars Music Festival season closer, head to the country – specifically South Worthington, MA., for a great time with Sevenars' longtime friends: The Sparky Quintet:, consisting of piano, voice, guitar, violin, flute and percussion.?

Now in its fourth season at Sevenars, the inimitable Sparky Quartet - now expanded to a Quintet! - formed in tribute to late master clarinetist Bob Sparkman – has deep roots at Sevenars, beginning with Bob's collaborations with treasured pianist and composer Clifton J. "Jerry" Noble, Jr. ("Bob and Jerry"), later joined by the wonderfully versatile Kara Noble for bass and vocals. In 2023, after Bob departed this world, they added the inimitable Chris Devine on violin and flute and the extraordinary Jon Van Eps on percussion and thus became officially the Sparky Quartet. This year, guitarist Bob Ferrier joins to make it the Sparky Quintet, so please come and enjoy this newly expanded ensemble! Their playing, banter, and camaraderie are amazing and are always a big hit - so come enjoy the magic!

Sevenars concerts are presented on consecutive Sundays at 4:00 p.m. until August 16. Phone: (413) 238-5854 (please leave a message for a return call). Online: www.sevenars.org. Admission is by donation at the door (suggested $20). Refreshments will be available at no charge. 

The Classical Beat: Tanglewood, Sevenars Offer Thrilling Music and Performers

By Stephen DanknerSpecial to iBerkshires
11:16AM / Wednesday, August 05, 2026

With the second week of August, Tanglewood continues its high energy and innovative classical programming with three powerhouse concerts in the Shed – with highlights being especially illuminating, spiritual programs curated by Yo-Yo Ma in the Shed and in Ozawa Hall. Read below for all the details and performing artists appearing in these outstanding programs:

• Friday, August 7, 8:00 p.m. in the Shed: The Boston Symphony, led by Samy Rachlid, with Renaud Capucon, violin, Yo-Yo Ma, cello, and the Berkshire Lyric Chorus directed by Jack Brown present a program entitled "Gratitude and Friendship." Featured works by composers Gabriel Fauré ('Cantique de Jean Racine',) Brahms (String Sextet No. 2 in G, Op. 36,) and concluding with Brahms' rarely-performed Double Concerto for violin, cello and orchestra, Op. 102.  
• Saturday, August 8, 8:00 p.m. in the Shed:  This very special concert presents a journey in words and music we all share in our co-mingled American present: the land, both our individual and collective stories, and the ideals that motivate us. Together with the BSO and special guest musicians and artists, this program reflects the triumphs, tragedies and possibilities of our country. Featured performers include conductors Teddy Abrams and Ken-David Masur, vocalists Aofie O'Donovan and Jennifer Kreisberg, and members of  "An American Journey," with Yo-Yo Ma and Friends.
• Sunday, August 9, 2:30 p.m. in the Shed: A program entitled "Our Future Together" presents music by John Tavener, Kayhan Kalhor and Osvaldo Golijov. Featured performers include conductors Samy Rachlid and Anna Handler, cellists Yo-Yo Ma, Karen Ouzounian, and Christine Lee, vocalist Arooj Aftab, Kayhan Kalhor, karmancheh (an ancient traditional bowed Persian stringed instrument,) and the Boston University Tanglewood Chorus.
• Monday, August 10, 8:00 p.m. in Ozawa Hall: The Tanglewood Music Festival Orchestra, featuring TMC Conducting Fellows and TMC Vocalists, presents a program of American Opera, with works composed by Copland ('The Tender Land,') Tania Leon ('Scourge of the Hyacinths,') John Adams ('El Nino,') John Harbison ('The Great Gatsby,') Osvaldo Golijov ('Ainadamar,') Missy Mazzoli ('Proving Up') and Stravinsky ('The Rake's Progress'.)

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

Sevenars presents an electrifying piano virtuoso

Founded in 1968, Sevenars Concerts, Inc., is celebrating its 58th season of six summer concerts, held at the Academy - now air-conditioned – a building designated "an acoustic gem in an idyllic setting," located in the  historic village of South Worthington,15 Ireland Street, off MA Route 112.

Sevenars is delighted to welcome back prizewinning virtuoso Junwen Liang, performing a stunningly varied American program entitled  "Echoes Across Horizons: American Voices in Classical Piano." 

Junwen graduated with a Graduate Performance Diploma from the Peabody Institute of Johns Hopkins University, under the tutelage of Richard Goode. See Junwenliangpianist.com for more about this wonderful artist.

He'll bring Sevenars a stunningly varied program, including music of Amy Beach, Florence Price, Tan Dun, Stephen Dankner, and the rare and masterful Sonata by Paul Aurandt, (sometimes described as a musical successor to Rachmaninoff) - along with other surprises! 

Sevenars concerts are presented on consecutive Sundays at 4:00 p.m. until August 16. Phone: (413) 238-5854 (please leave a message for a return call). Online: www.sevenars.org. Admission is by donation at the door (suggested $20). Refreshments will be available at no charge.