The Classical Beat: Look For a Profusion of Events at Tanglewood From Fall and Into Next Spring
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| Tanglewood Learning Institute - photo by Rawn |
LENOX, Mass. — Come late August, classical aficionados are grateful for the cornucopia of extraordinarily sonorous riches the Boston Symphony has bestowed upon audiences within the incomparably bucolic setting that is Tanglewood. It's been, as ever, a magical summer of glorious music making.
But wait – it's not over; for a cool, refreshing stylistic change of pace, with a tincture of Jazz, Broadway, Dance, Classical, Pops and Local Community events to buoy the spirits, be sure to check out the complete schedule of upcoming events at the storied Tanglewood Learning Institute, beginning in September. Read below for the complete TLI listings.
Tanglewood Learning Institute Announces Fall/Winter/Spring Season, Presenting Over 50 Events September 2026 through May 2027
TLI's most expansive season to date brings classical, jazz, Broadway, and dance talent to Tanglewood's Linde Center. Tickets now on sale.
The Tanglewood Learning Institute (TLI) has announced the 2026–'27 fall/winter/spring season, the most expansive yet, with over 50 events at the Linde Center for Music and Learning on Tanglewood's campus and in the Berkshires community. Marking the third year of year-round TLI programming, the upcoming season offers a wide-ranging performance lineup of exciting classical, jazz, Broadway, and dance talent as well as the TLI Cinematics film series, new TLI Focal Point photography classes, and community engagement events.
The season begins in late September with TLI Jazz: Mark G. Meadows & The Movement (Sept. 18) and TLI Presents: Beijing Guitar Duo (Sept. 25). Berkshire-based artists appear throughout the season, including a dedicated weekend of TLI Close to Home performances (Oct. 30–Nov. 1). BSO musicians curate and perform five TLI Chamber Concerts (Oct. 18, Nov. 8, Feb. 28, April 11, and April 25). Last year's inaugural Berkshire Bach Portals series, a collaboration with Berkshire Bach Society, continues with four programs about the impact of Bach's music across artistic disciplines (Nov. 7, Jan. 30, March 20, and May 15). As currently planned, the TLI fall/winter/spring season concludes May 23 with a performance by Grammy-winning vocal ensemble Roomful of Teeth. TLI events continue during the 2027 Tanglewood summer season.
Single tickets and choose-your-own subscriptions for the upcoming TLI season go on sale Wednesday, August 12 at 10 a.m.
TLI Presents
A wide-ranging lineup of soloists and ensembles will visit the Linde Center for TLI Presents programs, beginning with the Tanglewood debut of the Beijing Guitar Duo (Meng Su and Yameng Wang) in a program that shows the expressive range of classical guitar and includes works by Telemann, Giuliani, and Chinese American composer Tan Dun (Sept. 25, 7 p.m.). Award-winning Moldovan accordionist Radu Ratoi follows with a varied recital that reveals the remarkable expressive range of his instrument with pieces by Rameau, Bach, Philip Glass, Gubaidulina, Tchaikovsky, and others (Oct. 23, 7 p.m.).
Broadway comes to the Linde Center by way of two-time Tony-nominated singer and actress Christine Andreas ("My Fair Lady," "Oklahoma!," "The Light in the Piazza"), who brings classic and contemporary selections from the American songbook in her show S'Wonderful with Grammy-nominated composer and pianist Martin Silvestri. In a new format for TLI, this event will feature cabaret-style table seating with bites and beverages available for purchase (Nov. 13, 7 p.m.). Later that weekend, the Grammy-winning and four-time nominated wind quintet Imani Winds, renowned for blending classical masterworks with newly commissioned works and diverse musical influences, performs an adventurous chamber music program (Nov. 15, 3 p.m.)
Founded by retired Boston Ballet principal dancer John Lam, who led TLI 101: Dance at the Linde Center in July, Lam Dance Works returns to Tanglewood for an intimate evening where dance, live music, and the human voice illuminate memory, identity, and our shared humanity. The program features works by internationally acclaimed choreographers Peggy Baker, Jorma Elo, and Yury Yanowsky, with Artistic Director Lam offering audience insights before each work and a post-performance conversation with the artists. (Nov. 21, 7 p.m.).
Newly installed as a Berkshire tradition, BSO Holiday Brass returns to the Linde Center for four presentations, including a morning performance geared towards families (Dec. 18–20).
Colombian cellist Santiago Cañón-Valencia, Silver Medalist and "Audience Favorite" at the 2019 XVI International Tchaikovsky Competition, presents a recital that pairs music by Bach and George Crumb with several of his own compositions (Feb. 26, 7 p.m.). Concert pianists Alessio Bax and Lucille Chung, each in-demand soloists in their own right, offer an afternoon concert featuring repertoire for four hands, including works by Bach, Mendelssohn, Debussy, Poulenc, and Piazzolla (March 7, 3 p.m.).
Actor and singer Jarrod Spector, most recently seen on Broadway as King George III in "Hamilton," shares his musical journey in "Jukebox Life," a cabaret-style evening of Broadway, rock n' roll, and crooner classics that traces his career from winning "Star Search" at age six to the bright lights of Broadway (April 9, 7 p.m.).
In a highlight of the season, pianist and composer Conrad Tao and choreographer and dancer Caleb Teicher give two performances of their collaborative and original program Counterpoint. The stylistically diverse music of "Counterpoint" includes the Aria from Bach’s Goldberg Variations, Art Tatum’s brilliantly virtuosic stride piano, Arnold Schoenberg’s ironic/modernistic take on the Viennese waltz, a delicate miniature from Tao and Teicher’s More Forever, and threading it all together, Gershwin’s perennially beloved "Rhapsody in Blue." Tao and Teicher’s earlier work," More Forever," is a Bessie Award-winning, New York Times critic’s pick which was lauded for "constantly extending the sonic aspects of dance" (April 17, 7 p.m., and April 18, 3 p.m.).
Grammy-nominated violinist, speaker, and founder of Street Symphony Vijay Gupta is joined by violinist Gabriela Díaz, violist Ed Gazouleas, and cellist Francesca McNeeley for a program of music for string quartet by Shostakovich, Osvaldo Golijov, and Schubert (May 8, 7 p.m.).
For the second year, TLI Presents collaborates with The Birch Festival, a Berkshire-based nonprofit dedicated to connecting world-class musicians with the local community, for a concert centered around a landmark of 20th-century American music: Lou Harrison's Concerto for Violin and Percussion Orchestra. Featuring Birch Festival Artistic Director and violinist Yevgeny Kutik and Boston Conservatory at Berklee’s nationally recognized percussion ensemble, this exhilarating work offers a captivating blend of lyrical beauty, infectious energy, and striking sonic invention (May 14, 7 p.m.).
Two-time Grammy-winning 11-member experimental vocal ensemble Roomful of Teeth make their Tanglewood debut for the final event of the 2026–27 TLI season. Renowned for their fearless artistry and breathtaking virtuosity, the ensemble has premiered more than 100 new works by today's avant-garde composers and has captivated audiences at Carnegie Hall, the Philharmonie de Paris and beyond (May 23, 3 p.m.).
TLI Jazz
Launched last season, the TLI Jazz series continues with exciting vocal and instrumental jazz performances, including seasonal offerings for the winter holidays and Valentine's Day.
Acclaimed jazz composer, pianist, music director, vocalist, and actor Mark G. Meadows and his band The Movement kick off the 2026–27 TLI season with a joyful program that includes Stevie Wonder hits, jazz standards, and Meadows’ original music (Sept. 18, 7 p.m.). Meadows makes his Tanglewood debut this summer as music director for Cynthia Erivo's performance with the Boston Pops on August 21.
Three-time Grammy award-winning jazz drummer Ulysses Owens Jr. returns to Tanglewood with his band Generation Y following last season’s electrifying debut. Passionate about musical mentorship, Owens Jr. will work with local music students during his visit to the Berkshires (Oct. 16, 7 p.m.).
Acclaimed pianist and popular Tanglewood guest Ted Rosenthal and his Quartet (featuring Terell Stafford) play music from Rosenthal's latest album, The Good Old Days, released in May 2026. The final installment of his Trios in 4 Acts series, the album offers Rosenthal's own takes on such standards as "Maple Leaf Rag," "From This Moment On," and "Autumn in New York," as well as vibrant new original works (Nov. 27, 7 p.m.).
The Linde Center comes alive for the winter holidays with Marissa Mulder—Merry and Bright,a program of jazzy holiday classics celebrating the magic of the season with the three-time MAC Award and Noel Coward/Julie Wilson Award winner (Dec. 12, 7 p.m.). Valentine's Day weekend offers a special date night opportunity with two concerts by powerhouse vocalist, saxophonist, and former Jazz at Lincoln Center Orchestra member Camille Thurman, with table seating and food and beverage service available (Feb. 12 & 13, 7 p.m.).
Singer/songwriter and pianist Jon Regen, a protégé of the legendary pianist Kenny Barron, and his All-Star Quartet perform selections from his highly acclaimed 2026 album "Live in London," recorded at the London Jazz Festival (March 5, 7 p.m.). Three-time JUNO award-winning Canadian jazz singer Caity Gyorgy and her outstanding Trio follow with a program of timeless standards and irresistible originals channeling her fresh take on bebop and swing (April 3, 7 p.m.).
The TLI Jazz series concludes with the all-acoustic ensemble of international virtuosos, Django Festival Allstars, called "the best jazz show in town" by The Wall Street Journal and featuring Samson Schmitt (lead guitar), Ludovic Beier (accordion,) Pierre Blanchard (violin,) Antonio Licusati (bass,) and Francko Mehrstein (rhythm guitar) (May 12, 7 p.m.).
Berkshire Bach Portals
Berkshire Bach Portals, a collaboration between TLI and Berkshire Bach Society, is a quarterly series that explores creativity and the impact the music of J.S. Bach has had across artistic disciplines. Each Berkshire Bach Portal concludes with an interactive conversation between the presenters and the audience.
BBS Artistic Director Eugene Drucker appears throughout the Portals series, beginning with a book reading of his own 2007 historical fiction "The Savior," a story of a young violinist in Nazi Germany who is ordered to play for prisoners in a concentration camp. "The Savior" invokes the music of J.S. Bach, especially the Partita No. 2 in D minor, BWV 1004, which Drucker will perform live (Nov. 7, 3 p.m.).
The second Berkshire Bach Portals event pairs Working Musician—J.S. Bach Plays the Berkshires, a short film about BBS by documentarian Anthony Rossello, with a performance of Bach's sonatas for violin and harpsichord by Drucker and harpsichordist Kenneth Weiss (Jan. 30, 3 p.m.).
BBS and TLI celebrate Bach's 342nd birthday with master of ceremonies Bruce Adolphe, the original "Piano Puzzle," current resident lecturer and director of family concerts of the Chamber Music Society of Lincoln Center, and special friend of BBS. Adolphe presents an entertaining and thought-provoking program that enriches the way we hear Bach’s music (March 20, 3 p.m.).
For the final Berkshire Bach Portal, author Edward Klorman gives a reading of his 2025 book "Bach: The Cello Suites," which traces the history of the suites and the dance movements that Bach used, providing excellent scholarship for performers and general readers alike. Distinguished cellist Colin Carr joins to demonstrate some of the performance practice and compositional issues highlighted in the book and to perform two of Bach’s suites live (May 15, 3 p.m.).
TLI Chamber Concerts
TLI Chamber Concerts offer year-round audiences the opportunity to experience intimate performances with BSO musicians. These concerts feature everything from familiar favorites to new music by contemporary composers, often performed with special guests. This season, programs are planned for Oct. 18, Nov. 8, Feb. 28, April 11, and April 25 with repertoire and players to be announced at a later date.
Each TLI Chamber Concert also highlights a local mission-driven organization as part of TLI’s service organization initiative, In Concert with Community. Organizations featured this season include Berkshire United Way (Oct. 18), Pediatric Development Center (Nov. 8), Elder Services of Berkshire County, Inc. (Feb. 28), and Gould Farm (April 11).
TLI Cinematics
In collaboration with The Triplex Cinema and Berkshire International Film Festival, this season's TLI Cinematics series features three films, each featuring a well-known classical music artist or ensemble.
This season's TLI Cinematics film series begins with YUJA, a portrait of superstar pianist Yuja Wang by acclaimed filmmaker Lorna Tucker. The new documentary is an immersive portrait of an artist in flux, weaving together performance, memory, and reconstruction to explore the forces that shape Yuja and the woman she is still becoming (Nov. 14, 7 p.m.).
The following film, "Mahler in New York," is a sweeping, symphonic journey that follows the final, transformative years of one of Europe’s most influential composers who fled Vienna’s rising antisemitism to discover startling artistic rebirth in Manhattan. Lush musical performances, rare archival materials, and insights from conductors, scholars, historians, and descendants—including contributions from the Atlanta Symphony Orchestra—illuminate a story of reinvention, belonging, and the ever-resonant power of Mahler’s legacy in this unique film by director Hilan Warshaw, who leads a conversation after the screening (March 13, 7 p.m.).
The final TLI Cinematics screening, "Four Rational People," chronicles The Emerson String Quartet, one of the most beloved chamber music ensembles in classical music history. The 2025 documentary by Tristan Cook covers the quartet as they embark on their final season and recollect their unparalleled fifty-year history performing together. The screening is followed by a talkback with Cook and Emerson String Quartet violinist Eugene Drucker (May 1, 7 p.m.).
TLI Focal Point
TLI Focal Point photography classes, a popular summer offering at Tanglewood, continue this fall with outdoor photography sessions focused on golden hour photography (Sept. 18 & 25, 4:30 p.m.) and fall foliage (Oct. 16 & 18, 1 p.m.). Sheffield-based professional photographer and educator Thaddeus B. Kubis leads the classes.
Community Events
This season, TLI hosts several events specifically designed to engage with new audiences, build community, and foster a spirit of service.
For the third consecutive year, TLI and the Jewish Federation of the Berkshires co-sponsor a Community Yom HaShoah Commemoration for Holocaust Remembrance Day (May 2, 2 p.m.).
How to Obtain Tickets
Tickets to year-round TLI events are on sale and may be purchased online at bso.org or by calling the BSO Box Office at 888-266-1200. Tickets may also be purchased at the Tanglewood box office through the end of the summer season on September 6. Discounted student tickets are also available to many TLI performances.
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