Tanglewood Classical Season Opens; Taconic BlossomsBy Stephen Dankner, Special to iBerkshires
01:38PM / Thursday, July 05, 2018 | |
 Guest artists the Horszowski Trio (Jesse Mills, Raman Ramakrishnan, and pianist Rieko Aizawa) will perform in Manchester, Vt., this week. |
Austrian pianist Rudolf Buchbinder is playing at Tanglewood.
Tanglewood opens its classical season this week, with diverse and stimulating programming of classical and modern chamber and orchestral masterworks spanning three centuries, featuring Boston Symphony Conductor Andris Nelsons and the brilliant pianist Lang Lang. There’s diverse musical fare, from Mozart, Brahms and Richard Strauss to Shostakovich, Stravinsky and Leonard Bernstein.
For intimate and brilliantly performed chamber music, head north on Route 7 to Manchester, Vt., for Taconic Music. Finally, consider spectacular Sevenars Concerts in Worthington, Mass. Their celebratory 50th anniversary seven-week festival season opens on July 8.
There’s so much music to experience in our culturally rich corner of the world! Read on for the details.
Tanglewood
Why go? Simply because the amazing range of great music can, and should, be enjoyed by all music lovers. BSO Music Director Andris Nelsons takes center stage in the Shed and in Ozawa Hall for three spectacular orchestral programs – two with the Boston Symphony, the third with the gifted instrumental Fellows of the brilliant Tanglewood Music Center Orchestra in their first concert of this year’s festival season.
• Thursday, July 5, 8 p.m. in Ozawa Hall: The Boston Symphony Chamber Players present their annual Tanglewood performance, joined in Ozawa Hall by the distinguished Austrian pianist Rudolf Buchbinder for Mozart’s Quintet in E-flat, K. 452 for piano and winds, and Schumann’s buoyant Piano Quintet in E-flat, Op. 44, one of the masterpieces of the genre. The program also includes Leonard Bernstein’s “Variations on an Octatonic Scale,” for flute and cello - one of his final compositions, and Moisey Weinberg’s Sonata for solo double bass, Op. 108.
• Friday, July 6, 8 p.m. in the Shed, “Opening Night at Tanglewood”: Maestro Andris Nelsons and the Boston Symphony Orchestra open the 2018 Tanglewood season with a performance featuring superstar pianist Lang Lang performing Mozart’s Piano Concerto No. 24 on a program with the composer’s Overture to “The Magic Flute” and Tchaikovsky’s stirring Symphony No. 5.
• Sunday, July 8, 2:30 p.m. in the Shed: Maestro Nelsons returns to the podium to lead the BSO in Brahms Piano Concerto No. 1 with the superb pianist Rudolph Buchbinder performing Brahms’ magisterial Piano Concerto No. 1 in D Minor, Op. 15. The concert concludes with Dmitry Shostakovich’s powerful, yet mystical Symphony No. 5.
• Monday, July 9, 8 p.m. in Ozawa Hall: Nelsons, along with Tanglewood Music Center conducting Fellows, leads the TMC Orchestra in a concert of works by Smetana, Dvorak and Richard Strauss (the astounding “Ein Heldenleben”,) as well as Leonard Bernstein’s “Opening Prayer” (‘Benediction’).
For tickets for all Tanglewood/BSO concerts (lawn and Shed seating) and special events, call 617-266-1200 or 888-266-1200 (TDD/TTY at 617-638-9289). For local information, call 413-637-1600. You can also order tickets and get information online.
$20 tickets for attendees under 40, one of the BSO’s most popular discount ticket offers, will be available for select BSO and Boston Pops performances in the Shed. In addition, Tanglewood continues to offer free lawn tickets to young people age 17 and under, as well as a variety of special programs for children, including Kids’ Corner, Watch and Play, and the Young People’s Concert on Friday, Aug. 10.
Sevenars Music Festival
Sevenars is excited to announce its 50th season of summer concerts, which are presented each Sunday through Aug.19 at 4 p.m.
Why go? This season returns to its roots, with the Schrade and James families performing, while also presenting distinguished guest composer/performers and touring artists. Performing members of the Sevenars Schrade/James family include pianist Rorianne Schrade, daughter of founders Robert and Rolande, who first joined the concerts at age five and who recently returned to concertizing at Weill Hall, at Carnegie Hall this past season, and David James, one of New Zealand’s most prominent pianists, who joined Sevenars in 1976, shortly before he married Robelyn Schrade. The third generation of this musical family includes David and Robelyn’s daughter, pianist Lynelle James and son Christopher James, cellist, who has been highly praised for his performances.
• Sunday, July 8, 4:00 p.m., Sevenars 50th anniversary opening concert:Join members of the Schrade and James family of musicians, along with Emmy-winning TV journalist/flutist Magee Hickey in celebrating the opening of Sevenars 50th anniversary season. The program will include piano, cello, flute, solo, and duo works by Bach, Chopin, Ravel and others.
All concerts are presented at the Academy, located at 15 Ireland Street just off Route 112, South Worthington, Mass. Admission is by donation at the door (suggested $20). Post-concert refreshments are offered. Call 413-238-5854 or go online for info.
Taconic Music
Taconic Music’s third week of its Summer Festival features a masterclass with guest ensemble the Horszowski Piano Trio and a concert showcasing masterworks by Mozart, Maurice Ravel and Ralph Vaughn Williams.
Why go? Taconic Music is a unique and engaging music festival, with outstanding and convivial young guest artists sharing center stage with both Taconic artist/faculty and gifted young performers-in-residence interpreting classical masterpieces from across the stylistic spectrum.
• Friday, July 6, 2-4 p.m. at Zion Episcopal Church in Manchester Center, 5167 Main St.: Guest artists the Horszowski Trio (Jesse Mills, Raman Ramakrishnan, and pianist Rieko Aizawa) will direct a chamber music masterclass with student ensembles from Taconic Music’s Chamber Music Intensive - talented college and post-graduate musicians who are in residence for four weeks, studying chamber music with Taconic Music’s artist/faculty.
• Saturday, July 7, at 7:30 p.m.: The third concert of TM’s Summer Festival series, which takes place at Burr and Burton’s Riley Center for the Arts in Manchester Village, showcases three masterpieces of the chamber music literature. The concert begins with Mozart’s rich and dramatic string quintet in C Minor. Guest artists the Horszowski Trio will be joined for the Mozart quintet by Taconic Music’s Artistic Directors violinist Joana Genova and violist Ariel Rudiakov, and Horszowski Trio guest pianist Amadi Azikiwe. Following the Mozart, the Horszowski Trio will perform Ravel’s rhapsodic Piano Trio in A Minor. This Trio, composed in 1914, is filled with groundbreaking and exotic inspirations drawn from Asian culture, among other influences, including the era’s predominant French Impressionist style, creating for the listener a spellbinding journey from beginning to end.
The second half of the concert features music by the early 20th century English composer Ralph Vaughan Williams, who, interestingly, was a student of the younger Ravel in the art of orchestration. The composer creates an epic sonic journey with his Quintet for Piano and Strings, composed in 1903, which is unusual in that it is scored for violin, viola, cello, piano and contrabass. Contrabassist Steven Moran joins Ms. Genova, Mr. Rudiakov and members of the Horszowski Trio.
Admission to masterclasses and open dress rehearsals is $10 at the door. Admission to Festival concerts is $25 for adults, $10 for students and kids; advance purchase discount for adult admission is available. For more information on concerts, tickets, and Taconic Music’s year-round programs, visit the website or call 802-362-7162.
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