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The Classical 'High Season' Bursts On The Scene
By Stephen Dankner, Special to iBerkshires.com
12:15PM / Wednesday, June 08, 2016
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The Tanglewood season runs from June 17 to Sept. 3.

It’s well known that the Berkshires and environs are a musical mecca for classical music lovers. With the upcoming tourist high season – from mid-June through October – concert activity increases exponentially, offering listeners a cornucopia of music to suit every taste.

Here’s a listing of three of the best-known series in the region and what to expect to hear, so you can make plans to experience the great music soon to be resounding within our resplendent hills and dales.

Tanglewood Music Festival

Tanglewood in Lenox, the world’s grandest and best outdoor summer music festival, is the summer home of the Boston Symphony. It offers performances from Friday, June 17, through Saturday, Sept. 3. This is Tanglewood’s 79th anniversary, and there is always a celebratory air to the concerts and auxiliary events.

Tanglewood’s claim to fame? It’s the preeminent marquee venue in which to experience great performances across virtually the entire spectrum of musical styles. From pop, rock, folk and jazz to classical chamber music, symphonic (with three orchestras), solo vocal, choral and opera – Tanglewood has it all.

Beginning June 17-25, popular artists will be featured in the large outdoor Music Shed and in Ozawa Hall, which is considered an acoustic marvel. Here’s a capsule listing of performances and events you won’t want to miss. Tickets for these popular concerts sell out quickly, so call or go online to reserve your seats now.

• Friday, June 17, 7 p.m. in the Shed: Singer/songwriter/superstar entertainer Dolly Parton stars as opening night headliner for Tanglewood’s 2016-summer festival season.

• Saturday, June 18, 7 p.m. in the Shed: The fabulous crossover (R&B, soul, funk, jazz, disco, pop, rock, Latin and African) band Earth, Wind & Fire.

• Sunday, June 19, 2:30 p.m. in the Shed: Brian Wilson of The Beach Boys presents “Pet Sounds” and other hits, with special guests Al Jardine and Blondie Chaplin. (Only lawn tickets are available).

• Tuesday, June 21, 7 p.m. in the Shed: Singer/songwriter Jackson Browne.

• Friday, June 24, 2-5 p.m. Tanglewood Family Fun Fest: Educational and family-oriented fun, games and entertainment-related activities for children of all ages.

• Friday, June 24, 8 p.m. in Ozawa Hall: Chris Botti – the world-famous trumpeter/composer/pop artist. (Only lawn tickets are available).

• Saturday, June 25, 5:45 p.m. in the Shed: “A Prairie Home Companion,” with host Garrison Keillor – live broadcast of the perennially popular radio show.

Tickets are on sale at 888-266-1200 or tanglewood.org.

Concerts at Tannery Pond

This gem of a series offers outstanding chamber music in a 19th century Shaker-built barn (the ‘Tannery’) located on the grounds of the Darrow School in New Lebanon, N.Y. Upcoming concerts include:

• Saturday, June 25, 8 p.m.: The Jasper String Quartet, with guest artist flautist Eugenia Zuckerman, performing works by Beethoven, Alberto Ginastera, Debussy and Arthur Foote.

• Saturday, July 16, 8 p.m.: Stephen Hough, pianist/composer, performing works by Schubert, Franck, Liszt and Hough.

• Saturday, Aug. 6, 8 p.m.: The Miró String Quartet, performing music by Brahms and Beethoven.

• Saturday, Aug. 27, 8 p.m.: The St. Lawrence String Quartet, performing works of Haydn, John Adams and Osvaldo Golijov.

• Saturday, Sept. 17, 6 p.m.: Axel Strauss (violin), Ilya Poletaev (piano) and Yegor Dyachkov (cello), performing music of Beethoven, Fauré and Sergei Taneyev.

Tannery Pond consistently presents exceptional chamber music performed in a historic building possessing outstanding acoustics and situated in a magnificent rural setting. Tickets available at 888-820-1696 or online at tannerypondconcerts.org.

Manchester Music Festival

The Manchester Music Festival, based in picturesque Manchester, Vt., will be celebrating its 42nd anniversary this summer. Its mission is to produce classical music concerts throughout the year. These include seven summer concerts presented on the bucolic campus of the Southern Vermont Arts Center as well as others in various local venues.

MMF concerts are always thrilling to hear and to experience, both in terms of repertoire and the level of musical artistry of their gifted performers. As a result, the Festival has cultivated a devoted and enthusiastic following over many years.

The MMF hosts renowned musicians and operates a full-scholarship summer chamber music program for pre-professional performers. For children, MMF operates the Michael Rudiakov Music Academy and a youth ensemble for string players.

The Festival also presents free concerts and residencies to local schools, and each July offers their Music Discovery Week, where children can take a week of instrumental lessons with an instrumentalist/member of their Young Artists Program.

Upcoming concert dates are from July 7-Aug. 18. For complete information, visit the Manchester Music Festival’s website at www.mmfvt.org/concerts or contact the MMF by phone at 802-362-1956.

Stephen Dankner is a composer, writer and digital artist in Williamstown. Send your comments to him at sdankner@earthlink.net, or visit his website stephendankner.com.

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