Change of Plan for July 11 Music Mountain Concert

Change of Plan for July 11  Music Mountain Concert
The Balourdet String Quartet from Boston, Mass., will step in for the Juilliard Quartet at Music Mountain on July 11. 
Photo by Stephen Barton ​

One thing COVID-19 taught us all was the need to be flexible; and one challenge arts venues had was the need to book performances well in advance, not only so they could do publicity but also so the performers could create a logical schedule for themselves. 

But the best-laid plans etc. and etc., and so Music Mountain in Falls Village, Conn., home to world-class chamber music concerts in an intimate setting, had a significant change to its schedule on the eve of its season opener on July 4 weekend. 

The Juilliard Quartet, one of America’s most famous and most venerable chamber music groups, was originally scheduled for Sunday, July 11. The personnel in the quartet is now all  young musicians; none of the original quartet members is still touring. But accidents can happen, even with young folks, and one member of the quartet has had one that will cancel the group’s engagement here in the Northwest Corner.

Music Mountain is putting a positive spin on the change, with its June 29 announcement: “Thirty-two years ago, when the renowned Juilliard String Quartet had a last-minute cancellation at Music Mountain, a young, unknown quartet took the stage. Their performance was a riveting success, and the quartet has returned to Music Mountain every summer since by popular demand. They were the Shanghai Quartet, now performing at Music Mountain’s 92nd Season Opening Concert on July 4, a not-to-be-missed event.  

“On July 11, history may be about to repeat itself. A dramatic event has forced the Juilliard String Quartet to cancel at the last minute, and a young quartet, the Balourdet String Quartet, will take the stage.”

The Balourdet quartet is based in Boston, Mass., and has won numerous grands prix this year in competitions around the world. 

They will present a crowd-pleasing menu of music by Mozart, Debussy and Brahms. 

The July 11 concert will be a benefit for the Music Mountain Academy, a training and mentorship program for young chamber ensembles. 

Tickets are $60; children 5-18 are admitted free to all concerts when accompanied by a ticket holder. 

Sunday afternoon Chamber Music concerts start at 3 p.m. and last approximately two hours, with a 20-minute intermission. Ticket holders are welcome to bring a picnic and dine on the lawn before the concert.

 

For more information, go to www.musicmountain.org or call 860-824-7126.

Latest News

Joseph Robert Meehan

SALISBURY — Joseph Robert Meehan the 2nd,photographer, college professor and nearly 50 year resident of Salisbury, passed away peacefully at Noble Horizon on June 17, 2025. He was 83.

He was the son of Joseph Meehan the 1st and his mother, Anna Burawa of Levittown, New York, and sister Joanne, of Montgomery, New York.

Keep ReadingShow less
Florence Olive Zutter Murphy

STANFORDVILLE, New York — It is with profound sadness that we announce the passing of Florence Olive Zutter Murphy, who went home to be with the Lord on June 16, 2025, at the age of 99.

She was born in Sharon, Connecticut on Nov. 20, 1925, and was a long time resident of the Dutchess County area.

Keep ReadingShow less
Chore Service hosts annual garden party fundraiser

Chore Service hosted 250 supporters at it’s annual Garden Party fundraiser.

Bob Ellwood

On Saturday, June 21, Mort Klaus, longtime Sharon resident, hosted 250 enthusiastic supporters of Northwest Corner’s beloved nonprofit, Chore Service at his stunning 175-acre property. Chore Service provides essential non-medical support to help older adults and those with disabilities maintain their independence and quality of life in their own homes.

Jane MacLaren, Executive Director, and Dolores Perotti, Board President, personally welcomed arriving attendees. The well-stocked bar and enticing hors d’oeuvres table were popular destinations as the crowd waited for the afternoon’s presentations.

Keep ReadingShow less
Bach and beyond
The Berkshire Bach Society (BBS) of Stockbridge will present a concert by cellist Dane Johansen on June 28 at St. Paul’s Episcopal Church.
Provided

The mission statement of the Berkshire Bach Society (BBS) reads: “Our mission is to preserve the cultural legacy of Baroque music for current and future audiences — local, national, and international — by presenting the music of J.S. Bach, his Baroque predecessors, contemporaries, and followers performed by world-class musicians.”

Its mission will once again be fulfilled by presenting a concert featuring Dane Johansen on June 28 at St. Paul’s Episcopal Church at 29 Main Street, in Stockbridge, Massachusetts.

Keep ReadingShow less