Summer Means Tanglewood

The wonderful weather we’ve been enjoying means that spring is really here, summer is not far off, and for me that always means the great music at Tanglewood, in Lenox, MA.

In addition to performances, Saturday morning orchestra rehearsals are open, giving us a chance to witness the fine tuning of a performance. Sometimes this is even more fun than the final product, with occasional jokes from conductors, or flashes of temper.

In this 73rd season, Music Director James Levine will lead the Boston Symphony Orchestra in eight programs, including an all-Tchaikovsky season-opener on July 3; Brahms’s German Requiem, July 25;  and Mahler’s Symphony No. 6, July 17. He also leads the Tanglewood Music Center performances of Mozart’s “Don Giovanni,†July 26; and Act III of Wagner’s “Die Meistersinger,†Act III, July 11.  

Michael Tilson Thomas will conduct on Aug. 14 and 23 with a special multi-media program, “The Tomashevksys: Music and Memories of a Life In the Yiddish Theater†on Aug. 19 and 20.

John Williams will host the popular Film Night, July 18; James Galway will celebrate his 70th birthday, July 30 and Aug. 1; and Andre Previn his 80th, Aug. 12,  15 and 16.

 In a first for Tanglewood, the incomparable James Taylor will be featured in a weekend of concerts and workshops Aug. 27 - 30.  

Other highlights include Diana Krall, July 4; and the season-ending Tanglewood Jazz Festival, Sept. 4 - 6.

The complete violin sonatas of Beethoven will be played by Christian Teztlaff July 5, 7 and 9. Other superb soloists include bass-baritone James Morris, July 11; cellist Yo-Yo Ma, Aug. 5, 6 and 9; pianists Jean-Yves Thibaudet, Aug. 15; Garrick Ohlsson, Aug. 16; and Leon Fleisher, July 17; and violinists Joshua Bell, July 12; Vadim Repin, July 31; and Gil Shaham, Aug. 22.

Celebrated ensembles include Jordi Savall’s period-instrument ensemble Le Concert des Nations, July 14 & 15; and the Juilliard Quartet’s all-Haydn program, June 28, marking the farewell performance of first violinist Joel Smirnoff.

Tanglewood on Parade on July 28 is a favorite event for music lovers of all ages, culminating in a special gala concert featuring the Boston Symphony, Boston Pops, and Tanglewood the                 Music  Center orchestras, led by James Levine, Keith Lockhart, John Williams, Rafael Frühbeck de Burgos, and Leonard Slatkin, followed by fireworks over Stockbridge Bowl. Garrison Keillor and the gang from Lake Wobegon return for their annual live broadcast of A Prairie Home Companion (June 27).

As always, the Festival of Contemporary Music will showcase the finest examples of what our living composers are up to, ranging from works by bright new talents in their 20’s to the world premiere of “Poems of Louis Zukofsky†by Elliott Carter, now in his 101st year.

[Marsden: MAYBE CUT THIS GRAPH IF YOU NEED TO:] Tanglewood and the Sterling and Francine Clark Art Institute are coming together this summer to offer a ticket package for patrons making the 45-minute drive between the two institutions. The $45 package includes two lawn tickets to concerts and two tickets for admission to the Clark.

For a full schedule and ticket information, visit www.bso.org and click on the Tanglewood link at the top of the page. Phone:  888-266-1200 OR 617-638-9289 (TDD/TTY). There is a $5.50 handling fee for phone orders.