Article by Dave Read

On Friday, August 15 Maestro Stephane Deneve conducts the BSO in music by Beethoven and Prokofiev, with Emanuel Ax as soloist in Beethoven’s ever-popular Piano Concerto No. 5, Emperor. After intermission, the Tanglewood Festival Chorus and mezzo-soprano Elena Manistina join the BSO for Prokofiev’s Alexander Nevsky cantata, music originally written for Sergei Eisenstein’s film of the same name.

There will be a complete concert presentation of Bernstein’s Candide on Saturday, August 16, with Bramwell Tovey leading the BSO and Tanglewood Festival Chorus, with vocalists soprano Anna Christy, mezzo-sopranos Kathryn Leemhuis and Frederica von Stade, tenors Nicolas Phan and Beau Gibson, and baritones Paul LaRosa and Richard Suart, as well as vocal soloists from the Tanglewood Music Center.

Swiss conductor Charles Dutoit leads the Tanglewood Music Center Orchestra on Sunday, August 17, for the Leonard Bernstein Memorial Concert. The TMC Fellows perform an all-Russian program featuring Stravinsky’s Scherzo fantastique and the complete ballet score for The Firebird, as well as Rachmaninoff’s Piano Concerto No. 3, with Russian pianist Nikolai Lugansky. Later the same day in Ozawa Hall, Ellis Marsalis, Jr. and his son Delfeayo Marsalis perform works from their first collaborative album, The Last Southern Gentlemen.

Friday, August 15, 6 p.m. Ozawa Hall, Prelude Concert
Friday, August 15, 7:15 p.m. Shed, Members of the Boston Symphony Orchestra
This Week at Tanglewood, Panel discussion with moderator Martin Bookspan and guest artists

Friday, August 15, 8:30 p.m. Shed

• Boston Symphony Orchestra
• Stephane Deneve, conductor
• Emanuel Ax, piano
• Elena Manistina, mezzo-soprano
• Tanglewood Festival Chorus, John Oliver, conductor
• BEETHOVEN Piano Concerto No. 5, Emperor
• PROKOFIEV Alexander Nevsky

Saturday, August 16, 9:30 a.m. Shed, Pre-Rehearsal Talk
Saturday, August 16, 10:30 a.m. Shed, Rehearsal, Saturday program

Saturday, August 16, 8:30 p.m. Shed

• Boston Symphony Orchestra
• Bramwell Tovey, conductor
• Nicholas Phan, tenor (Candide)
• Anna Christy, soprano (Cunegonde)
• Kathryn Leemhuis, mezzo-soprano (Paquette)
• Frederica von Stade, mezzo-soprano (Old Lady)
• Beau Gibson, tenor (Governor, Vanderdendur, Ragotski)
• Paul LaRosa, baritone (Maximilian, Captain)
• Richard Suart, baritone (Voltaire, Pangloss, Martin,Cacambo)
• TMC vocal soloists
• Tanglewood Festival Chorus, John Oliver, conductor
• BERNSTEIN Candide, Concert performance sung in English

Sunday, August 17, 2:30 p.m. Shed

• The Leonard Bernstein Memorial Concert
• Tanglewood Music Center Orchestra
• Charles Dutoit, conductor
• Nikolai Lugansky, piano
• STRAVINSKY Scherzo fantastique
• RACHMANINOFF Piano Concerto No. 3
• STRAVINSKY The Firebird (complete)

The Last Southern Gentlemen, Ellis and Delfeayo Marsalis Sunday, August 17, 8 p.m. Ozawa Hall

The Last Southern Gentlemen is a landmark recording for Delfeayo Marsalis – for the first time, a pairing of father Ellis Marsalis, Jr. with Delfeayo on a collaborative album. This concert will feature songs from the album including both standards and original compositions. Built on the intimacy of American ballads and the trombone’s expressive mimicry of the human voice, The Last Southern Gentlemen is a firm acknowledgement of the existence and importance of these sweet, gentle sounds.

Tanglewood program highlights August 15-21, 2014

Emanuel Ax joins The BSO August 15 for Beethoven’s Emperor Concerto; Bramwell Tovey leads The BSO, Tanglewood Festival Chorus, and singers in Bernstein’s Candide, August 16; Nikolai Lugansky joins Charles Dutoit For Rachmaninoff’s Piano Concerto No. 3 on a program featuring Stravinsky’s Firebird, August 17; Ellis And Delfeayo Marsalis perform works From The Last Southern Gentlemen, August 17, 2014.

Article by Dave Read

The 2014 Tanglewood season winds down by twisting up when the Boston Pops and Keith Lockhart perform Oz with Orchestra in the Shed on Friday August 22. The Wizard of Oz has been re-mastered for accompaniment by a full symphony orchestra playing new transcriptions of Harold Arlen’s lost scores.

Charles Dutoit returns to the podium on Saturday, August 23, and Sunday, August 24, to lead the Boston Symphony Orchestra’s final two concerts of the 2014 Tanglewood season. An Italian-themed program on August 23 begins with Berlioz’s Roman Carnival Overture and continues with Rachmaninoff’s Rhapsody on a Theme of Paganini, featuring pianist Kirill Gerstein as soloist. Completing the program are Respighi’s tone poems: Roman Festivals, Fountains of Rome, and Pines of Rome.

Tanglewood’s annual Family Concert is slated for Aug. 23 2:30 p.m. in Ozawa Hall. Then, on August 24, the BSO’s Tanglewood season comes to a close with its traditional performance of Beethoven’s Symphony No. 9. The final concert this year includes Beethoven’s Choral Fantasy, with pianist Yefim Bronfman accompanying the Tanglewood Festival Chorus. Vocal soloists include sopranos Nicole Cabell and Meredith Hansen, mezzo-soprano Tamara Mumford, tenors Noah Stewart and Alex Richardson, and bass-baritone John Relyea.

On Sunday Aug. 24, the Maria Schneider Orchestra performs an 8 p.m. concert in Ozawa Hall.

On Thursday, August 28, radio program Wait Wait… Don’t Tell Me! will be recorded in the Shed for broadcast to its weekly audience of 3.2 million weekly listeners on more than 600 NPR stations nationwide.

The Aug. 30 concert with the Boston Pops Esplanade Orchestra, conductor Keith Lockhart, members of the Tanglewood Festival Chorus, and Josh Groban are the last entry on the Tanglewood 2014 schedule.

Friday, August 22, 6 p.m. Ozawa Hall
Prelude Concert Tanglewood Festival Chorus, John Oliver, conductor
Friday, August 22, 7:15 p.m. Shed, This Week at Tanglewood
Panel discussion with moderator Martin Bookspan and guest artists

Friday, August 22, 8:30 p.m. Shed

• Boston Pops Orchestra
• Keith Lockhart, conductor

Oz with Orchestra

• The Wizard of Oz

Friday, August 22, 10:30 a.m. Shed Rehearsal, Sunday program
Friday, August 22, 2:30 p.m. Ozawa Hall, Family Concert

Saturdy, August 23, 8:30 p.m. Shed

• Boston Symphony Orchestra
• Charles Dutoit, conductor
• Kirill Gerstein, piano
• BERLIOZ Roman Carnival Overture
• RACHMANINOFF Rhapsody on a Theme of Paganini
• RESPIGHI Roman Festivals; Fountains of Rome; Pines of Rome

Sunday, August 24, 2:30 p.m. Shed

• Boston Symphony Orchestra
• Charles Dutoit, conductor
• Yefim Bronfman, piano
• Nicole Cabell and Meredith Hansen, sopranos
• Tamara Mumford, mezzo-soprano
• Noah Stewart and Alex Richardson, tenors
• John Relyea, bass-baritone
• Tanglewood Festival Chorus, John Oliver, conductor
• BEETHOVEN Choral Fantasy
• BEETHOVEN Symphony No. 9

Sunday, August 24, 8 p.m. Ozawa Hall

Maria Schneider Orchestra

Thursday, August 28, 8 p.m. Shed

• Wait Wait…Don’t Tell Me!
• Peter Sagal, Carl Kassell.

Saturday, August 30, 7 p.m. Shed

• Boston Pops Esplanade Orchestra
• Keith Lockhart, conductor
• Josh Groban, vocalist
• Members of the Tanglewood Festival Chorus, John Oliver, conductor

Tanglewood program August 22-30, 2014

Keith Lockhart the Boston Pops play The Wizard Of Oz, August 22; Charles Dutoit leads the BSO In Berlioz, Rachmaninoff, and Respighi, August 23, Beethoven’s Symphony No. 9, August 24; Maria Schneider Orchestra in Ozawa Hall, August 24; Wait Wait…don’t Tell Me! on August 28; Josh Groban with Maestro Lockhart And The Pops, August 30, 2014.

Nov. 23, 2013 article by Dave Read

A Prairie Home Companion, with Garrison Keillor makes its 15th consecutive visit to the Berkshires for a live broadcast from the Koussevitsky Music Shed at Tanglewood on June 28, 2014. Mr. Keillor has become a beloved and familiar figure here, especially because of his customary pre-show serenade among picnicers on the Lawn and encore singalongs with the program’s musical guests that can last up to 2 hours.

The first time A Prairie Home Companion was broadcast at Tanglewood will always be remembered for the performance of the Berkshire Highlanders, the local band of bagpipers and drummers that also used to be audience favorites during Tanglewood on Parade. How could a show with Arlo Guthrie and Steve Martin with the Steep Canyon Rangers as musical guests ever be far from the top of your favorites list?
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A Prairie Home Companion at Tanglewood quiz

Here is the Tanglewood 2013 daily schedule of concerts and special events, listing all Boston Symphony Orchestra, Boston Pops, popular artists, and Tanglewood Music Center concerts. Tanglewood has been a leading cultural attraction for a long time and after a triumphant 75th season in the Berkshires last year, the following roster of concerts and special events looks very promising, even with James Taylor on sabbatical! More to download (PDF): 2013 Tanglewood brochure.

June 2013 Tanglewood schedule

• Melissa Etheridge with Special Guest Eric Hutchinson – June 21, 2013 – 7pm – Shed
• The Boston Pops performs a Jerry Garcia Symphonic Celebration – June 22, 2013 – 8:30pm – Shed
• Joan Baez and the Indigo Girls – June 23, 2013 – 2:30pm – Shed
• Tanglewood Family Fun Fest – June 28, 2013 – 3pm – Register here
• Terence Blanchard Group – June 28, 2013 – 8pm – Ozawa Hall
• A Prairie Home Companion at Tanglewood with Garrison Keillor – June 29, 2013 – 5:45pm – Shed
• Tanglewood Music Center – Brass Extravaganza – June 30, 2013 – 10am

July 2013 Tanglewood schedule

• TMC String Quartet Marathon – July 1, 2013 – 11am
• Tanglewood Music Center – Vocal Concert – July 3, 2013 – 70pm
• Jackson Browne with special guest Sara Watkins – July 4, 2013 – 7pm – Shed
• Opening Night at Tanglewood: All-Tchaikovsky Program – July 5, 2013 – 8:30pm – Shed
• Mahler Symphony No. 3 – July 6, 2013 – 8:30pm – Shed
• Tanglewood Music Center – Chamber Concert – July 7, 2013 – 10am
• Boston Pops Orchestra – July 7, 2013 – 2:30pm – Shed
• Tanglewood Music Center Orchestra – July 8, 2013 – 8pm – Ozawa Hall
• BSO 101: A Free Adult Education Series at Tanglewood on Wednesday Afternoons, – July 10, etc. – 12:45 – 2:00pm
• Tanglewood Music Center – Vocal Concert – July 10, 2013 – 8pm
• Harbison, The Great Gatsby – Orchestra and Chorus of Emmanuel Music – July 11, 2013 – 7:30pm – Ozawa Hall
• Wagner, Ravel and Rimsky-Korsakov: Underscore Friday – July 12, 2013 – 8:30pm – Shed
• Bernstein West Side Story – July 13, 2013 – 8:30pm – Shed
• Tanglewood Music Center – Chamber Concert – July 14, 2013 – 10am
• Stravinsky, Haydn and Beethoven – July 14, 2013 – 2:30pm – Shed
• Tanglewood Music Center Orchestra – July 15, 2013 – 8pm – Ozawa Hall
• Borodin String Quartet – July 17, 2013 – 8pm – Ozawa Hall
• Bryn Terfel – July 18, 2013 – 8pm – Ozawa Hall
• Wagner, Liszt, and Brahms – July 19, 2013 – 8:30pm – Shed
• Wagner Die Walküre, Act 3 – July 20, 2013 – 2:30pm – Shed
• Tanglewood Music Center – Chamber Concert – July 21, 2013 – 10am
• Vivaldi, J.S. Bach and Telemann – July 21, 2013 – 2:30pm – Shed
• Vocal Concert – July 21, 2013 – 7pm
• Tanglewood Music Center Orchestra – July 22, 2013 – 8pm – Ozawa Hall
• Barenaked Ladies, Ben Folds Five and Guster – July 23, 2013 – 7pm – Shed
• BSO 101: A Free Adult Education Series at Tanglewood on Wednesday Afternoons, – July 24 – 12:45 – 2:00pm
• Mahler Chamber Orchestra – July 24, 2013 – 8pm – Ozawa Hall
• Garrick Ohlsson – July 25, 2013 – 8pm – Ozawa Hall
• All-Mozart Program – Berkshire Night – July 26, 2013 – 8:30pm – Shed
• Verdi Requiem – July 27, 2013 – 8:30pm – Shed
• Tanglewood Music Center – Chamber Concert – July 28, 2013 – 10am
• Dvorák and Prokofiev – July 28, 2013 – 2:30pm – Shed
• An Evening with Steve Miller Band – July 29, 2013 – 7pm – Shed
• Film Screening – MOTOMASA Sumidagawa – July 30, 2013 – 8pm – Theatre
• Mark Morris Dance Group and TMC Opera – July 31, 2013 – 8pm – Ozawa Hall

August 2013 Tanglewood schedule

• Mark Morris Dance Group and TMC Opera – Aug. 1, 2013 – 8pm – Ozawa Hall
• Strauss, Beethoven and Poulenc – UnderScore Friday – Aug. 2, 2013 – 8:30pm – Shed
• Ravel and Beethoven – Aug. 3, 2013 – 8:30pm – Shed
• Tanglewood Music Center – Chamber Concert – Aug. 4, 2013 – 10am
• Stravinsky and Dvo?ák, Yo Yo Ma – Aug. 4, 2013 – 2:30pm – Shed
• Esperanza Spalding – Aug. 4, 2013 – 8pm – Ozawa Hall
• Tanglewood on Parade – Aug. 6, 2013 – 8:30pm – Shed
• BSO 101: A Free Adult Education Series at Tanglewood on Wednesday Afternoons, – Aug. 7 – 12:45 – 2:00pm
• Christian Zacharias – Aug. 7, 2013 – 8pm – Ozawa Hall
• Festival of Contemporary Music – Chamber Orchestra – Aug. 8, 2013 – 8pm – Ozawa Hall
• Festival of Contemporary Music – Chamber Music – Aug. 9, 2013 – 2:30pm – Ozawa Hall
• Sibelius and Brahms – Aug. 9, 2013 – 8:30pm – Shed
• Beethoven, Carter, and Brahms – Aug. 10, 2013 – 8:30pm – Shed
• Festival of Contemporary Music, Chamber music – Aug. 11, 2013 – 10am
• All-Beethoven Program – Aug. 11, 2013 – 2:30pm – Shed
• Festival of Contemporary Music: Benjamin Written On Skin (U.S. premiere) – Aug. 12, 2013 – 8pm – Ozawa Hall
• Emerson String Quartet – Aug. 14, 2013 – 8pm – Ozawa Hall
• The Goat Rodeo Sessions – Aug. 15, 2013 – 8:30pm – Shed
• The Boston Pops Orchestra – Michael Feinstein and Friends – Aug. 16, 2013 – 8:30pm – Shed
• Mozart and Mahler – Aug. 17, 2013 – 8:30pm – Shed
• Tanglewood Music Center – Chamber Concert – Aug. 18, 2013 – 10am
• Mozart and Mahler – The Leonard Bernstein Memorial Concert – Aug. 18, 2013 – 2:30pm – Shed
• Grace Potter and the Nocturnals with very special guest Josh Ritter – Aug. 19, 2013 – 7pm – Shed
• Boston Symphony Chamber Players – Aug. 20, 2013 – 8pm – Ozawa Hall
• BSO 101: A Free Adult Education Series at Tanglewood – Aug. 21, 2013, 12:45 – 2:00pm
• Daniil Trifonov – Aug. 22, 2013 – 8pm – Ozawa Hall
• Poulenc, Stravinsky and Beethoven – UnderScore Friday – Aug. 23, 2013 – 8:30pm – Shed
• Tanglewood Family Concert – Aug. 24, 2013 – 2:30pm – Ozawa Hall
• Film Night at Tanglewood – Aug. 24, 2013 – 8:30pm – Shed
• One Day University at Tanglewood – Aug. 25, 2013 – 9am
• Beethoven Symphony No. 9 – Aug. 25, 2013 – 2:30pm – Shed
• Monty Alexander- Aug. 25, 2013 – 8pm – Ozawa Hall
• Wait Wait…Don’t Tell Me! – Aug. 29, 2013 – 8pm – Shed
• Donal Fox, Scarlatti Jazz Project – Aug. 31, 2013 – 1pm – Ozawa Hall
• Harry Connick, Jr. – Aug. 31, 2013 – 7pm – Shed

September 2013 Tanglewood schedule

• Boston Pops Esplanade Orchestra – Sept.. 1, 2013 – 2:30pm – Shed

A highlight of the 2013 Tanglewood schedule was supposed to be the July 27 program with new BSO artistic director Andris Nelsons conducting the Boston Symphony in Verdi’s Requiem, but that has been canceled due to an accident Maestro Nelsons suffered at home. He was recently appointed the next Boston Symphony Orchestra Music Director, starting in the 2014-15 season. Here is the statement from Mark Volpe, BSO Managing Director:

“… Over the weekend, Mr. Nelsons was struck in the head by a door that unexpectedly swung open at his residence in Bayreuth, Germany, where he has been conducting at the festival. Mr. Nelsons is currently receiving medical attention at a hospital in Bayreuth. His doctors report that he is expected to make a full recovery but, as always with concussions, Mr. Nelsons has been strongly advised to take time out of his work schedule and not travel by plane at all at this time. It is therefore with a heavy heart that he is forced to withdraw from his Tanglewood performance.

Though this is disappointing news to all of us at the BSO, as well to the orchestra’s many supporters, we have every expectation that Mr. Nelsons will recover as quickly as possible and that we will see him in Boston in October for his scheduled concerts at Symphony Hall. Our thoughts are with Mr. Nelsons during this time of healing and recovery.”

Andris Nelsons expresses regrets

“Truly, I feel a great sense of sadness at not being able to come to Tanglewood this week to conduct the Verdi Requiem and to spend time amongst our great musical family, including Tanglewood’s wonderfully supportive audience. I will miss you all and am very sorry indeed that this very unfortunate accident prevents me from being there. I am grateful to be receiving the best possible medical attention and am currently resting well. I promise I will recover as soon as possible and very much look forward to coming back in good shape for my performances with the orchestra in October in Boston.”

An announcement about who will conduct Tanglewood’s July 27 performance of the Verdi Requiem will be forthcoming. Read more: 2013 Tanglewood schedule.