The Classical Beat: Tanglewood & Sevenars: Classical Music HeavenBy stephen dankner, iBerkshires Columnist
05:07PM / Wednesday, July 16, 2025 | |
Tanglewood enters its third week, and the highlights are many; indeed, every concert will be memorable.
On July 16, in a celebration of the 150th birthday of the great post-Impressionist French composer Maurice Ravel (1875-1937), the phenomenal young pianist Seong-Jin Cho performs the master's complete solo piano works in Ozawa Hall. Two days later, Rachmaninoff's magisterial "All-Night Vigil" — among the masterpieces of Russian choral works — will be performed by the Tanglewood Festival Chorus.
Another great Russian work — the exuberantly joyful "Souvenir de Florence," for chamber strings by Tchaikovsky will be performed by TCM string Fellows on Saturday at 6 p.m.; at 8 in the Shed, maestro Nelsons will direct the BSO, the Tanglewood Festival Chorus and a cast of vocal luminaries in a concert performance of Puccini's great melodramatic opera composed in 1900, "Tosca."
For a brilliant conclusion to this week's stellar performances of great and amazingly diverse musical offerings, don't miss maestro Nelsons leading the BSO on Sunday, July 20, 2:30 p.m. (the annual Leonard Bernstein Memorial Concert,) in a brilliant and sure-to-be-memorable performance of Hector Berlioz' thrilling "Symphonie fantastique"; the program opens with the uniquely gifted pianist Yuja Wang, who knows no technical or interpretive difficulties, performing Prokofiev's rarely-heard wild ride — the brilliantly energetic and sardonic Piano Concerto No. 2, in four movements.
If, for whatever inexplicable reason the bounteous musical fare at Tanglewood isn't enough to pique your interest, there's also the captivating Sevenars Chamber Music Festival, in South Worthington. This week, expect a rich musical palette showcasing stylistic diversity, with a program of classics — Haydn, Dvorak and Ravel — performed by the Sullivan String Quartet on Sunday July 20 at 4 p.m.
Both venues present wonderful and diverse musical fare performed at magnificent venues in pristine, bucolic settings by marvelous performers.
Tanglewood
• Wednesday, July 16, 8 p.m. in Ozawa Hall: The immensely gifted pianist Seong-Jin Cho performs the complete solo piano music of Maurice Ravel.
• Friday, July 18, 6 p.m., Prelude Concert in Ozawa Hall: The Tanglewood Festival Chorus, James Burton, Director, performs Rachmaninoff's "All-Night Vigil."
• Friday, July 18, 8p.m. in the Shed: Maestro Nelsons will direct the BSO, the Tanglewood Festival Chorus and a cast of internationally-recognized vocal artists in a concert performance of Puccini's grand opera "Tosca."
• Saturday, July 19, 6 p.m., Prelude Concert in the Linde Center Studio E: Tanglewood Music Center string Fellows perform Puccini's "Crisantemi" (Chrysanthemums) for string quartet, and Tchaikovsky's "Souvenir de Florence" for string sextet.
• Sunday, July 20, 2:30 p.m. in the Shed: Maestro Andris Nelsons and the BSO will perform Berlioz' "Symphonie fantastique." The program opens with the phenomenal pianist Yuja Wang performing Prokofiev's Piano Concerto No. 2.
For schedules and tickets to all Tanglewood/BSO concerts and for special events call 617-266-1200. Online: tanglewood.org.
Sevenars Music Festival
Sevenars Concerts, established in 1968, was selected as one of the six best small music festivals in the USA by Time Magazine. Founded by internationally known pianist Robert Schrade and his composer, songwriter and pianist wife, Rolande Young Schrade, it was founded in 1968 with performances in the Methodist Church in the idyllic village of South Worthington, now listed on the National Register of Historic Places.
Today, concerts are held at the Academy, located at the junction of South Ireland Street and Route 112 in South Worthington.
Sevenars is thrilled to present the Sullivan String Quartet in a program of Haydn (Op. 76, No. 5,) Dvorak's "Cypresses" (based on Moravian poetry to be shared with the audience,) and Ravel's arcadian/revelatory String Quartet. This program continues the Sevenars tribute to Maurice Ravel on the occasion of the 150th anniversary of his birth.
• Sunday, July 20, at 4 p.m. The Academy is located at 15 Ireland St. just off Route 112 at Ireland Street, South Worthington. For information, call 413-238-5854 (please leave a message for return call.) Online: sevenars.org. Admission is by donation at the door (suggested $20.) Refreshments are included.
| 
