A 69th Summer of Music!
The Tanglewood Music Center in Lenox, Massachusetts, is the summer home of the Boston Symphony Orchestra (BSO) and the setting for a wide variety of musical performances each year. There's no better place in all of New England to spread out a picnic blanket, feast on gourmet goodies and listen to live music as the sun sets and the stars unveil themselves. This summer, Tanglewood celebrates its 69th anniversary.
Highlights of the 2009 summer season include:
- The Tanglewood season officially opens with an evening of music by Tchaikovsky featuring the Boston Symphony Orchestra, conducted by Music Director James Levine, and pianist Yefim Bronfman. (July 3)
- Minnesota Public Radio's "A Prairie Home Companion" with host Garrison Keillor will broadcast live from the Koussevitzky Music Shed for the tenth consecutive year. (June 27)
- Legendary singer/songwriter and Massachusetts native James Taylor returns to Tanglewood for a season-ending series of three concerts including one with guests Sheryl Crow and Yo-Yo Ma and another in collaboration with John Williams and the Boston Pops. (August 27, 28 and 30)
- Jazz vocalist and pianist Diana Krall performs an Independence Day concert that will conclude with fireworks. (July 4)
- The Boston Pops, under the direction of Keith Lockhart, are joined by trumpeter Chris Botti (August 7). The Pops will also appear with conductor John Williams on Film Night, featuring a tribute to the legacy of Warner Bros. including Williams' own scores for Superman and Harry Potter. (July 18)
- Sir James Galway's 70th birthday will be celebrated at two concerts featuring the world-renowned flautist. (July 30 and August 1)
- Michael Tilson Thomas returns to Tanglewood in 2009 for the first time in two decades. He'll conduct three very different programs including a special evening of musical theater he developed in celebration of his grandparents, The Thomashefskys: Music and Memories of a Life in the Yiddish Theater (August 19 and 20) and the Boston Symphony Orchestra's finale performance of Beethoven's Ninth Symphony. (August 23)
- Tanglewood on Parade will feature a full day of activities, culminating in a gala concert with Levine, Lockhart and Williams, plus Rafael Frühbeck de Burgos and Leonard Slatkin. The combined forces of the Boston Symphony, Boston Pops and Tanglewood Music Center orchestras will present works including the traditional performance of Tchaikovsky's 1812 Overture including fireworks. (July 28)
- Cellist Yo-Yo Ma joins the Boston Symphony Orchestra for Shostakovich's Cello Concerto No. 1. (August 9)
- Some of the world's most beloved pianists will play at Tanglewood this season including Yefim Bronfman (July 3 and August 14); Jean-Yves Thibaudet (August 15); Garrick Ohlsson (August 16); Emanuel Ax (July 10); Leon Fleisher (July 17); Leif Ove Andsnes (August 2); Peter Serkin (August 3); David Fray (August 21) in his BSO debut; and Stephen Kovacevich (July 2).
- The star-studded lineup of guest artists also includes violinists Gil Shaham (August 22), Joshua Bell (July 12) and Vadim Repin (July 31).
- The Boston Symphony Orchestra presents an all-Mozart concert (July 19) and an all-Mendelssohn program (August 22). The Tanglewood Music Center Orchestra and Vocal Fellow will play an all-Stravinsky program (August 3).
Check the complete Tanglewood 2009 schedule for other fabulous performances, then purchase your tickets, compare rates at nearby hotels, pack your picnic and head for Tanglewood. While you're anticipating the summer season, learn a bit about the history of Tanglewood and explore my gallery of Tanglewood photos.
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