Tanglewood
Mahaiwe Performing Arts Center
music
B y B e n j a m i n L e r n e r
The Stars Align THE HITS KEEP COMING ALL SUMMER LONG
The summer lineup at Tanglewood and the Mahaiwe is impressive , to say the least : from Roger Daltrey to Samara Joy , Chrissie Hynde to Ben Folds , Yo-Yo Ma to Brandi Carlile , Jon Batiste to Renée Fleming , Lyle Lovett to Hilary Hahn and more on our indoor and outdoor stages . The Berkshires is not tip-toeing around when it comes to presenting superstar musical talent . Let ’ s just say that James Taylor , who will perform in two sell-out milestone concerts at Tanglewood , is in good company . Let ’ s take a look .
Tanglewood
297 West St ., Lenox bso . org / tanglewood ; 617-266-1200
Tanglewood ’ s 2024 season includes more than 100 performances spanning 11 weeks , featuring the Boston Symphony Orchestra ( BSO ), Boston Pops , and Grammy ® -winning popular artists . From June 20 to Independence Day , classic rock , contemporary pop , soul , and R & B stars will grace the Koussevitzky Music Shed . The festivities kick off on June 20 with rocker John Fogerty , joined by special guests George Thorogood and the Destoyers and Hearty Har . Roger Daltrey , founding lead singer of The Who , takes the stage on June 22 , accompanied by KT Tunstall to offer a fresh twist to classic hits .
Kool & the Gang makes their Tanglewood debut on June 23 ( see opposite page ), joined by the soulful sounds of En Vogue . It ’ s also two-time Grammy ® winner Jason Mraz ’ s first time performing at Tanglewood . ( See page 22 .) He will be joined by the Boston Pops on July 2 . Other musical artists making their way to the iconic Berkshire venue include four-time Grammy ® -winning R & B group Boyz II Men on June 27 ; five-time Grammy ® Award-winner Jon Batiste , who will showcase his exceptional talent as a singer , songwriter , and composer on June 28 . The next day , on June 29 , Phish ’ s Trey Anastasio will perform with the Boston Pops . The popular artist series keeps building momentum with celebrated , ten-time Grammy ® - winning singer-songwriter Brandi Carlile ' s return to Tanglewood on June 30 . The sold-out 50th anniversary performances of James Taylor at Tanglewood happens July 3 and 4 . And there ’ s more : Chrissie Hynde and The Pretenders ( July
16 ), Beck with the Boston Pops ( July 23 ); Judy Collins , Rufus Wainwright , and Indigo Girls ( August 30 ); and DISPATCH with Keith Lockhart and the Boston Pops ( August 31 ).
We are equally excited about the classical musical showcase at Tanglewood that begins with Opening Night on July 5 , featuring an all-Beethoven program with acclaimed violinist Hilary Hahn . Other notable guest artists such as soprano Renée Fleming , violinist Augustin Hadelich , and soprano Christine Goerke will appear on the stage alongside Andris Nelsons and the BSO . Keith Lockhart , conductor of the Boston Pops , will presenting Broadway Today !: Broadway ' s Modern Masters on July 6 . ( Read the interview with Lockhart on page 32 .) This highly anticipated showcase will spotlight songs from recent Tony ® -winning musicals . This year ' s Tanglewood on Parade on August 6 will include a musical tribute in honor of former BSO Music Director Seiji Ozawa , who passed away in February .
Throughout the season , conductors Karina Canellakis , Alan Gilbert , Earl Lee , and Dima Slobodeniouk will appear alongside acclaimed artists such as Emanuel Ax , Joshua Bell , Yo-Yo Ma , and Yuja Wang . Newcomers to the Tanglewood stage include violinist Leila Josefowicz , pianist Bruce Liu , and conductors Ryan Bancroft , James Gaffigan , Hannu Lintu , Samy Rachid , and Dalia Stasevska , among others . This season also will feature a second evening of the beloved John Williams ’ Film Night with Williams and Ken-David Masur conducting the Boston Pops , with a special celebration of Henry Mancini ’ s 100th birthday . Gustavo Dudamel will lead the National Children ' s Symphony of Venezuela on August 8 in a poignant tribute to music ' s universal power . And the Tanglewood Learning Institute will offer an engaging lineup of humanities programs , including discussions on the legacies of George Balanchine and Serge Koussevitzky , alongside recitals by acclaimed pianist Jeremy Denk and jazz harpist
Edmar Castañeda . Family-friendly events , from youth concerts to storytelling sessions , ensure that Tanglewood remains an ideal destination for music explorers of all ages .
Mahaiwe Performing Arts Center
14 Castle St ., Great Barrington mahaiwe . org ; 413-528-0100
From iconic singer-songwriters to legendary rootsrock bands , the Mahaiwe Performing Arts Center ’ s 2024 season promises something for every music lover . On May 10 , Grammy ® winners Lyle Lovett and Lisa Loeb will light up the stage . ( Make sure to read our interview with Lovett on page 10 .) Next up , the BoDeans take the stage on May 25 for some exhilarating roots rock music . And five-time Grammy ® winner Keb ’ Mo ’ brings his unique blend of blues to the Mahaiwe on June 15 . ( More on Keb ’ Mo ’ on page 8 .)
On June 22 , power-pop singer and pianist Ben Folds returns to the Mahaiwe with his Paper Airplane Request Tour . Known for his dynamic performances and audience engagement , Folds invites concertgoers to participate by submitting song requests via paper airplanes . ( See page 31 .) Justin Hayward , the voice of the Moody Blues , will take the Mahaiwe stage on July 19 . On August 9 , Grammy ® -winning Ladysmith Black Mambazo brings their uplifting vocal harmonies to the Mahaiwe . And on the first of August , jazz sensation Samara Joy will perform at the Mahaiwe ’ s 2024 Gala , showcasing her velvety vocals and refined musicality . ( We talk with her , too , on page 20 .) The musical performance season carries into the fall with folk musician Suzanne Vega on October 5 . Vega ' s distinctive voice and insightful songwriting have earned her acclaim as one of the foremost songwriters of her generation . n
Throughout the summer season , additional intimate and inviting venues throughout the Berkshires will come alive with the sounds of talented local and touring musicians , including Race Brook Lodge in Sheffield , The Foundry in West Stockbridge , The Stationery Factory in Dalton , Red Lion Inn in Stockbridge , TOURISTS in North Adams , Adams Theatre , Egremont Barn , and many others . To stay up to date on the evolving roster of summer shows , check out our online-exclusive story for more comprehensive coverage of the Berkshires music scene , visit musicintheberkshires . com to view their regularly-updated performance calendar , and subscribe to their e-newsletter to stay in the loop .
28 // BERKSHIRE MAGAZINE Spring May / June 2024 2024