to being a phenomenal performer, Ax has served as a great musical mentor, playing an integral role in inspiring and guiding younger generations of pianists, including Yuja Wang, who will perform on July 20 Prokofiev’ s Piano Concerto No. 2 and Berlioz’ Symphonie Fantasique, conducted by Andris Nelsons. The two spellbinding masterworks showcase the full range of her pianistic artistry.
Young artists are regularly showcased alongside established stars. The season also features standout violin performances, with María Dueñas making her BSO and Tanglewood debut on July 25 with Mendelssohn’ s Violin Concerto. Dueñas, who first gained international recognition with her win at the 2021 Menuhin Competition, has been described as a musician of rare depth and charisma.
The season includes a Shakespearean collaboration with Bill Barclay’ s Concert Theatre Works, presenting Romeo and Juliet: A Theatrical Concert for Orchestra and Actors on July 11, merging music and drama in a powerful way. Esa-Pekka Salonen makes his first appearance at Tanglewood
since 1985, conducting the BSO on July 13 with a program featuring Sibelius’ Violin Concerto, performed by Pekka Kuusisto, alongside Sibelius’ Symphony No. 5 and Gabriella Smith’ s Tumbleweed Contrails. Salonen also will lead the TMC Orchestra in a performance of Stravinsky’ s The Rite of Spring on July 14.
On August 3, an all-Beethoven program will spotlight Emanuel Ax, Leonidas Kavakos, Yo-Yo Ma, and Antoine Tamestit performing a selection of Beethoven’ s most celebrated chamber works. The following week, violinist Joshua Bell returns to Tanglewood on August 8, playing Lalo’ s Symphonie Espagnole with the BSO under the direction of Andrés Orozco-Estrada. On August 16, Augustin Hadelich joins the BSO for Tchaikovsky’ s Violin Concerto, conducted by Anna Handler in her Tanglewood and BSO conducting debuts.
Kids 4 Harmony at Tanglewood
Beyond its world-class classical programming, Tanglewood continues its mission of supporting young musicians through
education and community initiatives. This season, that commitment is exemplified by the Kids 4 Harmony Summer Gala Concert, which will take place on June 24, 2025. Kids 4 Harmony is a nonprofit program that provides ensemble-based string instruction at no cost to families in Pittsfield and North Adams, fostering musical excellence, student well-being, and family support.
The 2025 Gala Concert will feature Haitian-American cellist Francesca McNeeley as the guest artist, joining Kids 4 Harmony students on stage. McNeeley enjoys an eclectic career as a chamber musician, orchestral player, and modern music advocate, having performed with the Boston Symphony Orchestra, Boston Pops, Boston Ballet, and the Sarasota Orchestra. The event will also honor Ed Bride, a longtime supporter of Kids 4 Harmony and founder of Berkshires Jazz, Inc., whose influence has helped facilitate the program’ s collaboration with renowned jazz artists such as Ted Rosenthal and Grace Kelly.
As a charitable fundraising event, the Kids 4 Harmony Summer Gala plays a crucial role in ensuring the continued success
IF YOU WANT TO CELEBRATE IN STYLE
LIGHT | SPA C E | H OME the choice is clear
clear top | sailcloth | structured | pole | frame 1-800-70-TENTS classicaltents. com
Photo by Lindsay Hackney
LIGHT | SPA C E | HOME
BERK SHIREDESIGNINC. COM Ǫ B A N K R OW, PITT SFIELD, M A ǢǣǤǢǣ Ǧǣǥ. Ǧ Ǧ Ǫ. ǪǢǫǫ
May Holiday / June 2023 2025 BERKSHIRE MAGAZINE // // 93