JEREMY FRECHETTE PHOTOGRAPHY
WENDY CARLSON
WENDY CARLSON
WENDY CARLSON
JEREMY FRECHETTE PHOTOGRAPHY
The grounds of the Aston Magna estate ; a dinner party held by Lee Elman on the patio of the main house ; Lee Elman and his daughter , Alex .
When Elman was looking for a property of his own , his daughter , Alex Elman-Foley , recalls that they were interested in undeveloped land , not a house . However , the car of their real estate agent , Elizabeth Taylor , got stuck in the mud on their way to visit a property . As they waited for a tow truck , Taylor began talking about one of the most incredible views in the Berkshires : Aston Magna . Even though there were already buildings on the property , Elman insisted that she take them to see it . As soon as he saw the estate , Elman asked Taylor for the nearest phone and purchased it right on the spot .
As an avid concertgoer , Elman saw the Spalding music studio as the perfect place for baroque chamber music , an ornamental style of classical music from the 17th and 18th centuries . In 1972 , he was introduced to harpsichordist Albert Fuller . Together , they formed what is now America ’ s oldest annual summer festival for performing chamber music on period instruments .
Fuller ’ s harpsichords were created in the original baroque style which , compared to his colleague ' s modern instruments , were too quiet in large modern concert halls . In
one of his writings , Fuller said the contrast was as if Picasso ’ s abstract paintings were in the halls of Versailles with more traditional pieces — they just didn ’ t fit . To create a place where his harpsichords would fit in , Fuller gathered a group of musicians interested in playing original or replica gut-string ( not wire ) instruments . Shortly after , Fuller met Elman , who wanted to introduce himself to the music scene of the Berkshires .
They created the Aston Magna Foundation for Music , which grew over the years into the festival it is now known for , drawing students from across the globe to learn the baroque style . Fuller ’ s ability to bring people of different personalities and backgrounds together resulted in a spirit of family and celebration at the estate .
Anthony Martin , Nancy Wilson , and Stanley Ritchie were among the musicians who performed at Aston Magna . Many memories they held were created at the hunting lodge , what Elman called “ Patricia Lodge ” after his late sister , Patricia Bildner . Time spent there was often for rehearsals but was augmented with group meals prepared by the private chefs , impromptu performances from fellow students or
faculty , and misty mornings on the screened-in porch . The pool near the main house provided a refreshing swim under both sun and stars . Alex recalls Ritchie playing his violin at the bend of the driveway , “ his red hair flying .” Aston Magna had become a magical place , not only for the architecture or the view , but for the people who stayed there .
The magic also came from the host himself . Elman and his family did not live full-time at the estate , but they stayed there often . ( He was married and divorced twice , and his partner at the time of his death was Judy Ney .) The home was rented out at select times during the winter to help pay the expensive heating bill . Elman was an outdoorsman and added a stable for the horses he rode , a large garden , and a fruit orchard . He and his daughter started a vineyard on the slope of a hill overlooking the river , making wines from Cabernet Sauvignon to Pinot Noir . “ The wine was terrible ,” admits Alex , “ but , you know , it was fun .” Some of that wine was found in a locked cellar room , along with other bottles that were either sold or trashed because they had gone bad .
50 // BERKSHIRE MAGAZINE Spring 2024