He may have left his heart in San Francisco, but the rest of him — incomparable singing style included — will make a rare Tanglewood appearance this Tuesday, July 21st.  Known as one of the world’s most beloved interpreters of the “Great American Songbook,” Bennett will share the Tanglewood stage with his band, starting at 8 PM.  See www.bso.org for more information.  At Brook Farm Inn in Lenox, there are still a couple of rooms available.

Since no trip to the Berkshires is complete without visits to the Clark and Tanglewood, Brook Farm Inn in Lenox Massachusetts is glad to announce that the two venues have paired to offer the perfect package of art and music. For only $45 (a 25% savings) you can purchase two Clark admissions and two Tanglewood lawn tickets. Clark admission tickets are valid June 7 through September 7; Tanglewood lawn tickets are valid for all BSO and Boston Pops concerts (excludes Popular Artist Series).

 You may purchase ticket packages in any quantity – and it is easy, one stop shopping. Visit clarkart.edu or tanglewood.org or phone the Clark’s box office at 413 458 0524. 

 This summer the Clark presents Dove/O’Keeffe: Circles of Influence, an exhibition exploring the early abstract work of iconic American painter Georgia O’Keeffe and the great modernist painter Arthur Dove. O’Keeffe has long been the subject of fascination by critics and art lovers alike, and this exhibition (exclusive to the Clark) adds a new chapter to the ongoing interest in her work. Through the Seasons: Japanese Art in Nature will be presented in Stone Hill Center. Both exhibitions open on June 7.

 Also at the Clark are free summer band concerts on Tuesday evenings in July. In August you can enjoy a series of chamber music concerts on Tuesday evenings; purchase  your tickets early as the series sold out last summer. A robust schedule of lectures, films, and events completes an exciting summer at the Clark.

Here’s our recommendation for enjoying the Tanglewood concerts twice as much — sign up for Jeremy Yudkin’s  Summer Music Seminars!  Even though we still have snow on the ground, it’s not too early to register.  We’ve attended his lectures, and we agree with these testimonials:

“The best teacher on any subject I’ve ever had!”

“I’ll never listen to music the same way again.”

“He makes the Tanglewood concerts truly come alive!”

Jeremy Yudkin, Professor of Music at Boston and Oxford Universities, and Lecturer at Tanglewood since 1983, is a brilliant and entertaining presenter. Lectures are given on Friday and Saturday afternoons, in anticipation of the weekend’s concerts.

All lectures take place in the Welles Gallery of the Lenox Library, situated in the middle of Lenox, Massachusetts, at 18 Main Street.  It’s a five-minute walk from Brook Farm Inn. Musical expertise is definitely not required, and registration entitles you to discounts on Tanglewood tickets.

More information is at Jeremy’s website www.summermusicseminars.org. Please tell him you were referred by Brook Farm Inn!

He may have left his heart in San Francisco, but the rest of his body is coming to Lenox, Massachusetts this summer.  On Tuesday July 21 at 8:00pm in the Koussevitzky Music Shed,  Tony will bring his legendary musical talents to the Berkshires.  Tickets will go on sale February 15.   You can link to The Boston Symphony Orchestra to reserve yours.  Rooms are available at Brook Farm Inn subject to a minimum stay.

We enjoyed a wonderful event several days ago, when the Tanglewood personnel came to Lenox and presented the ‘09 schedule to Business Friends of Tanglewood. It’s going to be a great summer, not only with weekend concerts in the shed, but events almost every evening, midweek, in Ozawa Hall.  Link to the schedule from the homepage of our website www.brookfarm.com.  We’re already booking reservations.

This Labor Day weekend the Tanglewood Jazz Festival will kick off on August 29th at 8:00PM with Colombian harpist, Edmar Castaneda, and his trio featuring vibraphonist, Joe Locke.  Pianist Eliane Elias will follow performing material from her highly acclaimed CD, “Something For You,” a tribute to Bill Evans.

On Saturday, August 30, at 2 p.m., Marian McPartlandcelebrates her 90th birthday in the seventh annual live taping of “Piano Jazz” for NPR. Joining Marian McParland will be Nnenna Freelon and Spencer Day, and pianist, Mulgrew Miller.

Saturday, August 30, at 8 p.m., pianist and composer, Donal Fox, will perform his Scarlatti Jazz Suite Project with special guest, trumpeter, Christian Scott.  Renowned vocalist Dianne Reeves takes the stage in the second half of the concert.

The Sunday afternoon concert on August 31 will open at 2 p.m. with clarinetist and saxophonist, Eddie Daniels, and his quartet.  The concert continues with violinist, Mark O’Connor, with special guest jazz vocalist Jane Monheit in a show titled “Hot Swing.”

Closing the festival on Sunday, August 31, at 8 p.m.will be a Tanglewood exclusive—a very special concert by trumpeter and composer, Terence Blanchard, with a 30-piece orchestra performing the material from this year’s Grammy winning CD, “A Tale of God’s Will (A Requiem for Katrina).”

Brook Farm Inn has some availability and we are just down the street from all the great music. 

The Lenox Library Association presents the stories behind America’s premier musical performance place:

The Boston University Tanglewood Institute has announced its series of concerts by the Young Artists Orchestra, Wind Ensemble, and Chorus, which will take place at Ozawa Hall on the grounds of Tanglewood.  For the audience, this is a great opportunity to enjoy the music of students who represent the next generation of  outstanding professional musicians. This Friday at 8:00 pm you can enjoy the Wind Ensemble, and Saturday at 2:30 the Orchestra will perform.  Get tickets at the door for only $11. It’s less than a mile from Brook Farm Inn in Lenox Massachusetts.

Here in the Berkshires, visitors have so many opportunities to enjoy musical performances. And one of the ways to enhance your enjoyment of the performances, is to attend Dr. Jeremy Yudkin’s Summer Music Seminars.
Jeremy is Professor of Music at Boston and Oxford Universities, and is a captivating lecturer. He’ll make the Tanglewood concerts come alive as never before for you. We’ve attended his lectures and can recommend them firsthand. The Tanglewood lecture series starts June 28th and goes through the summer at the Lenox Library, but you can sign up now. In addition, Jeremy will be doing a lecture on June 14th entitled “The Best Bits: Beethoven’s Genius in a Few Measures.” Phone us at 800-285-7638 for more information on that one.