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Classical Music for the Season in the Berkshires: a Preview

A wealth of holiday concerts from early music to contemporary local composers

By: - Dec 08, 2006

Classical Music for the Season in the Berkshires: a Preview - Image 1 Classical Music for the Season in the Berkshires: a Preview - Image 2 Classical Music for the Season in the Berkshires: a Preview - Image 3 Classical Music for the Season in the Berkshires: a Preview - Image 4 Classical Music for the Season in the Berkshires: a Preview
I'll start this holiday preview on a peevish note. Williams has curtailed its annual Christmas Service of Lessons and Carols. In the past this immensely popular event was given twice, both on Sunday afternoon evening. Thompson Memorial Chapel was always packed on both occasions for this beautifully executed importation of the famous service at Kings College Chapel at Cambridge. The Williams Concert Choir under Brad Wells' direction developed into a first-rate group in just a few years. Not only was this technical achievement impressive, Mr. Wells had a fine sense of Renaissance style in the music Byrd and his contemporaries which were the high point of the services. This year the music will be conducted by students, which means that the music is unlikely to be as ambitious or as interpretively insightful as in previous years. One doesn't learn to conduct this subtle music in a few years. Hopefully Rev. Rick Spalding will deliver another one of his eloquent sermons—a much-needed inspiration in view of the miserable political situation of recent years, and a few good readers will turn up. In general Williams is very generous towards town residents, and the Christmas service was the high point of our sense of community and good will, as well as a calming introduction to the season. According to the College "the change this year to a single service reflects the realities of academic life for dozens of students who serve as singers, readers and acolytes in the service - for whom this point in the calendar brings the most demanding phase of end-of-term exams and papers." If this is true, it is a sad reflection on what has become of college life.

By the way admission to the single service is by ticket this year. There is no charge, but the tickets must be picked up at two offices on the Williams campus. If you didn't pick yours up early this week, forget about it. As of Thursday they were gone. However, the doors will be opened to non-ticket holders fifteen minutes before the beginning of the service at 3 pm.

There is consolation to be found elsewhere. Saturday night offers three different possibilities, all of which I can recommend:
At Williams the Weilerstein Trio will play Mozart, Shostakovich, and Dvorak. Free admission, 8 pm, at the Brooks-Rogers Recital Hall.

At the Troy Savings Bank Music Hall,  8 pm, the Albany Pro Musica will perform the Chirstmas section of Handel's Messiah along with a selection of a capella. David Griggs-Janower will conduct. The Soloists are Janet Brown, soprano, Lucille Beer, mezzo-soprano, Brendan Hoffman, tenor, and the excellent Keith Kibler, bass. Call 518-273-0038 for tickets.

The Albany Symphony orchestra under music director David Alan Miller will perform excerpts from Mozart operas at the First United Methodist Church in Pittsfield at 8 pm.

Sunday December 10 at 4 pm at the Stockbridge Congregational Church, the Stockbridge Festival Choir will present its annual Winter Concert, conducted by Tracy Wilson and accompanied by Brian Hoffman, organist of St. George's Episcopal Church in Schenectady, N.Y., including two world premieres by Berkshire composers Alice Spatz and David Anderegg. Cost: $10 donation, free/children. Main Street, Stockbridge. Info: 413-298-3137

Sunday December 10 at 4 pm the Simon's Rock Music Program presents faculty members John Myers and Larry Wallach performing "Bach on the Wrong Instruments," including Partita no. 5 in G major, the Italian Concerto in F major, and Lute Suite No. 1 in E minor. Free and open to the public. Kellogg Music Center.

Saturday, December 16 at 8 pm at St. John's Episcopal Church, Williamstown, Williamstown Early Music will present the highly regarded early music group Seven Times Salt, who will play a program of holiday and festive music from England, Ireland, Spain, Italy, and other parts of western Europe. They will be joined on several tunes by soprano Allison Mondel. Don't miss it!

Saturday, December 16 at 7.30 pm Ian Watson will lead the Arcadia Players in Handel's Messiah at St. Mary's Catholic Church, 3 Elm St., Northampton

Sunday, Dec. 17, at 3 p.m. at The Old Parish Church on Main Street in Sheffield, the Cantilena Chamber Choir will present a Christmas concert of choral works with Brass ensemble by Giovanni Gabrieli, Gregg Smith, Guillaume Dufay, John Tavener, and David Willcocks.

Tuesday December 19 at 8 pm the Canadian Brass Ensemble will play a holiday program at The Troy Savings Bank Music Hall.

Sunday, December 31, 2006, 6 pm, Bach at New Year's: Six Brandenburg Concerti, Berkshire Bach Ensemble, Kenneth Cooper, harpsichord, Mahaiwe Performing Arts Center, Great Barrington
Great Barrington, repeated Monday, January 1, 2007, 3 pm at the Colonial Theatre, Pittsfield.
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