Saratoga Performing Arts Center

Opera Saratoga announces the company’s return to the stage for its 60th Anniversary with a season of performances inspired by the iconic novel Don Quixote by Miguel de Cervantes. Working closely with a team of medical professionals and a dedicated COVID Safety Officer, Opera Saratoga is committed to bringing audiences and artists together safely for the 2021 Summer Festival, which will be produced outdoors during June and July in partnership with the Saratoga Performing Arts Center (SPAC), Saratoga Spa State Park, and Pitney Meadows Community Farm to provide three unique performance spaces for audiences to safely enjoy two fully staged productions and a special concert.

The 39th annual Freihofer’s Saratoga Jazz Festival, one of the world’s longest-running major jazz events, will be held on Saturday, June 25 and Sunday, June 26 at the Saratoga Performing Arts Center (SPAC). This year’s festival will feature headliner Smokey Robinson; Chick Corea Trilogy; Joey Alexander; Steps Ahead Reunion; Pieces of a Dream; Pat Martino Organ Trio plus Horns; and Christian Scott, among many others.

The 37th annual Freihofer's Saratoga Jazz Festival, one of the most celebrated and longest running jazz events in the world, will be held on Saturday, June 28 and Sunday, June 29 at the Saratoga Performing Arts Center. This year's festival headliners include Earth, Wind & Fire, Trombone Shorty, Terence Blanchard, Dave Holland Prism, Patti Austin, Jon Batiste & Stay Human, Eddie Palmieri Salsa Orchestra, Quinn Sullivan, Dr. Lonnie Smith, and Newport Jazz Festival®: Now 60, among others.

Following the successful celebration of the festival’s 35th anniversary in 2012, this year’s festival headliners include Tony Bennett, Buddy Guy, David Sanborn & Bob James, McCoy Tyner Quartet featuring special guest John Scofield, Preservation Hall Jazz Band, Ladysmith Black Mambazo, Kevin Eubanks, Gregory Porter, and Rudresh Mahanthappa among others.

The Philadelphia Orchestra, one of the preeminent orchestras in the world, will return to its summer stage at Saratoga Performing Arts Center from August 7 – 24, to present an extraordinary season of classical and contemporary programs. Highlights of the season

New York City Ballet brings to its summer stage at SPAC, a world-class program of astonishing breadth and brilliance. From iconic Balanchine gems like Serenade and Stravinsky Violin Concerto, to favorite works by Jerome Robbins including West Side Story Suite and Dances at a Gathering, to exciting new ballets by Peter Martins, Christopher Wheeldon and Justin Peck, the interplay of tradition and innovation in this season is exceptiona

The Belle Époque era comes to life on Saturday, July 14 at Saratoga Performing Arts Center’s Annual Ballet Gala, “An Evening at the Moulin Rouge.” The popular summer fundraiser, which coincides with “Bastille Day,” will recreate the atmosphere of a Parisian lounge circa 1900, with a champagne and La Fée Absinthe reception, a strolling accordion player, exquisite French cuisine and guests dressed in period attire.

The Freihofer's Saratoga Jazz Festival, one of the most celebrated and longest-running jazz events in the world, will celebrate its landmark 35th Anniversary at Saratoga Performing Arts Center, June 30 and July 1, with a dynamic lineup of more than 20 acclaimed artists and ensembles on two stages.

New York City Ballet (NYCB) will bring a dazzling, diverse repertory of 16 stunning ballets from its unparalleled repertory to its summer stage at Saratoga Performing Arts Center (SPAC) July 10 - 21, including the July 14 World Premiere of a new ballet by NYCB dancer Justin Peck at the annual Ballet Gala. Other major highlights include the Saratoga premieres of new ballets by Christopher Wheeldon and Benjamin Millepied; Peter Martins’ dramatic, full-length production of Romeo + Juliet; Balanchine classics including Firebird, Symphony in C and Kammermusik No. 2 and first-ever Saratoga performances of Peter Martins’ The Waltz Project and Wheeldon’s DGV: Danse à Grande Vitesse.

Jazz impresario George Wein, often referred to as the “father” of modern music festivals, will be honored by Saratoga Performing Arts Center on Saturday, June 25 for his role in founding SPAC’s Freihofer’s Saratoga Jazz Festival, one of the longest-running and most celebrated jazz events in the world.

Celebrity chef, best-selling author and successful restaurateur Lidia Bastianich will highlight the 2010 Saratoga Wine & Food and Fall Ferrari Festival presented by the Italian Trade Commission, September 10 â€" 12. Bastianich joins world-class Italian auto designer Andrea Zagato and Presenting Sponsor, the Italian Trade Commission, in headlining the festival, a series of events over three days celebrating Italy’s excellence in wine, food and automobiles. Proceeds from the event will benefit Saratoga Performing Arts Center’s educational programs.

Grammy winner of album of the year Herbie Hancock brought his Imagine tour to Tanglewood. The recent Imagine album took two years to record on location in seven countries with all stars representing eleven nations.

Bill T. Jones, who recently won a Tony Award for Best Choreography for his current Broadway hit Fela!, will offer insights on the concept and development of Fondly when he visits Saratoga Springs on Friday, July 23. Jones will present a Personal Talk at 6:30 p.m. at the National Museum of Dance. The Talk is free for ticketholders to the July 28 performance of Fondly; cost for the general public is $5.

The 2010 Season of New York City Ballet at Saratoga Performing Arts Center opens on Tuesday, July 6 and extends through July 17. The season will feature 16 stunning ballets including three opening week performances of Balanchine’s beloved story ballet A Midsummer's Night Dream.. The classic work, based on Shakespeare’s famous play, features elaborate sets and costumes and a cast of over 100 dancers including more than 20 children from the Capital Region.

Saratoga Performing Arts Center has announced that Jason Samuels Smith, one of the best tap artists in the world, will teach a Master Class at The National Museum of Dance on May 27 from 6:30 p.m. to 8:00 p.m. Tap dancers of intermediate ability who are at least ten years old are eligible to participate in the class which will be team-taught by Samuels Smith and his troupe of professional dancers.

Freihofer Saratoga Jazz Festival Artistic Director and Co-Producer Danny Melnick loves discovering great new jazz talent. Last spring when he was working backstage at the New Orleans Jazz & Heritage Festival, he heard a young trumpeter named Mario Abney and was “knocked out” by Mario’s playing, music and band.

The launch of the Fourth of July arts season in the Berkshires will be like an explosion in a fireworks factory. There has never been a greater offering of superb and diverse performances. While three days of James Taylor and Carole King at Tanglewood sold out ages ago there are many other top options. Mass MoCA is going head to head with Tanglewood on Friday night. It has Richie Havens vs. The Pops. Barrington Stage and Williamstown Theatre Festival will duke it out with dueling Sondheim musicals. There is a ton of stuff at Shakespeare & Company including the opening of John Douglas Thompson in Richard III. Jacobs Pillow and Berkshire Theatre Festival are in the mix. We offer a complete rundown.

Freihofer Saratoga Jazz Festival announces the schedule for June 26 and 27. The "Empress of Soul" Gladys Knight, jazz singer Al Jarreau & the George Duke Trio, legendary blues icon Taj Mahal, guitarist extraordinaire Al Di Meola and two piano legends â€" Ramsey Lewis and Ahmad Jamal are some of the great artists appearing at this year’s two-day jazz extravaganza.

Roll Over Beethoven. Yes, rock is coming back to Tanglewood this summer. Well, kindah, with Crosby, Stills and Nash on September 1. Mid season jazz pianist Herbia Hancock will appear on August 9.

Saratoga Performing Arts Center has announced the 2010 summer season of The Philadelphia Orchestra presented by HSBC Bank USA, N.A., August 4 – 21. Led by Artistic Director and Principal Conductor Charles Dutoit, the three-week program of classical and contemporary masterpieces includes major works by Stravinsky, Beethoven, and Brahms, a special guest appearance by Alec Baldwin who will narrate Prokofiev's classic Peter and the Wolf, a "Farewell Concert" with Charles Dutoit and Chantal Juillet, renowned soloists including Yo-Yo Ma, Sarah Chang and Garrick Ohlsson and "Cirque de la Symphonie.

Saratoga Performing Arts Center will present the 33rd annual Freihofer's Saratoga Jazz Festival on June 26 and 27. Highlights include Gladys Knight, jazz singer Al Jarreau & the George Duke Trio, blues icon Taj Mahal, guitarist Al Di Meola and pianists Ramsey Lewis and Ahmad Jamal. There will be more than 20 performances over the weekend.

With all the cold and wet weather we are still waiting for summer to arrive in the Berkshires. It is amazing to realize that we are sliding into the third weekend at Tanglewood. On Friday night James Levine will conduct Mahler. And on Saturday one of the annual highlights of the season will feature John Williama in a Film Night tribute to Warner Brothers.

For Berkshire residents the Saratoga Performing Arts Center is not that far away, and offers a completely different menu of performances to choose from. Their season had just begun when we visited. The New York City Ballet is in residence through July 18.

The two day event Freihofer's Saratoga Jazz Festival last weekend at the Saratoga Springs Performing Arts Center was an artistic success that drew 12,027 visitors. In a tough economy that represents a slight increase over last year's attendance for the annual event. Highlights included Patti LaBelle, George Benson and Dave Brubeck.

Despite the poor economy tickets to the 32nd annual Freihofer Jazz Festival at the Saratoga Performing Arts Center, June 27 and 28 are selling briskly. Jazz fans are advised to act quickly to avoid disappointment.