Tanglewood

The Knights, a Brooklyn based chamber music band, play music from numerous genres and somehow unite the opposing styles into a wonderful evening of entertainment. From Hadyn to Dylan, with a little Schubert thrown in for good measure, The Knights journey begins.

Seth MacFarlane is known for his several tv projects, including the 14th year of the syndicated program, Funny Guy, as well as his skill in writing the movie, 'Ted.' What we didn't know was that he is a professionally trained singer, who could have had a second career if the first didn't work out.

After three weeks of pop concerts drawing an audience of some 100,000 opening night of official Tanglewood 2016 seemed more like mid season.

Since 1974, James Taylor, known as 'JT' performed some 25 times at Tanglewood. He is obviously the most revered popular artist performer to grace the grounds of this historic music center.

Bob Dylan brought his current act, the 'Never Ending Tour' to Tanglewood. His opening act was Mavis Staples, formally one of the Staples Singers.

After 17 seasons at Tanglewood, Garrison Keillor retires from 'Prairie Home Companion.'

When he plays it straight Chris Botti is among the elite trumpet players of his generation. There is no question of his musicianship. But at times his performance at Tanglewood was way to Vegas. It seemed more Wayne Newton than Miles Davis. This jarred with hearing a superb rhythm section which was cut loose only occasionally.

Dolly Parton brought her act to Koussevitzky Hall on June 17th. And what an act it was.

Brian Wilson will perform for the first time at Koussevitzky Hall on the grounds of Tanglewood on Sunday, June 19th at 2:30pm

Legendary country star, Dolly Parton, makes her Tanglewood debut on June 17th at 7pm in the Koussevitzky Music Shed.

The Utah Symphony under Thierry Fischer gave an exciting and moving evening of music in celebration of their 75th anniversary. The Utah Symphony Orchestra was built by promoting 20th century American and European music. This priority was established by Maurice Abravael, the conductor who led the orchestra for 30 years. He retired to work at Tanglewood for another 10 years.

Tenor titan, Sonny Rollins, is the last of the greatest generation of post bop jazz. While a troubled teen he launched a career with many phases and changes that has lasted for decades.

During an ATCA meeting in Indianapolis we visited the Performing Arts Center in nearby Carmel, Indiana. The artistic director of the stunning theatre is Michael Feinstein. The complex houses the growing archive for his advocacy of the Great American Songbook. Through his performances and collecting activity the mandate is to keep vibrant the legacy of more than a century of great Broadway musicals. He was joined that night by Barbara Cook. That summer at Tanglewood Liza Minelli took a train from New York to join him as a guest on stage.

Hanging with WGBH DJ and host of Music America, the impeccable Ron Della Chiesa when jazz was king in Beantown. Recalling the lush life.

Country music icon Dolly Parton makes her Tanglewood debut with a season-opening performance Friday, June 17, at 7 p.m. in the Koussevitzky Music Shed, joining the Tanglewood 2016 Popular Artist line-up. Keith Lockhart and the Boston Pops Swing Orchestra will also perform in the Shed on Saturday, September 3, at 8 p.m.

During Soundblast '66 at Yankee stadium they pulled one blind brother, Stevie Wonder, off stage for another, top billed Ray Charles.

Bob Dylan—with special guest Mavis Staples—will perform at Tanglewood’s Koussevitzky Music Shed on Saturday, July 2. This is Dylan’s third appearance at the Western Massachusetts music festival, having performed there in the 1991 season and again in 1997.

The concert opened with charming tone-poems by Ravel and de Falla, but after intermission, with Ravel's one-act "musical comedy," "L'Heure espagnole," a Feydeau-like farce, the charm quotient went up the scale. A charming cast contributed to a charming evening.

This summer we're going to make the Berkshires great again. It's going to be just terrific. The tourists and money are going to be pouring in. It's going to be incredible.

Tanglewood is appealing to all age categories with the addition of popular artists, Earth, Wind & Fire, Jackson Browne, Train and the B52's.

Depending on what acts are on tour it generally takes some time for the BSO to fill in the gaps with non classical programming. Of the four acts that have been added three have previously been featured at Tanglewood. In addition to previously announced artists Berkshire audiences will be offered Earth Wind and Fire, Jackson Browne, and Train. The dance band B-52s will appear with an evening of Pops.

Acknowledging the 400th anniversary of Shakespeare's death, the BSO programmed music by some of the greats based on his works. Music director Andris Nelsons brought his lively intelligence to the enterprise, in which a new work based on Ophelia's words by the Dane Hans Abrahamsen was the stand-out hit.

Tickets for the 2016 Tanglewood go on sale Sunday, January 24th. A diverse schedule of entertainers for the June 19th-September 1st season includes the return of Tanglewood conductor Seiji Ozawa, Brian Wilson of the Beach Boys and local favorite,James Taylor.

Hey Charles- I like that! With my white beard and ample belly, I could join the club with you and Santa. Below is one of a long line of my holiday poems, first written in 2005 and updated this year. Merry Christmas!

Hey kids get out your calendars. The 2016 season is beginning to shape up. OK James Taylor is returning to Tanglewood over the Fourth of July. But the season will be old by then. The fun starts at MASS MoCA on Saturday, June 11 with The National. That's almost as wicked cool as Wilco. Then Surf's Up on June 19. It's a day gig so no curfew when Brian Wilson presents his iconic Pet Sounds in its entirety. Multivalent trumpet ace Chris Botti slips into Ozawa Hall, where we have seen him before, on June 24. By front loading the season in such a manner July will seem like so over man.