Time Out

In a great Boston tradition the Pops will open its 125th season at Symphony Hall on May 4. Keith Lockhart will conduct. A richly varied program continues through June 20. An evening of Pops will launch the Carole King James Taylor Tanglewood love in on Friday, July 2. A number of concerts have already sold out.

The 2009 Off Broadway hit Becky Shaw by Gina Gionfriddo was a Pulitzer Prize Finalist. Artistic director Peter DuBois brings it to Boston's Huntington Thatre from March 5 through April 4. It was named to Best of 2009 lists by the NY Times and other publications. It is a wickedly funny black comedy about a group of 30 somethings.

Filmmaker John Waters will converse with artist Roni Horn. It is but one of the many events planned for the Winter/Spring at Boston's Institute of Contemporary Art.

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.

As part of the Tenth Anniversary celebrations the artist, Richard Criddle, who has been in charge of installations and fabrication for Mass MoCA gave a power point presentation of some of his most interesting and challenging collaborations with artists. The slide lecture was followed by a guided tour of the museum's efficient workshops. But Criddle's dog Winston had the day off.

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.

The 70th birthday of esteemed America composer John Harbison (b. 1938) was celebrated in Jordan Hall, where Boston Modern Orchestra Project (BMOP) staged the first complete performance of Harbison's first opera, Winter's Tale (1974, revised 1991). Opera is Harbison's favorite medium. He won a 1987 Pulitzer Prize for his cantata Flight into Egypt.

Boston Modern Orchestra Project (BMOP) celebrates the 70th birthday of composer John Harbison (b.1938) one of America's most prominent artistic figures. BMOP presents the first complete performance of Harbison's revised version of "Winter's Tale" his first opera, on Friday, March 20th, 8:00 PM, at Jordon Hall.

Music Director James Levine conducts a new production of Tosca on Opening Night as well as four other operas Many of the world's greatest singers are featured in new roles. Debuts include conductors Pierre Boulez, Riccardo Muti, Andris Nelsons, Yannick Nézet-Séguin, and Esa-Pekka Salonen; directors Pierre Audi, Luc Bondy, Patrice Chéreau, Richard Eyre, and William Kentridge; designers Herzog & de Meuron, Rob Howell, Richard Peduzzi, and Miuccia Prada In its fourth season, The Met: Live in HD series will include nine live transmissions to more than 35 countries around the world

Happily, midwinter in the Berkshires is anything but quiet. In fact, that's when many of our resident cultural institutions do their best work. A survey of what's coming up between now and Spring.