The words are intricately related but diverge. Virtuosity: music that glorifies the possibilities of the instrument and the prowess of the performer—that titillates and stuns the audience in the Romantic tradition of Paganini. It’s the violinist tight-rope walking on the strings, performing impossible feats, stretching the capabilities of the instrument, creating pacts with the Devil. […]
Nuances of the night are explored in this multi-faceted program. Release from the brightness of daylight, from consciousness into sleep and dreaminess, the night’s seductive, mysterious potion-like allure has fascinated artists throughout the ages. Lullabies celebrate repose, the restful charm; serenades celebrate love. Other works mark the fear of darkness, the unseen and what may […]
The notable Avalon String Quartet returns with another Berkshire premiere, “For Such a Time as This,” a retelling of the biblical Esther story for string quartet and vocalist, from a feminist perspective. Composer Stacy Garrop’s (recent commissions from the Pittsburgh, St. Louis and Louisiana symphony orchestras) intent is to remind us “we each possess agency […]
In his dance suites, J. S. Bach ventures into Spanish sarabandes, French bourrées and British gigues. He and family members delighted in arranging Celtic and Scottish folk music. They will be joined by Beethoven and Haydn, who also forayed into Irish folk music with their own arrangements. Makaris formed in 2018 to explore the broad […]
The Romans appropriated the entirety of classical Greek culture, and the Renaissance rediscovered and revitalized it. Then came Rodin and Greek Revival in American architectural style. An Egyptomania craze gripped 19th century Europe and found its way into operas (Aida, Samson and Delilah), couture (harem pants as high fashion), architectural idioms, decorative arts, music and […]
Experience the elegance of the Gilded Age Salon at a private Berkshires club! Our Annual Luncheon Musicale Benefit, "Piano Duo, Four Hands," features pianists Anthony Zerpa-Falcon and Jong-Gyung Park performing Mozart, Brahms, and Liszt. Celebrate 24 years of CEWM's Commissioning Program, savor a superb lunch and support Close Encounters With Music. La vie est belle! […]
The imperial “City of Song” has played an essential role as a leading European cultural center, hosting major personalities in the development of music, as well as literature, painting, psychiatry and intellectual thought, from the 16th to 20th centuries. As in the architecture, musical styles that sprang up are a mix of Baroque, Classical, Art […]
Dvořák’s sublime Piano Quintet in A Major occupies a lofty place in the chamber music canon, at the same elevation as Brahms’s Piano Quintet in F minor, op. 34. Simply put, both works are majestic, symphonic in scope, and invite the listener into a lost world of powerful beauty, profundity, and nobility of sentiments, peppered […]
Berkshire High Peaks master classes are free and open to the public! All master classes are at Bard College at Simon's Rock in Great Barrington, Massachusetts. _____ Gila Goldstein A versatile musician who has captivated audiences around the world with her artistry, pianist Gila Goldstein has performed as a soloist and collaborative pianist throughout the United […]
Join us for a fascinating Opera Talk with opera director/conductor Jay Lesenger. Berkshire High Peaks talks are free and open to the public! All events are at Bard College at Simon’s Rock in Great Barrington, Massachusetts. No registration necessary. Jay Lesenger During Jay Lesenger’s more than 45-year career as stage director, administrator andteacher, he has […]
Berkshire High Peaks master classes are free and open to the public! All master classes are at Bard College at Simon's Rock in Great Barrington, Massachusetts. _____ Ida Bieler Described by Fanfare Magazine as “a specialist in everything, from Bach to new-music premieres…” violinist Ida Bieler is renowned as a musician of extraordinary scope. A winner […]
This Moonlight Sonatas concert features Berkshire High Peaks Festival Residents on Monday, July 22 at 7:30pm at Bard College at Simon's Rock in Great Barrington. This performance is free and open to the public. No registration required. For audiences and listeners, High Peaks offers wall-to-wall performances as participants—strings, pianists, vocalists and wind players—showcase their talent […]
Join us for "All About Rhythm," a talk with Jazz percussionist, author, clinician Arti Dixson. Berkshire High Peaks talks are free and open to the public! All events are at Bard College at Simon’s Rock in Great Barrington, Massachusetts. No registration necessary.
Berkshire High Peaks master classes are free and open to the public! All master classes are at Bard College at Simon's Rock in Great Barrington, Massachusetts. _____ Danielle Talamantes “It’s not often that a fortunate operagoer witnesses the birth of a star!” critics hailed soprano Danielle Talamantes’ role début as Violetta in La Traviata. Recent season […]
This Moonlight Sonatas concert features Berkshire High Peaks Festival Residents on Tuesday, July 23 at 7:30pm at Bard College at Simon's Rock in Great Barrington. This performance is free and open to the public. No registration required. For audiences and listeners, High Peaks offers wall-to-wall performances as participants—strings, pianists, vocalists and wind players—showcase their talent […]
Berkshire High Peaks master classes are free and open to the public! All master classes are at Bard College at Simon's Rock in Great Barrington, Massachusetts. _____ Diego Fainguersch After many years of performing in the United States and Europe, Argentine cellist Diego Fainguersch returned to Buenos Aires in 2010 to fulfill the position of principal […]
