The Mahaiwe and The Clark present Metropolitan Opera’s broadcast production of ‘Aida’
Great Barrington/Williamstown— On Saturday, January 25th at 12:30 p.m., The Mahaiwe and The Clark present Metropolitan Opera’s broadcast production of “Aida,” the latest installment of the 2024-25 season of “The Met: Live in HD.”
American soprano Angel Blue headlines as the Ethiopian princess torn between love and country in a new production of Verdi’s Aida by Michael Mayer that brings audiences inside the towering pyramids and gilded tombs of ancient Egypt with intricate projections and dazzling animations.
Romanian-Hungarian mezzo-soprano Judit Kutasi also stars as Aida’s rival, Amneris, alongside Polish tenor Piotr Beczała as the soldier Radamès, completing opera’s greatest love triangle. Met Music Director Yannick Nézet-Séguin takes the podium to conduct.
The broadcast is on Saturday, January 25th at 12:30 p.m. The Mahaiwe, located at 14 Castle Street in Great Barrington and The Clark, located at 225 South Street in Williamstown. Tickets and more information can be found online: The Mahaiwe/The Clark.
***
Berkshire Bach Society presents ‘Bach and God: Troubling Voices’ with musicologist Michael Marissen
Great Barrington/Pittsfield— On Friday, January 24th at 7 p.m. and Saturday, January 25 at 4 p.m., the Berkshire Bach Society (BBS) presents the third event in its quarterly “Portals” series “Bach and God: Troubling Voices” with distinguished musicologist Michael Marissen.
Bach’s music transcends time and place, helps us find meaning in our lives, and nourishes our souls. It has inspired artists across the centuries and brought comfort to many. But what about the man who created it? What did he really believe and how did his world view shape his music? The program explores the foundation of Bach’s religious beliefs as well as the social norms of Lutheran Germany. It includes readings from Dr. Marissen’s books “Bach & God” and “Bach Against Modernity.” In the session, Marissen identifies some of the revelations that helped shape his own understanding of Bach over the course of his scholarly career and uses musical examples to illustrate his findings.

Michael Marissen holds a B.A. from Calvin College and a Ph.D. from Brandeis University. He taught music history at Swarthmore College for nearly 30 years and is now an independent scholar working on a variety of projects in the field. Based in New York City, he is the author of 12 books on the music of Bach and other composers.
The event is on Friday, January 24th at 7 p.m. at the Kellogg Music Center Bard College at Simon’s Rock, located at 84 Alford Road in Great Barrington and on Saturday, January 25 at 4 p.m. at the Koussevitsky Arts Center at Berkshire Community College, located at 1350 West Street in Pittsfield. BBS Artistic Director Eugene Drucker will moderate a discussion and Q&A with Dr. Marissen. Tickets and more information can be found online.
***
Lich Gate Concerts presents a delightful afternoon of chamber music in the sunlit sanctuary of Old Parish Church in Sheffield
Sheffield— On Saturday, January 25th at 2 p.m., Lich Gate Concerts invites you to immerse yourself in a delightful afternoon of chamber music in the sunlit sanctuary of Old Parish Church in Sheffield.
Whether you are a long-time classical music lover or new to the genre, this concert promises to be an exceptional experience. Artistic Director Jorge Ávila has curated a brilliant program featuring works for piano quartet, (piano and string trio) from the Classical and Romantic periods, as well as smaller works for various string combinations from Schubert, Gliére, Stamitz, Mozart, and Fauré. The musicians are Jorge Ávila, Violin I; Sarah Adams, Viola; Sarah Hewitt-Roth, Cello; and Adrienne Kim, Piano.

The performance is on Saturday, January 25th at 2 p.m. at Old Parish Church, located at 125 Main Street in Sheffield. Children under 18 are admitted free of charge. Tickets and more information can be found online.
***
US-China Music Institute of the Bard College Conservatory of Music and the Central Conservatory of Music, China present “The Sound of Spring,” a Chinese New Year Concert
Annandale-On-Hudson, N.Y.— On Saturday, January 25th at 3 p.m., the US-China Music Institute of the Bard College Conservatory of Music and the Central Conservatory of Music, China present “The Sound of Spring,” a Chinese New Year Concert with the Orchestra Now and soloists from the legendary faculty of the Central Conservatory of Music in Beijing.
Celebrate the Year of the Snake with music! Now in its sixth year, The Sound of Spring is an authentic Chinese New Year concert featuring dramatic orchestral works and world-class Chinese instrument soloists, led by Maestro Jindong Cai. The diverse program combines traditional favorites with new compositions, including a commission especially for this concert by Bard faculty member Xinyan Li.

The concert is on Saturday, January 25th at 3 p.m. at the Fisher Center at Bard College, located at 60 Manor Avenue in Annandale-On-Hudson, N.Y. At 2 p.m., there will be a pre-concert celebration of the Chinese Lunar New Year with treats and Chinese instrument demonstrations courtesy of the US-China Music Institute. Tickets and more information can be found online.
***
Berkshire Children’s Chorus kicks off their 35th season with a winter showcase
Sheffield— On Saturday, January 25th at 4 p.m., Berkshire Children’s Chorus kicks off their 35th anniversary season with a winter showcase.
Berkshire Children’s Chorus has been ringing in the season with a flurry of performances across the county from the vibrant Festival Latino in Great Barrington to the cherished Lessons & Carols at Williams College. This showcase features an eclectic mix of highlights from its fall and winter performances plus several brand-new songs that the Chorus has been working on just for this special event. It will be a celebration of music and milestones.

Following the concert, interested singers in grades three through eight are invited to join the Chorus for the spring semester, which will culminate with a 35th Anniversary concert at Tanglewood. More information can be found online.
The concert is on Saturday, January 25th at 4 p.m. at the Lenox Memorial Middle and High School, located at 197 East Street in Lenox. More information can be found online.
***
The Friends of Great Barrington Libraries presents an OtherWords poetry reading with poets Lee Ann Brown and John Coletti at the Mason Library
Great Barrington— On Saturday, January 25th from 4 p.m. to 6 p.m., The Friends of Great Barrington Libraries presents an OtherWords poetry reading at the Mason Library.
Poets Lee Ann Brown and John Coletti will read from their recent work. Brown is a writer, filmmaker, performer, the founding editrix of Tender Buttons Press, and author of six volumes of poetry. Coletti is also the author of many books of poetry and has served as the editor of the newsletter published by St. Mark’s Poetry Project in New York City.
OtherWords is curated by poets Michael Gottlieb and Evelyn Reilly and is a continuation of the series that was hosted at the Familiar Trees Bookstore and RA Gallery on Railroad Street for the past two years.

The reading is on Saturday, January 25th from 4 p.m. to 6 p.m. at the Mason Library, located at 231 Main Street in Great Barrington. Free wine, beer, cider, and food will be served before the reading. There will be a brief intermission between the readings and time to chat with the poets afterward. More information can be found online.