Met Opera Live in HD: Mozart’s ‘Le Nozze di Figaro’ broadcasts at The Mahaiwe and The Clark
Great Barrington/Williamstown— On Saturday, April 26th at 1 p.m., Met Opera Live in HD: Mozart’s ‘Le Nozze di Figaro’ broadcasts at The Mahaiwe and The Clark.
Mozart’s timeless comedy returns to cinemas worldwide with a live transmission from the Metropolitan Opera. Conductor Joana Mallwitz, in her Met debut, takes the podium to conduct a stellar ensemble cast including American bass-baritone Michael Sumuel as the clever valet Figaro, Ukrainian soprano Olga Kulchynska as the wily maid Susanna, Canadian baritone Joshua Hopkins as the skirt-chasing Count, Italian soprano Federica Lombardi as his anguished wife, and French mezzo-soprano Sun-Ly Pierce as the adolescent page Cherubino.
The broadcast is on Saturday, April 26th at 1 p.m. at The Mahaiwe Performing Arts Center, located at 14 Castle Street in Great Barrington and at The Clark Art Institute, located at 225 South Street in Williamstown. Tickets and more information can be found online (The Mahaiwe/The Clark.)
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Clark Art Institute opens its ‘Pastoral on Paper’ film series with a screening of ‘Days of Heaven’
Williamstown— On Thursday, April 24th at 6 p.m., the Clark Art Institute opens its “Pastoral on Paper” film series with a screening of “Days of Heaven” (1978.) The series celebrates the “Pastoral on Paper” exhibition, with films that inevitably introduce some kind of conflict into peaceful landscapes in the rural United States, France, and Ireland.
In “Days of Heaven,” after accidentally killing his foreman at a steelworks in Chicago, laborer Bill (Richard Gere,) goes westward to the Texas plains with his girlfriend Abby (Brooke Adams) and younger sister (Linda Manz.) Posing as siblings, the trio find work in the wheat fields. To escape their life of toil, Bill convinces Abby to marry a wealthy but dying farmer (Sam Shepard.) The ensuing love triangle binds the three together as they circle around the idyllic landscape. The lonely beauty of Terrence Malick’s film pays homage to the paintings of Edward Hopper and Andrew Wyeth.
The free screening is on Thursday, April 24th at 6 p.m. at The Clark Art Institute, located at 225 South Street in Williamstown. The next screening in this series is “The Quiet Man” (1952) on May 15th at 6 p.m. More information can be found online.
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Southfield Church presents Mariken Palmboom and Anne Legêne for a concert of baroque music
Southfield— On Sunday, April 27th at 4 p.m., the Southfield Church presents a concert of baroque music.
Long time friends and recital partners Mariken Palmboom, harpsichord, and Anne Legêne, viola da gamba, will play a program of solo and ensemble music by J.S.Bach, Abel, Telemann, L.Couperin, and Marais.
Mariken Palmboom received her Soloist Diploma in Harpsichord Performance in Holland at the Royal Conservatory in The Hague. She participated in master classes with legendary harpsichordist Gustav Leonhardt. At the Royal Flemish Conservatory, she did post-graduate work with Jos van Immerseel and earned the First Prize with Greatest Distinction. In 1986 she received a Special Award in the International Harpsichord Competition in Bruges, Belgium. She has performed with numerous musicians across Europe and the United States. Recent performances include solo recitals for the Berkshire Bach Society and an appearance with the Albany Symphony Orchestra. A Berkshires resident since 1997, she teaches harpsichord and piano to many students, young and old. On Sunday mornings, you can hear her play the organ at the First Congregational Church in Worthington.
Anne Legêne studied cello at the Royal Conservatory in The Hague, and later viola da gamba and baroque cello at the Longy School of Bard College, where she received a graduate performer’s diploma. She frequently appears with her husband, keyboardist Larry Wallach, with her sister Eva Legêne, with Long & Away, a consort of viols, and the Arcadia Viols. In the Berkshires since 1985, over her long career Anne has played with numerous musicians locally and beyond. She conducts the chamber orchestra at Bard College at Simon’s Rock, where she also taught cello and viola da gamba, and has a busy home studio teaching both these instruments.
The concert is on Sunday, April 27th at 4 p.m. at the Southfield Church, located at 234 Norfolk Road in Southfield. More information can be found online.
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Bard Queer Leadership Project at Simon’s Rock presents a book signing and pool party with author Schuyler Bailar
Great Barrington— Tonight, Friday, April 18th at 6 p.m., the Bard Queer Leadership Project at Simon’s Rock presents a book signing and pool party movie screening with author Schuyler Bailar.
Join Schuyler Bailar for an evening of poolside fun! Schuyler Bailar, trans activist and author of “He/She/They” and “Obie is Man Enough,” will be signing free books and hosting a screening of “Strange World” in the pool!
This evening’s event begins with a meet and greet with Bailar at 6 p.m. followed by the screening at 7 p.m. in the pool at the Kilpatrick Athletic Center at Simon’s Rock, located at 84 Alford Road in Great Barrington. All LBGTQ+ affirming folks are invited to attend. More information can be found online.
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Laura Lin Healing Arts presents ‘Master Your Mood’ workshop
Housatonic— Beginning on Thursday, April 24th from 9 a.m. to 10:30 a.m., Laura Lin Healing Arts presents “Master Your Mood,” an eight-week course on Thursday mornings at Berkshire Pulse.
Imagine waking up each day with joy, acceptance, and gratitude. Who would you be in your life in your work — in your relationships, and most importantly, with yourself? Guided by Laura Lin, you’ll learn how to fill your toolbox full of tools to bring more resilience and vibrancy.
Laura Lin is a licensed massage therapist, Certified Functional Nutrition Counselor, Kripalu-certified yoga teacher, Reiki Master Teacher, and dance/somatic movement instructor. She has over 20 years of experience studying Eastern medicine and healing techniques, including Qi-gong, Thai massage, and Ayurveda. She has contributed her expertise at the Kripalu Center for Yoga and Health and has taught and performed at the renowned Jacob’s Pillow Dance Festival.
The workshop begins on Thursday, April 24th from 9 a.m. to 10:30 a.m. at Berkshire Pulse, located at 420 Park Street in Housatonic. The workshop is 50% off for Card to Culture holders. More information can be found online.
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Massachusetts College of Liberal Arts presents its 23rd Annual Undergraduate Research Conference
North Adams— On Thursday, April 24th,, Massachusetts College of Liberal Arts (MCLA) presents its 23rd Annual Undergraduate Research Conference to recognize students for their work and dedication in producing academic projects.
This year’s keynote speaker is MCLA alumnus Bentley S. Munsell ’15, a registered nurse, nursing leader, and advocate for social justice and Diversity, Equity, Inclusion, and Belonging (DEIB) in healthcare. Munsell is a queer and transgender man, who has been actively advocating for LGBTQIA+ inclusion in healthcare settings since 2016. He is a founding member of the Southwestern Vermont Medical Center (SVMC) DEIB committee, where he has led outreach efforts and implemented training programs on inclusive healthcare. Currently, Munsell serves as the clinical nurse manager for SVMC’s ExpressCare and is pursuing a Master of Science in Nursing at Colby-Sawyer College.
The conference highlights MCLA’s commitment to fostering a culture of inquiry, exploration, and mentorship. This campus-wide celebration showcases undergraduate research and creative activity across all disciplines, reinforcing the importance of active participation in liberal arts education. Students work closely with faculty sponsors to develop outstanding academic projects, which they present through oral presentations, poster sessions, or performances.
The conference on Thursday, April 24th at the Massachusetts College of Liberal Arts at 375 Church Street in North Adams. The full-day event will start at 8 a.m. with iced coffee on the quad and conclude at 7 p.m. with a student performance. There will be a poster session at 11 a.m. and the keynote speaker and lunch at noon. More information can be found online.
