Spencertown Academy Roots & Shoots Concerts Series presents a vintage jazz concert Laura Anglade Quartet
Spencertown, N.Y.— On Saturday, December 7th at 7:30 p.m., Spencertown Academy Roots & Shoots Concerts Series presents the Laura Anglade Quartet, feature vintage jazz from Broadway, the Great American Songbook, and Tin Pan Alley, along with classic French Chanson.
Anglade’s voice is reminiscent of the great traditional vocal stylists of the 20th century, but is uniquely her own. As she digs emotionally and eloquently into a lyric, her storytelling abilities portray a soul beyond her years. Her albums include “I’ve Got Just About Everything” (Justin Time Records, 2019) and “Venez Donc Chez Moi” (Justin Time Records, 2022). She leads an active international touring schedule and has performed at such prestigious venues as Olympia (Paris), Royal Festival Hall (London), Town Hall (New York City), the Ace Theatre Hotel (Los Angeles), and the main stage at the Festival International de Jazz de Montreal. She opened for Gregory Porter at the Victoria Jazz Festival (summer 2022), and Melody Gardot (fall 2022), joining her across the east and west coasts of the US and Europe.
“The Laura Anglade Quartet bring their unique style of jazz and French/American songs back to the Academy after a brilliant sold out show last year,” said Michele Quigley, who co-chairs the Academy Music Committee with Wayne Greene. “Laura will be joined by her usual group of stellar musicians, including Ben Rosenblum on piano and accordion, Marty Jaffe on bass, and drummer Ben Zweig.”
The concert is on Saturday, December 7th at 7:30 p.m. at Spencertown Academy, located at 790 State Route 203 in Spencertown, N.Y. Tickets and more information can be found online.
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Future Lab(s) Gallery presents ‘Figuratively Speaking: Matt Bernson and Trish Symonds Powell’
North Adams— From December 6th through the 28th, Future Lab(s) Gallery presents “Figuratively Speaking: Matt Bernson and Trish Symonds Powell.”
Matt Bernson is a figurative artist who intuitively uses bold lines and bright color to expressively portray the human figure in playful and provocative ways. Matt graduated from MassArt with a BFA in Animation & Painting and has worked as a caricaturist and tattoo artist. His style could be described as a flavor of illustrative expressionism: a combination of strong lines and graphic composition paired with vivid color and loose brush strokes to hint at a narrative for the viewer to feel through. Matt Bernson brings attention to the human body with unique methodologies to help the viewer find new levels of appreciation for the figure.
In the opinion of Trish Symonds Powell, the raison d’être of a true artist is non-conformity. And, although people tend to have set, restricted expectations of art and artists, visual art and the genre of painting, it has always been her aim to challenge these narratives. In keeping true to her “refusal to niche” conviction, she has incorporated assemblage, found objects, collage, sculpture, and more; so, if unconventionality is your jam, Trish’s newest body of works won’t disappoint.
The exhibit runs from December 6th through the 28th at Future Lab(s) Gallery, located at 43 Eagle Street in North Adams. There is an opening reception on December 6th from 6 p.m. to 8 p.m. and a closing reception on December 28th from 6 p.m. to 8 p.m. More information can be found online.
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Wander to host ‘Artist Barter Party’
Pittsfield— On Monday, December 9th from 6 p.m. to 8 p.m., Wander is hosting an “Artist Barter Party,” a creative swap party in a vibrant and safe community space.
This unique event invites local artists, creators, and business owners to bring their hand-crafted goods, artwork, or snacks to share and participate in a lively swap party. Attendees will have the opportunity to trade items, make meaningful connections, and celebrate the creative spirit in a safe, welcoming environment.
The party is on Monday, December 9th from 6 p.m. to 8 p.m. at Wander, located at 34 Depot Street, Suite 101, in Pittsfield. More information can be found online.
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Berkshire Talking Chronicle presents ‘Lord of the Rings’ Trilogy
Pittsfield— WRRS 104.3 LPFM is excited to announce a wonderful series on Wednesday afternoons, the Berkshire Talking Chronicle’s fantasy story hour, which will begin on Wednesday, December 4th from 3:30 p.m. to 4:30 p.m., WRRS 104.3 LPFM with the “Lord of the Rings” trilogy, read by long-time radio reader, Dan Cook.
Cook first read “The Hobbit” and then traveled back in time to explore the 19th-century series “The Princess and the Goblin,” written by George MacDonald. Many fans of the “Lord of the Rings” series believe that MacDonald’s work inspired Tolkien to write both “The Hobbit” and “Lord of the Rings.”
Each Wednesday from 3:30 p.m. to 4:30 p.m., take a break, grab a snack, and tune into 104.3 LPFM. Sit back, relax, and listen to one of the greatest fantasy series ever written. More information can be found online.
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Mahaiwe Performing Arts Center presents Met Opera in HD Encore: ‘Mozart’s The Magic Flute’
Great Barrington— On Saturday, December 7th at 1 p.m., Mahaiwe Performing Arts Center presents Met Opera in HD Encore: “Mozart’s The Magic Flute,” the groundbreaking broadcast that launched the Met’s heralded Live in HD series, seen by opera lovers in movie theaters around the world.
Adults and children alike were enchanted by the whimsical humor and breathtaking puppetry of Julie Taymor’s hit production, presented in a shortened English-language version. Under the baton of Maestro James Levine, a winning ensemble cast, including Nathan Gunn, Ying Huang, Matthew Polenzani, Erika Miklosa, and René Pape, brings fresh life to Mozart’s timeless fairy tale.
The broadcast is on Saturday, December 7th at 1 p.m. at the Mahaiwe Performing Arts Center, located at 14 Castle Street in Great Barrington. Tickets and more information can be found online.
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Christ Trinity Church presents silent film classic, ‘Show People’ with live music by Donald Sosin and Joanna Seaton at Dewey Memorial Hall
Sheffield— On Saturday, November 30th at 7 p.m., Christ Trinity Church presents King Vidor’s silent film comedy classic, “Show People,” featuring live music accompaniment from internationally acclaimed silent film musicians Donald Sosin and Joanna Seaton, at Dewey Memorial Hall.
“Show People” is a lighthearted look at Hollywood at the end of the silent film era, a “movie about making movies,” directed by King Vidor. It features Marion Davies in her best-ever comic role of Peggy Pepper, who becomes the self-important, dramatic star, Patricia Pepoire (based on the career of silent diva Gloria Swanson.) The film is a comic romp for Davies. Lucille Ball repeatedly cited Davies as a major comedic influence, and Ball’s subsequent facial techniques and comic behaviors evident in “I Love Lucy” are quite apparent in Davies’ performance in this film.
William Haines plays the endearing Billy, and there are cameos by some of the industry’s most famous stars, including Charlie Chaplin, King Vidor, and Douglas Fairbanks. A veritable menagerie of Hollywood stars is seen in the famous banquet scene.
Live, original music will be performed during the film by Joanna Seaton and Donald Sosin. They are among the world’s foremost silent film musicians, bringing their unique blend of keyboards, vocals, and percussion to film festivals worldwide, from Lincoln Center to Bangkok. They are favorite guest artists at the National Gallery and at Italy’s annual silent film retrospectives in Pordenone and Bologna. Donald’s score for the 1916 feature “Sherlock Holmes” was premiered in Odessa with 15,000 spectators. They have created scores for over 65 silent film DVDs on the Criterion, KinoLorber, Milestone, Flicker Alley and European labels; and teach silent film music workshops at universities around the nation.
The event is on Saturday, November 30th at 7 p.m. at Dewey Memorial Hall, located at 91 Main Street in Sheffield. There will also be We will also lead a sing-along of songs from the 1920’s. Tickets and more information can be found online. Proceeds benefit Christ Trinity Church.
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Clark Art Institute and Images Cinema to present a Hollywood auteur film series
Williamstown— Beginning on December 5th, the Clark Art Institute and Images Cinema present a film series that captures the explosion of creativity, critical acclaim, and box office success that Hollywood directors found after the fall of the studio system.
On Thursday, December 5th from 6 p.m. to 8 p.m., the series begins with Arthur Penn’s “Bonnie and Clyde” (1967.) Half comic fairy tale, half brutal fact, “Bonnie and Clyde” is based on the Barrow Gang that terrorized the South in the 1930s. Part of the changing of the guard in Hollywood, the film ushered in an era of violent and sexually liberated filmmaking.
The free screening is on December 5th from 6 p.m. to 8 p.m. at the Clark Art Institute, located at 225 South Street in Williamstown. More information can be found online. Next up is “A New Leaf” (1971) on December 12th.
