Pittsfield — If you live in Pittsfield, then the Boston Symphony Orchestra requests the pleasure of your company Friday, July 19, on the Pittsfield Common at 5 p.m. The BSO will be hosting a party that evening of world-class proportions.
The BSO is constantly on the lookout for new ways of sharing the Tanglewood experience with the widest possible group of listeners. For this reason, it has hosted “Tanglewood in the City” events in Boston the last four summers. These free, live-stream video transmissions of Tanglewood concerts have been popular and well-attended. Why not take them to the streets of Pittsfield?
Now it’s happening: “Tanglewood in the City: Pittsfield” will feature — on a 15-by-27-foot screen — live video of the BSO’s July 19 concert at Tanglewood, along with a passel of other attractions.
The evening’s festivities will begin with performances by the Eagles Community Band Brass Ensemble, Barrington Stage MTC Choral Group and students from the Boston University Tanglewood Institute. The Norman Rockwell Museum, Hancock Shaker Village and other local organizations will offer a variety of family-friendly activities. (But, honestly, the evening’s entire program will be family-friendly.) Following the Eagles Band performance, the Boston Symphony Association of Volunteers will host an Instrument Playground. If you’ve ever seen this done at Tanglewood, you know how spellbound kids can get over musical instruments, and some of them actually end up playing in major orchestras.
The 8 p.m. performance will begin with welcoming comments about the program from BSO assistant principal violist Cathy Basrak and will feature BSO music director Andris Nelsons leading the orchestra in music of Betsy Jolas, Debussy and Ravel as well as Saint-Saëns’s Cello Concerto No. 1 with soloist Gautier Capuçon.
Will there be food? Of course! How about some casual summer fare from local on-site food vendors like Main Street Hospitality, Barrington Brewery, SoCo Creamery and Mad Jack’s BBQ? Food-wise, there will be something for everyone at this party. And, of course, you can bring your own picnic. (After all, it’s Tanglewood.)
Most people will make themselves comfortable and dress casually for this party. But a few will don formal attire and play dress-up with their kids. This is strongly encouraged.
*Â *Â *Â *Â *
The Boston Symphony Orchestra has long offered significant discounts to Berkshire residents and persons under 40, not to mention free lawn tickets for children up to the age of 17.
