Beethoven's 9th, but Wait, There's More

The Boston Symphony Orchestra concluded its 2007 summer season at Tanglewood last weekend with two superb performances of Bela Bartok’s “Blue Beard’s Castle,†the Brahms 1st Symphony and Hector Berlioz’ dramatic symphony “La Damnation de Faust,†conducted by music director, James Levine.

The customary closing of the festival with Beethoven’s 9th symphony was accomplished this year by the Tanglewood Music Center Orchestra on Sunday afternoon, which was conducted by Raphael Fruhbeck de Burgos. The BSO had already embarked on a two-week tour of European festivals. Now the Boston Pops Esplanade Orchestra, directed by John Williams on Aug. 25, and by Keith Lockhart, Aug. 26, plus a weekend of jazz to follow, will close out the season at Tanglewood. Oh yes, the popular James Taylor concert will also return to the music shed Aug. 24 at 7 p.m.

For tickets and information, call  888-266-1200 or go to www.tanglewood.org.

Now, for you opera lovers, there is still time to catch “La Boheme,†Puccini’s popular work, presented by the Berkshire Opera Company at the Colonial Theatre in Pittsfield, MA, Friday, Aug. 24 at 8 p.m., and Sunday, Aug. 26 at 2 p.m.

This is a fully staged production, directed by Kathleen Kelly.

For tickets, call the box office at 413-997-4444.

The St. Petersburg String Quartet returns to Music Mountain in Falls Village, CT, at 3 p.m. on Aug. 26 with pianist Alexander Menkinulov. On the program is the Mozart Duo for Violin and Viola, K. 423 (1783); the Brahms String Quartet in A-minor, Op. 51, No. 2 (1873); and the Piano Quartet in E-flat Major, Op. 47 (1842), by Robert Schumann.

A special preconcert event at 2 p.m. will be presented by the Little Guild of St. Francis.

Single tickets are $25 at the door, $22 when purchased in advance, students under 24, $12. Call 860-824-7126 for further information.

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