Tanglewood

Tanglewood is the summer home and music festival of the Boston Symphony Orchestra, located in the Berkshire Hills of Western Massachusetts. Established in 1937, the venue has become one of the world's most renowned destinations for classical and contemporary music, attracting leading artists and large audiences to its scenic grounds. Its name is synonymous with an idyllic summer musical experience, blending artistic excellence with a pastoral setting.

History

The property, originally known as Tanglewood estate, was donated for musical use by the family of Walter Linde following a highly successful series of outdoor concerts by the Boston Symphony Orchestra under conductor Serge Koussevitzky. The inaugural season in 1937 featured a performance of Berlioz's Requiem during a severe thunderstorm, an event that cemented its adventurous spirit. Under Koussevitzky's leadership, the Tanglewood Music Center was founded in 1940, establishing a crucial training ground for young musicians. Throughout the 20th century, leadership from maestros like Charles Munch, Erich Leinsdorf, and Seiji Ozawa expanded its repertoire and physical footprint, solidifying its global reputation.

Facilities and grounds

The main performance venue is the open-sided Koussevitzky Music Shed, designed by architect Eliel Saarinen and opened in 1938, which seats approximately 5,000 patrons. The more intimate, acoustically revered Seiji Ozawa Hall, designed by William Rawn, opened in 1994 and is home to chamber music and smaller ensemble performances. The expansive 524-acre grounds, designed with input from landscape architect Fletcher Steele, include lush lawns for picnicking, the serene Stockbridge Bowl lake, and historic buildings like the former estate's Highwood Manor House. Rehearsal and educational activities are centered at the Tanglewood Music Center facilities, including the Studio E and numerous practice cabins.

Music programs and festivals

The core summer festival is presented by the Boston Symphony Orchestra, featuring a vast repertoire from Baroque to contemporary works, alongside an annual Festival of Contemporary Music. The educational arm, the Tanglewood Music Center, offers fellowships for emerging professional musicians, composers, and conductors, with a faculty historically including figures like Leonard Bernstein and Aaron Copland. The season also includes the Boston Pops orchestra, a popular Jazz at Tanglewood series, and collaborations with artists from the Tanglewood Festival Chorus. Special festivals have celebrated the works of composers such as Beethoven, Stravinsky, and John Williams.

Notable performances and recordings

The venue has hosted countless historic premieres, including the first complete American performance of Britten's War Requiem under Erich Leinsdorf in 1963. Memorable events include the world premiere of Bernstein's Arias and Barcarolles in 1988 and the 1997 75th-anniversary gala featuring artists like Bobby McFerrin and John Williams. Legendary recordings made on the grounds include Charles Munch conducting Ravel's Daphnis et Chloé with the Boston Symphony Orchestra and Seiji Ozawa's cycle of Mahler symphonies. The annual Tanglewood on Parade concert and fireworks display is a beloved tradition broadcast nationally.

In popular culture

The festival's cultural footprint extends beyond classical music, featured in episodes of the television series M*A*S*H and mentioned in novels by authors like John Updike. Its iconic lawn picnicking scene was depicted in the film The Fortune Cookie and serves as a setting in Alice Hoffman's novel The Museum of Extraordinary Things. References to its serene atmosphere appear in the works of poet Richard Wilbur and it has been a frequent subject for photographers from the *Life* magazine archive to modern publications like The New Yorker.

Category:Music venues in Massachusetts Category:Music festivals in the United States Category:Boston Symphony Orchestra