The Boston Symphony Orchestra announced an 11-week 2009 summer season, longer than in past years, and featuring Lenox native James Taylor four successive nights.    Highlights also include two opera programs conducted by James Levine, two Mark Morris dance premieres, three birthday celebrations and the return of Michael Tilson Thomas, after a 20-year absence.

And keeping with recent tradition, the BSO season will be preceeded by Garrison Keillor's "Prairie Home Companion" and ended with the Labor Day Weekend Jazz Festival.   IMPORTANTLY, all ticket prices are being frozen at last season's rates ($18 for lawn seats and up to $99 for the Shed)….and free lawn tickets for children are being extended from age 12 up through age 17.   As the parents of twin 15-year-old boys, we are personally excited about that.

Public ticket sale begins February 15th, but most of you know that early purchases are available by being a "Friend of Tanglewood" at various donation levels.   Even for an annual donation of just $50, it is possible to purchase tickets in advance of the public sale date.   To get a brochure mailed, call 617-638-9467, or 617-266-1492.   Information about supporting Tanglewood and becoming a "friend" can be found on the website at www.tanglewood.org.

For a detailed listing of the 2009 schedule: CLICK BELOW

2009 TANGLEWOOD SCHEDULE

But in the interim, some highlights:

June 27     "A Prairie Home Companion" with Garrison Keillor

July 3        BSO Opening Concert:  Tchaikovsky Symphony #6 "Pathetique" and Piano Concerto #1 with Yefim Brofman

July 4        Jazz Singer and Pianist Diana Krall

July 11      Wagners "Die Meistersinger von Nurnburg, " Act III (concert presentation)

July 12   ` Joshua Bell, Bruch Violin Concerto #1

July 15    "Stage Music in the Play of William Shakespeare" with actor F. Murray Abraham and Le Concert des  Nations

July 18    Boston Pops Film Night with John Williams:  The Warner Brothers Legacy

July 25     Brahms "A German Requiem," James Levine conducting

July 26     Mozart's "Don Giovanni" (fully staged)

July 28    Tanglewood on Parade

Aug 5,6   Mark Morris Dance Group with Emanuel Ax and Yo-Yo Ma

Aug 7      Boston Pops with Keith Lockhard, trumpeteer Chris Botti

Aug 7-11   Festival of Contemporary Music

Aug 9    Yo-Yo Ma, cello, Shostakovish Cello Concerto #1

Aug 14    Shostakovitch Symphony #1 and Rachmaninoff Piano Concerto #3, Yefin Brafman, Michael Tilson Thomas conducting

Aug 19    Michael Tison Thomas presents "The Thomashefskys:  Music and Memories of a Life in the Yiddish Theater"

Aug 23    Beethoven Symphony #9 with Michael Tilson Thomas

Aug 27-30    James Taylor

Sept 4-6    Tanglewood Jazz Festival

Hampton Terrace, the top-rated Lenox inn based on Trip Advisor reviews, has been hosting Tanglewood patrons since 1937…the very year that Tanglewood became the summer home of the Boston Symphony.  We are located one mile from the Tanglewood gate and less than two blocks from all Lenox restaurants and shops.   More than 50% of our summer guests are repeat, so if you are considering a stay with us, please contact us early.   For the 2007 and 2008 summers, we held our rates level, and plan to offer the same rates for the 2009 summer until February, 2009.   At that point, we will implement a 5% across the board increase, so we encourage our existing guests…and those of you who want to give us a try, to contact us as soon as you have chosen a weekend.

We will continue to offer our popular mid-week special, which brings a multiple-night stay down to $190/night, a 30% discount.

I am here to dispel the misconception that things close down when the Boston Symphony leaves Tanglewood at the end of August.   To the contrary, all of the theater groups continue right through October, the museums don't miss a beat, and in fact, it can be demonstrated that MORE things are happening, as the individual towns attempt to extend the "season" by holding festivals celebrating everything from apples to zuchinis (true!).

So before putting Tanglewood in the rear view window, let's talk about their annual Jazz Festival on Labor Day Weekend.   This year marks a 90th Birthday celebration for Marian McPartland, the ubiquitous host of NPR's Piano Jazz.   For the seventh year, she'll be taping her live show for broadcast.    Also during the weekend, Tanglewood will present jazz luminaries Mark O'Connor, Edmar Castaneda, Joe Locke, Elaine Elias, Nnenna Freelon, Spencer Day, Mulgrew Miller, Donal Fox, Christian Scott (pictured), Dianne Reeves, Eddie Daniels, Jane Monheit, and Terence Blanchard.     For a schedule, and ticket information, TANGLEWOOD JAZZ FESTIVAL.

For something COMPLETELY different, the 3rd Annual Rock, Rattle & Drum Pow Wow will be held at Eastover Resort in Lenox.   Subtitled the "Spirit on the Mountain Music Festival," the weekend includes an authentic American Indian Pow Wow, American Indian Grammy winners Bill Miller and Indigenous, and the 60's icon band, Jefferson Starship.   The setting will also include Native American arts and crafts, food and vendors.   For information, CLICK HERE.

This represents only two suggestions for Labor Day.   There are hundreds of other options, from Shakespeare & Company and Berkshire Theater Festival, to blueberry picking and bar hopping.   As always, as a future guest of Hampton Terrace, we provide a long list of advance information to help you plan you stay.

For the Labor Day weekend, it is still possible to stay at Hampton Terrace Bed and Breakfast in Lenox.   Unlike many of the local Berkshire inns, we only require a two night minimum.   That leaves single Friday and Sunday nights available as well, so if you want to catch the Sunday show, for example, it is possible to stay here.   We are very proud that Hampton Terrace is now ranked #1 in Lenox, based on TripAdvisor unsolicited guest reviews.