Supporting the Arts in Western Massachusetts and Beyond

July 24, 2015

Sunday Tanglewood Lawn Afternoons


Tanglewood: Lenox, MA 
www.tanglewood.org 
through August 23, 2015
By Mary Fernandez-Sierra

For some Tanglewood fans, sitting in the shelter of the comfortable shed is the best way to enjoy a concert. There are also those who long for lovely outdoor landscapes to match the music they hear…and who relish the feeling of symphonies wafting around them on the wind.

The lush greens lawns of Tanglewood and the trees gracefully shading everywhere provide such a sensuous setting. One has the choice of the loveliest seats of all, by setting up one’s own space (often picnic-style) on the lawn. It’s there that, for many, the music comes alive in the sweet sunshine and open air.

The Sunday afternoon program on July 19 featured two Mozart works: Symphony No. 35 in D, K.386 “Haffner;” and Symphony No. 36 in C, K.425 “Linz,” as well as Schumann’s Piano concerto in A minor, Opus 54. Sir Neville Marriner conducted the Boston Symphony Orchestra, and it was a treat and a joy to be present.

Paul Lewis, playing the Schumann piano concerto, was the jewel in this lovely musical setting. Mr. Lewis stated in an interview that the concerto was like a love-letter from Schumann to his wife Clara. Judging by the hush as he played, and the tumultuous applause he received afterward, the listeners on the lawn (as well as those in the shed!) fell in love, too.

This particular concert was a true midsummer idyll; even the storm clouds, hovering on the outskirts of the Tanglewood skies throughout the afternoon, politely gave way, and did not intrude with rain until the concert was over.

Sunday concerts start at 2:30 pm; the gate opens at 12 noon. Arrive early to discover the best lawn places… and to enjoy the magic of a Sunday Tanglewood lawn afternoon.