by Shera Cohen
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| Photo by Hilary Scott |
The rains came exactly six bars into Mimi’s aria in Act I of
Puccini’s “La Boheme”. Thunder and lightning put a damper on Kristine Opolais’
lush soprano voice. While the elements immediately scattered many of the opera
lovers seated on the lawn, nothing stopped the Boston Symphony Orchestra’s
presentation of this best of the classics. The lawn folk rushed under the
Shed’s awnings, into the gift shop, to their cars, or remained a bit soggy in
their beach chairs. Fortunately, for all, the weather returned to its former
status after about 10 – 15 minutes.
Welcome to Tanglewood, where the venue is equal in beauty,
importance, and feeling to the music performed here. Two of the larger stages
are The Shed and Osawa Hall. Numerous smaller sites dot the many acres, most
used for education, rehearsals, and small concerts. Indeed, there is never
silence at Tanglewood. Even the sounds of birds literally chime in from the
rafters in the Shed. A few extra notes of nature never intruded on “La Boheme”.
Conducted by Maestro Andris Nelsons and directed by Daniel
Rigazzi, the semi-staged work proved that opera doesn’t necessarily need the
ancillary trappings to be perfect. The voices of the nine principles,
Tanglewood Chorus, and BSO Children’s Choir created the full opera from opening
notes to finale death scene [not a spoiler] with emotion and energy.
On this particular Tanglewood week, concerts were scheduled
every day (morning, afternoon, and/or evening).
The day prior to “La Boheme,” pianist Paul Lewis exquisitely
tackled another opera composer when he performed “Siegfried Idyll” by Wagner.
The following day, another pianist, Yuja Wang, played Beethoven and Bernstein.
This is “the year” of Leonard Bernstein, as 2018 would have marked his 100th
birthday. Tanglewood staff have peppered the season with Bernstein music.
Usually, there’s not much to do, culturally speaking, on
Monday nights. However, Tanglewood Music Center Orchestra (different from BSO,
but nearly as beautiful) challenged themselves with the best of Mozart,
Beethoven, and Brahms.
Well, Tuesdays are not very popular either. Wrong again.
Tanglewood Music Center’s vocalists took the stage at Ozawa Hall.
An entire evening of Mozart followed. Four lengthy sonatas
were performed as duets by notes pianist Emanuel Ax and violinist Pamela Frank.
Every seat in Osawa Hall was filled as well as a large expanse on the lawn
behind the back wall. Both performers were confident and somewhat unassuming
before their appreciative audience. “Maniax” t-shirts were apparently the
clothing of choice, worn by many adult fans sitting in their “Maniax” section of
the hall.
