Tanglewood Through the Years

2026 - Looking from the shed out to the lawn. Believe it or not this is just for the morning rehearsal. It's much more crowded for the main concerts. And in the hot weather, everyone tries for spots under the trees.

2026 - Our view from our inside seats for the rehearsal - full Tanglewood Choir and Orchestra for Beethoven's Nineth Symphony.  

This the earliest photo I found. That's Debbie D'Arpa on the left, then baby Jenny, Kathy Herald (my old roommate) Marty and Russ Wolf, myself and 2 year old James. 

Tanglewood is the summer home of the Boston Symphony since 1937. It's located in Lenox, MA in the Berkshires and also has 3 music schools on the spacious grounds, It also hosts the Festival of Contemporary Music, jazz and popular artists, concerts and frequent appearances by James Taylor, John Williams and the Boston Pops. During the season the Symphony performs 7 to 8 weekends. Each weekend there are two evening concerts, a Saturday morning rehearsal, and a Sunday 2 PM final concert.

1984 - Sandy Francour, David Wood and Pam 
Gilpatrick

Pam, Russ, Doug & Susan Youmans, Scott and in 
front David & Leslie Silverstein and Debbie.

Zoë, Jenny and James

I've been attending weekends there since 1971. The first years I went with friends and either stayed in B&Bs or camped. That continued with Scott until we had children. Then we rented a cottage nearby for a week. The Wolfs, David Wood and Silversteins always joined us and later Dick & Debbie, and Doug & Susan.  

Russ & Marty, Tim, Julie, Sandy, Doug and Tom

1987 - Heather, James, Scott and Jenny

Before kids, we often went to several concerts but after their arrival it was the Sunday afternoon performance. We'd come early and set up on the lawn at the back, where the kids could roam around. And we could mostly keep them quiet during the concert itself. As you can see from the photos, we got dressed up as befitting the setting. And the lunches were pretty elaborate too! 

1988 Sandy came to all the early ones, until she moved to California. Here with Susan, Tom and in the foreground Julie, Jenny and Sean.

The kids got dressed up for this occasion and didn't even complain.

Latter when the kids were older we moved closer to the stage and didn't have to discipline them. I love this photo of James, lounging!

1990, Sandy, and behind her and to the left,
Lesa and Bob DeFeyter. Molly and 

James, Marty and Molly

 

They loved going and later, even some of the music. We continued doing this every summer until at least 1992. I can't find photos after that (although it may be that the enormous numbers of digital camera photos overwhelm my search). That is until more recently when They've started again. I found 2014 and 2021. 

1991 One of my favorite photos of Scott and I and Sean

1991 - Heather, David's niece and husband, Sean & James, Lesa & Bob and David

1992 Pat Bagnell, Scott, Heather and David

2014 - It was an adult trip this time with Dick & Debbie - great picnic and then we sat inside!

Just a few years ago in 2021 we spent a weekend with Sean & Will. It was a real feast as we did evening concerts Friday and Saturday . Then on Sunday we went to Jacob's Pillow. Our most recent visit was August 22nd when Scott and I attended the Saturday morning rehearsal of Beethoven's Nineth Symphony. Amazing! And we sat inside. Photos from this year are at the beginning of the post.

1921 - It was a very hot day and we managed to find a shaded spot for our picnic and then sat inside for the concert. 

2021 - Posing at the end of the lawn where we used to set up camp!

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