North Adams, Berkshire County, Massachusetts
A popular summer retreat for Bostonians and New Yorkers for well over 150 years, the scenic and historic Berkshire hills of western Massachusetts are alive with music, art, and theatre. Arts journalist Richard Selden leads a 5-day tour that offers a splendid sampling of cultural attractions in the region, from historic writers’ homes to outstanding museums to music and theatre performances.
Destinations with literary connections include Herman Melville's evocative Pittsfield farmhouse, Arrowhead, and Edith Wharton's elegant Lenox estate, the Mount. Visit the Clark Art Institute in picture-perfect Williamstown, featuring the exhibition Women Artists in Paris, 1850–1900; MASS MoCA, a collection of contemporary galleries in a 26-acre former industrial complex; and the first-rate art museums at Williams College and, on the return trip, Yale University. Be part of the audience at two intimate chamber music venues, Music Mountain (America's oldest continuing summer chamber music festival) and Yellow Barn, as well as for a performance at the acclaimed Williamstown Theatre Festival. Learn more about these performances below.
The tour includes both indoor and outdoor walking and standing, as well as extended bus rides.
FEATURED MUSIC AND THEATRE DETAILS
Music Mountain on Sun., July 29, 3 p.m.
Featuring Harlem String Quartet, Fei-Fei Dong, Piano
Beethoven: Piano Quartet #1 in E Flat Major, WoO 36 (1785)
Schubert: String Quartet in A Minor, Op. 29 #1, D. 804 “Rosamunde” (1824)
Brahms: Piano Quintet in F Minor, Op. 34 (1864)
Williamstown Theatre Festival on Tues., July 31, 7:30 p.m.
Lempicka, world premiere musical
Inspired by the life of artist Tamara de Lempicka, who transformed herself from penniless Russian refugee to star of the art world, this new musical features Carmen Cusak (2017 Tony Award nominee for Best Leading Actress in a Musical for Bright Star).
Yellow Barn on Wed., Aug. 1, evening concert
Luciano Berio: O King (1968)
Beethoven: Variations in G Major for Piano Trio on “Ich bin der Schneider Kakadu” by Wenzel Müller, Op.121a (1824)
Edison Denisov: Clarinet Quintet (1987)
Leon Kirchner: String Quartet No.4 (2006)
Dvorák: Bagatelles, Op.47 (1878)
Luciano Berio: Folk Songs (1964)
GENERAL DETAILS
- Cost includes bus transportation, lodging, all activities, admissions and fees, 3 performances, gratuities, and meals (4 breakfasts, 4 lunches, 3 dinners).
- Overnight accommodations are at the Hampton Inn, Lenox, Mass. (1 night), the Williams Inn, Williamstown, Mass. (2 nights), and the Hampton Inn, Brattleboro, Vt. (1 night).
- Tour departs by bus from the Mayflower Hotel, Connecticut Ave. and DeSales St., NW, with a pickup stop at the Doubletree by Hilton Laurel, 15101 Sweitzer Lane, Laurel, Maryland, at about 7 a.m.
- Single-room supplement $395 (factored into the Single Room Member and Single Room Non-Member pricing).
- Singles registering at the double-room rate are paired (on a nonsmoking basis) if possible, but must pay the single-room supplement otherwise.
- Detailed information is mailed to registrants about four weeks prior to departure.
- Registrants may want to consider purchasing trip insurance.
