During late July into early August, with concerts at Tanglewood and at other celebrated regional venues, the classical music festival high season lights up with sure-fire programming. Major orchestral offerings at Tanglewood this week include Mozart's groundbreaking Symphony No. 40 and Brahms' poignant Symphony No. 3, along with solo star turns by the world-renowned pianist Garrick Ohlsson and the sublimely poetic violinist Gil Shaham.

Adventurous listeners take note: Add to the above the Festival of Contemporary Music from July 26-30 in Ozawa Hall, directed by composer/conductor/pianist Thomas Adès. The musical palette broadens to present a gallery of newly composed works,

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PITTSFIELD, Mass. — Barrington Stage Youth Theatre presents "James and the Giant Peach" from July 26 through Aug. 12 at Berkshire Museum.

"James and the Giant Peach," book by Timothy Allen MdDonald, based on the book "James and the Giant Peach" by Roald Dahl, is a brand new take on this "masterpeach" of a tale. Featuring a wickedly tuneful score and a witty and charming book, this is an adventurous musical about courage and self-discovery. When James is sent by his conniving aunts to chop down their old fruit tree, he discovers a magic potion that grows a tremendous peach, rolls into the ocean and launches a journey of enormous proportions.

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Tanglewood in Lenox is the place to be this week for unforgettable music. Why go? To experience the symphonic and solo concerto masterworks of Mozart, Sibelius and Aaron Copland in the Shed, as well as stirring, not-to-be-missed, stellar performances in Ozawa Hall. Fabulous guest artists – the masterful pianist Emanuel Ax, brilliant violinists Pamela Frank and Christian Tetzlaff and the phenomenal Emerson String Quartet – will take center stage.

For something uniquely special and just as eagerly anticipated, consider attending Sevenars Concerts in South Worthington, Ma., for an exhilarating program of cello/piano masterpieces by Bach, Beethoven, Brahms and Prokofiev. This

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Our focus this week shifts to north county — Williamstown and North Adams. While that might require a bit of a drive for those coming from farther south, I believe it will be worth it as you discover a brand new musical and a masterwork that combines elements of folk, rock and classical.

At the Williamstown Theatre Festival, which always has treats in store, the world premiere of "Lempicka" opens its run Thursday, July 19, on the Main Stage, at the '62 Center on the campus of Williams College.

The music is by Matt Gould, with book and lyrics by Carson Kreitzer. It is inspired by the life of the artist "who transformed herself

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WILLIAMSTOWN, Mass. — The Clark Art Institute announces the appointment of Robert Wiesenberger as associate curator of contemporary projects, a position reflecting the growing significance of modern and contemporary art to the institute's museum program.

Wiesenberger currently serves as critic at the Yale School of Art in New Haven, Conn.

"The addition of Rob Wiesenberger to our curatorial team is an important reflection of our commitment to extending the Clark's focus on contemporary art, and Rob will surely enhance the depth and diversity of our exhibition program," said Olivier Meslay, the Hardymon director of the Clark. "We have been actively working in

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All varieties of popular music blanket the Berkshires in mid-July. At Tanglewood, it's Bernstein. At Mass MoCA, it's singer/songwriter Courtney Barnett and the start of the 17th annual Bang on a Can Festival. At Jacob's Pillow, it's a remarkable group of musical theater dancers plus Dorrance Dance.

Yes, I'm stretching the word by calling the upcoming shows "pop." But they are popular in the best sense of the word —they appeal to everyone. For me, great music knows no boundaries.

How about a zesty lesser-known Bernstein? Thursday evening, July 12, at Ozawa Hall, catch the semi-staged version of Leonard Bernstein's "Trouble in

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It didn't have to be this good.

Just hearing one or two songs from the 1968 rock musical "Hair" – like "Let the Sunshine In" or "Good Morning Starshine" – would have been enough to bring tears to our eyes and a longing for a time when the youth of America could and did change our country.

That's what happened when Kate Maguire, artistic director and CEO of the Berkshire Theatre Group, heard a young woman sing the above songs at an American Theatre Wing event not long ago. She told us in a talkback that on the spot she decided to bring a revival of the show in the intimate space of the Unicorn Theatre, where the audience could be a part

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