One of the most acclaimed singer-songwriters of her generation, Dar Williams has been engaging audiences with her musical artistry since the early 1990s when she rose from the Northeast coffeehouse circuit to the national spotlight. A native of New York's Hudson Valley, where she still resides, Williams maintains in her life and music a strong system of values, idealism and community involvement.

Throughout her career, Williams has toured with such as Joan Baez, Mary Chapin Carpenter, Ani DiFranco and Shawn Colvin. Williams' devotion to activism remains as strong as ever. Her causes range from environmental protection to social action; she has helped spearhead grassroots organizations around the country alongside her legions of fans.

"Seasons change, but Williams remains both ambitious and pleasingly plain-spoken....and importantly, she sees more at ease than ever." Rolling Stone Magazine.

Karita Mattila caused a sensation when she sang Salome at the Met for the first time in 2004. She reprises her stunning interpretation of the part, including her unforgettable Dance of the Seven Veils.

Conductor: Mikko Franck; Production: JŸrgen Flimm; Karita Mattila, Ildiko Komlosi, Juha Uusitalo, Kim Begley, Joseph Kaiser

Approximate Running Time 1 hrs. 37 min. www.metoperafamily.org/metopera/broadcast/hd_events

A glittering evening of Baroque and Classical works for chamber orchestra and soloists, featuring a royal flush of composers who wrote for Europe's most musically voracious rulers: Haydn's Cello Concerto in D Major; Mozart's "Musical Joke"; the splendor of Bach's Double Concerto for two violins; and Italian gems from Corelli and Vivaldi. With the Camerata San Marco, a virtuosic all-woman string orchestra, and guest soloists. This musical excursion includes the courts of Habsburg and Esterhazy and the palaces of Saxony and Venice. First in a six-concert series, through May 2009. Subscriptions (through www.cewm.org) and best seats available now!

"It was a brilliant way to kick off a season...demonstrating it to be a Chamber Music Series on par with anything heard at Tanglewood at the height of the season. For this, we year-rounders are blessed." -The Rogovoy Report

Berkshire Taconic takes a look at our community's future with a free public conversation about an issue with regional impact. National and local experts will make presentations and answer questions from the audience. An open reception will follow the event.

Berkshire Taconic is the community foundation for Berkshire, Columbia, northeast Dutchess and northwest Litchfield counties. www.berkshiretaconic.org/

Richard Thompson was named by Rolling Stone Magazine as one of the Top 20 Guitarists of all-time and the recent recipient of both an Ivor Novello Award for Songwriting and the 2006 BBC Lifetime Achievement Award, the iconic British folk rock legend is one of the world's most critically acclaimed and prolific songwriters. His work is admired and recorded by such artists as Bonnie Raitt, David Byrne and Elvis Costello. From his teenage years as a founding member of the 1960's pioneering group Fairport Convention to duo work with his then-wife, Linda Thompson, and over 20 years as a solo artist, to scoring Werner Hertzog's 2005 documentary 'Grizzly Man', Richard Thompson's astounding body of work includes over 40 albums of lyrical wit anchored by such a singular acoustic and electric guitar delivery.

"Like all genuine art, it satisfies completely." Newsweek

As a guitarist Thompson is notable for the breadth of his influences ? which range from Buddy Holly and James Burton via Les Paul and Django Reinhardt to less likely influences such as pipe player Billy Pigg.

Over a long career, Thompson has received much acclaim from his peers and has consistently been well-regarded by critics. In August 2003, Rolling Stone magazine listed Thompson as #19 on its list of The 100 Greatest Guitarists of All Time.

"In the guitar god firmament, Thompson easily takes a place beside Eric Clapton and Jimmy Page. He has certainly been the most consistently imaginative English plank spanker of modern times." - Daily Mirror

"Thompson's voice has only grown richer and more subtle with age, his legendary soloing still equal parts lyrical and emotionally violent." William Mills

Leo Lionni's exquisite collage works are ideally suited for Mermaid Theatre of Nova Scotia's unique approach to stage adaptation. The three Caldecott Honor books Mermaid has chosen for its tribute, SWIMMY, INCH BY INCH and FREDERICK, are amoung Lionni's most beloved works. Their images are strikingly beautiful, and their texts are whimsical yet wistful.

Joseph Silverstein, former concertmaster and assistant conductor of the Boston Symphony Orchestra and Conductor Laureate, Utah Symphony, invites some of the brightest and best of Berkshire Music School alumni to join him and friends from the Chamber Music Society of Lincoln Center for a dazzling afternoon of chamber music.

Berkshire Music School (BMS) alumni include Juilliard doctoral student Francesca Anderegg, violin, and Juilliard master's student Kathryn Anderson, violin. Proceeds from the concert go to the education programs at BMS, a non-profit organization located in Pittsfield, which has been providing quality music instruction for nearly 70 years. www.berkshiremusicschool.org

Taj Mahal was born in Harlem, in New York City, but grew up in Springfield, Massachusetts. His father was a jazz pianist/composer/arranger of Jamaican descent, while his mother was an African American schoolteacher from South Carolina who sang gospel.

You could call him a singer, multi-instrumentalist, composer, producer, ethnomusicologist, two-time Grammy-winner, world-class musical collaborator, musicians' advocate, world traveler, fisherman, or cigar aficionado. These titles are all accurate, yet none convey the warmth, humor, and soulfulness of Taj and his music.

Taj has been playing his own distinctive brand of music -- variously described as Afro-Caribbean blues, folk-world-blues, hula blues, folk-funk, and a host of other hyphenations -- for more than 40 years. Caribbean, Hawaiian, African, Latin, and Cuban sounds and rhythms mix with folk, jazz, zydeco, gospel, rock, pop, soul, and R&B, all layered on top of a solid country blues foundation.

Doctor Atomic (Met Premiere) Adams
Saturday, November 8, 2008 (1:00 pm ET)
John Adams's contemporary masterpiece explores a momentous episode of modern history: the creation of the atomic bomb. Director Penny Woolcock makes her Met debut with this gripping story that changed the course of history. Baritone Gerald Finley plays J. Robert Oppenheimer, the title character.

Conductor: Alan Gilbert; Production: Penny Woolcock; Sasha Cooke, Meredith Arwady, Gerald Finley, Eric Owens, Richard Paul Fink

Running Time: 3 hours 21 minutes www.metoperafamily.org/metopera/broadcast/hd_events

David Parsons has enjoyed a remarkable career as a performer, choreographer, teacher, director and producer, choreographer, teacher, director and producer of dance. Since 1985, Parsons Dance has toured an average of 32 weeks per year, to more than 235 cities, 30 countries, six continents and millions of audience members.

Parsons Dance is committed to building new audiences for contemporary dance by creating American works of extraordinary artistry that are engaging and uplifting to audiences throughout the world.

"One of the Great Movers of Modern Dance" - The New York Times

Tony and Grammy Award-winner Duncan Sheik will be joined by original cast members Tony-winner John Gallagher and Lauren Pritchard!

In addition to writing the music for the Broadway musical hit Spring Awakening, singer-songwriter Duncan Sheik is collaborating with playwright Steven Sater on The Nightingale, a musical based on the Hans Christian Anderson classic, which premiered during the 26th annual O'Neill Music Theater Conference. Sheik has composed original music for the Public Theatre's Shakespeare in the Park production of Twelfth Night and for The Golden Rooms of Nero, which opened at the Magic Theater in San Franciso earlier this year. His self-titled debut album on Atlantic Records was an enormous popular and cricital success and spent 30 weeks on the Billboard 200.

"An Unexpected Jolt of Sudden Genius" - New York Post

Join Aaron Neville and brother Charles for some holiday cheer. After five decades of consistent hit-making, Aaron Neville has, in the words of one Rolling Stone writer, "reached a highpoint in a career marked by artistic superlatives." "Jazz," says Aaron, "was as much a part of my musical education as blues or funk. Brother Charles, who plays great tenor on this record, hipped me to modern jazz when I was a kid. He's always been an inspiration. I call him the Horn Man. He's my favorite sax player. He makes the thing talk. Charles is not only a founding member of the Neville Brothers, but he's the musical director of the Aaron Neville Quintet. When I sing, I love having him beside me. He's a gentle, beautiful man." www.aaronneville.com

La Damnation de Faust (New Production) ? Berlioz Saturday, November 22, 2008 (1:00 pm ET)
Robert Lepage, one of theater's most imaginative directors, applies his artistry to Berlioz's contemplation of good and evil. Using projections, Lepage has created a vision for La Damnation de Faust that seamlessly marries art and technology. Marcello Giordani stars in the title role opposite Susan Graham as Marguerite and John Relyea as Mephistopheles. James Levine conducts this rarely staged masterwork.
Conductor: James Levine; Production: Robert Lepage; Susan Graham, Marcello Giordani, John Relyea

Running Time: 2 hours 45 mins www.metoperafamily.org/metopera/broadcast/hd_events

Follow the yellow brick road right back through the front doors of the Mahaiwe, as Dorothy (and Toto too!) once again fill the screen. Join Dorothy (Judy Garland), and her three companions, the Tin Man (Jack Haley), the Cowardly Lion (Bert Lahr), and the Scarecrow (Ray Bolger), as they travel the precarious road to Oz. Join generations of Wizard of Oz fans for this special annual movie presentation.

David Thomas Mason is an English musician, singer, songwriter, and guitarist from Worcester, who first found fame with the rock band Traffic. In his long career, Mason has played and recorded with many of the era's most notable musicians, including Jimi Hendrix, Michael Jackson, The Rolling Stones, Eric Clapton, George Harrison and Mama Cass Elliot.

At 19, Mason penned the song "Feelin' Alright". This song has since become a rock and roll anthem, having been recorded by well over 48 artists, the best known version being Joe Cocker. The group's profound influence over rock music remains unquestioned even today. Mason departed from the group after their second album. In 1969 Dave headed for the USA to pursue a solo career. He struck gold with the album "Alone Together", which is considered a rock classic. This was followed by five albums for CBS/Sony including "Dave Mason" and "Mariposa De Oro", four of which received gold albums. "Let It Flow", which has gone well over platinum, contained the classic "We Just Disagree", a top-ten single which has become a staple of Oldies and Adult Contemporary radio playlists.

In addition to performing to sold-out audiences, Mason performed on a number of albums such as The Rolling Stones' "Beggars's Banquet", George Harrison's "All Things Must Pass", Paul McCartney's "Listen To What The Man Said" and Jimi Hendrix's "Electric Ladyland". One of the songs from the "Ladyland" album, "All Along the Watchtower", featured Dave playing acoustic guitar.

In October of 1993, Dave Mason formally joined the legendary group Fleetwood Mac and spent two years touring with them around the world. The band completed and album for Warner Brothers called "Time", which was released in October 1995, and features Dave's lead vocals on songs including "Blow By Blow" and "I Wonder Why".

Dave Mason's career spans over 37 years and has encompassed producing, performing and song writing. In additon he was inducted as a founding member of the group Traffic into the Rock and Roll Hall Of Fame. www.dave-mason.com

The Rose Ensemble, purveyors of an exquisite sonic art, represent the synthesis of performance and scholarship. For their third return to Close Encounters, they reincarnate themselves in the 17th and 18th centuries on American shores - in a folkloric tapestry with traditional Acadian and Scottish dance music; Shaker melodies; spirituals, wassail songs, and Colonial Jewish synagogue hymns; and Mexican Baroque and Hawaiian selections. If the Rose Ensemble is back in town, can holiday cheer be far behind?

"A supernatural blend of voices, beauty of tone, and rhythmic activity." -Early Music America Magazine.

Join the Albany Symphony with guest conductor / violin soloist Jaime Laredo for an exciting evening of exceptional classical music.

The centerpiece of the evening's performance is perhaps one of Bach's most famous works, his Concerto for Two Violins in D minor. This piece is considered among the best examples of the work of the late Baroque period. The concerto is characterized by the subtle yet expressive relationship between the violins throughout the work, and features Albany Symphony's Concert Master Jill Levy as the second violin soloist.

Mermaid Theare of Nova Scotia presents The Very Hungry Caterpillar and other Eric Carle favorites, adapted, directed and designed by Jim Morrow, music by Steven Naylor, and narrated by Gordon Pinsent.

The Very Hungry Caterpillar follows the wonderful adventures of a very tiny and very hungry caterpillar that progresses through an amazing variety of foods towards his eventual metamorphosis into a beautiful butterfly.

Thais (New Production) Massenet Saturday, December 20, 2008 (12:00 pm ET)
Renee Fleming stars as the Egyptian courtesan in search of spiritual sustenance. Thomas Hampson is the monk who falls from grace. Massenet's sensual opera is presented in a new production by John Cox.

Conductor: Jesus Lopez-Cobos; Production: John Cox; Renee Fleming, Thomas Hampson, Michael Schade
br> Running Time: 3 hrs 21 mins www.metoperafamily.org/metopera/broadcast/hd_events

Back by popular request, the virtuosi of the Berkshire Bach Ensemble, directed by harpsichordist Kenneth Cooper, return with their "irrepressible" versions of The Brandenburg Concerti of Johann Sebastian Bach. Known for a zesty and captivating style, the Berkshire Bach Ensemble always delivers these great works with its inimitable passion and vitality. Come and savor this classic concert and join in a festive evening as the Berkshire Bach Society ushers in the New Year in Style!

La Rondine (New Production) -Puccini Saturday, January 10, 2009 (1:00 pm ET)

Angela Gheorghiu and Roberto Alagna provide the star power to deliver this ravishing romance from the world's most popular opera composer. Gheorghiu plays the kept woman who gambles on true love, and Alagna is the man who makes her question the cost of her glittering existence. Nicolas Joel directs the new production of this gorgeously melodic look at love.

Conductor: Marco Armiliato; Production: Nicolas Joel; Angela Gheorghiu, Lisette Oropesa, Roberto Alagna, Marius Brenciu, Samuel Ramey

2 hrs 15 mins www.metoperafamily.org/metopera/broadcast/hd_events

Orfeo ed Euridice -Gluck Saturday, January 24, 2009 (1:00 pm ET)

Mark Morris's acclaimed production returns. This complete vision for Gluck, with choreography by Morris and costumes by Isaac Mizrahi, features the artistry of Stephanie Blythe in the male title role. The alluring Danielle de Niese is Orfeo's adored wife, Euridice, who inspires the hero to face the underworld for her sake. Music Director James Levine conducts.

Conductor: James Levine; Production: Mark Morris; Stephanie Blythe, Danielle de Niese

Running Time: 1 hr 31 minutes www.metoperafamily.org/metopera/broadcast/hd_events

Lucia di Lammermoor -Donizetti Saturday, February 7, 2009 (1:00 pm ET)

Anna Netrebko sings the title role of Donizetti's fragile heroine for the first time at the Met, with tenor Rolando Villazon in the part of her lover, Edgardo. Baritone Mariusz Kwiecien is her tyrannical brother. Mary Zimmerman's hit production is staged as a Victorian ghost story.

Conductor: Marco Armiliato; Production: Mary Zimmerman; Anna Netrebko, Rolando Villazon, Mariusz Kwiecien, Ildar Abdrazakov

Running Time: 3 hours 34 minutes www.metoperafamily.org/metopera/broadcast/hd_events

Madama Butterfly -Puccini Saturday, March 7, 2009 (1:00 pm ET)

Cristina Gallardo-Domas returns to the title role of Anthony Minghella's stunning production, a new classic of the Met repertory, opposite Marcello Giordani.

Conductor: Patrick Summers; Production: Anthony Minghella; Cristina Gallardo-Domas, Marcello Giordani

Running Time: 3 hrs 23 minutes www.metoperafamily.org/metopera/broadcast/hd_events

La Sonnambula (New Production) -Bellini Saturday, March 21, 2009 (1:00 pm ET)

Mary Zimmerman, who directed Natalie Dessay in last season's hit production of Lucia di Lammermoor, underlines La Sonnambula's dual elements of sleep and wakefulness in an intriguing staging set in the present. Bellini's hauntingly lyrical score soars as performed by Dessay and Juan Diego Florez, back from their sensational run together in La Fille du Regiment.

Conductor: Evelino Pido; Production: Mary Zimmerman; Natalie Dessay, Juan Diego Florez, Michele Pertusi

Running Time: 2 hrs 30 minutes www.metoperafamily.org/metopera/broadcast/hd_events

La Cenerentola -Rossini Saturday, May 9, 2009 (12:30 pm ET)

Hot on the heels of her triumphant Met debut as Rosina in last season's Il Barbiere di Siviglia, Elina Garanca portrays another Rossini charmer in this bel canto Cinderella story. Lawrence Brownlee is her Prince Charming. Veteran baritone Alessandro Corbelli demonstrates his impeccable comic timing to match the gravitas of Met favorite John Relyea.

Conductor: Maurizio Benini; Production: Cesare Lievi; Elina Garanca , Lawrence Brownlee, Simone Alberghini, Alessandro Corbelli, John Relyea

Running Time: 3 hours www.metoperafamily.org/metopera/broadcast/hd_events

$23 Adults, $21 Seniors, $16 Students & under 13
Met Members and Mahaiwe Sponsors on sale - August 8. Subscriptions are available.
Friends of the Mahaiwe on sale - August 15.
Tickets go on sale to the General Public - August 22nd.

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