A selective, curatorial view of the cultural highlights of the upcoming weekend in the greater Berkshire region.

 

 

 

AUTHORS ELIF BATUMAN, BUZZY JACKSON, and KATE REED PETTY at THE MOUNT

(LENOX, Mass.) – Authors Elif Batuman, Buzzy Jackson, and Kate Reed Petty, 2018 Edith Wharton Writers-in-Residence, celebrate their time spent at The Mount in Writers in the House, a free, public conversation on Tues, Mar 20, at 4pm. Moderator Donna M. Lucey, a 2017 Edith Wharton Writer-in-Residence, will discuss with them their experience, current projects, careers, and Edith Wharton as a continuing influence on women writers.

 

 

 

 

 

ARIEL QUARTET PLAYS SCHUMANN, BRAHMS, and JANACEK at MAHAIWE

(GREAT BARRINGTON, Mass.) – The Ariel Quartet performs works by Schumann, Brahms, and Leos Janá?ek in a program of string quartets sharing the theme of a love triangle, at the Mahaiwe on Sat, Mar 17, at 6pm, as part of the Close Encounters With Music series. The musicians are Gershon Gerchikov, violin; Alexandra Kazovsky, violin; Jan Grüning, viola; and Amit Even-Tov, cello.

 

 

 

 

 

 

MIKE BIRBIGLIA and NELLIE McKAY HEADLINE COMEDY FEST at MASS MoCA

(NORTH ADAMS, Mass.) – Storytelling funny man and This American Life regular Mike Birbiglia and comedic songstress Nellie McKay headline the annual, two-day High Mud Comedy Festival at MASS MoCA this weekend. Also on tap are Saturday Night Live alum Sasheer Zamata, Maggie Crane, Comedy Central-favorite Matteo Lane, Joyelle Johnson, and glamazon hip-hop icon Shasta Geaux Pop, plus funny films, comedy-writing workshops, and more. (Fri-Sat, Mar 16–17)

 

 

 

 

 

CASSATT STRING QUARTET PLAYS BEETHOVEN, DVORAK, and ZHURBIN at WILLIAMS

(WILLIAMSTOWN, Mass.) – The Cassatt String Quartet will perform works by Beethoven, Dvorak, and Lev “Ljova” Zhurbin in a free concert in Brooks-Rogers Recital Hall at Williams College on Thurs, Mar 15 at 8pm. Cassatt members include Muneko Otani and Jennifer Leshnower, violins; Ah Ling Neu, viola; and Elizabeth Anderson, cello.

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

‘30UNDER30:2’ at NO. SIX DEPOT GALLERY SHOWCASES HOMEGROWN TALENT

(WEST STOCKBRIDGE, Mass.) – “30under30:2,” a multimedia exhibition featuring works by 30 young artists hailing from or currently living in or around the Berkshires, is on view at No. Six Depot Gallery now through April 20. Artists represented include Isabella Tobiason, Dana Piazza, Fiona McTeigue, Wes Elliot, Erin Potter, Fiona Wood, Olivia Wade, Lee Blackmer, Rebecca van der Meulen, Sam Backhaus, Ruslan Sprague, and Molly Ann Almeida. The exhibition is curated by Mika Mintz.

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

COMING SOON: MERLIN & POLINA SHEPHERD to BRING GLOBAL KLEZMER SOUNDS to HELSINKI HUDSON

(HUDSON, N.Y.) – The world-renowned Merlin and Polina Shepherd Klezmer Duo brings its innovative blend of world music, jazz, classical, Islamic, Russian, Yiddish, and klezmer sounds to Club Helsinki Hudson on Sunday, April 8, at 7pm, as part of the Rogovoy Salon, the music and literary series curated and hosted by cultural journalist and music critic Seth Rogovoy.

This concert by the UK-based, international virtuosos caps a day-long celebration of a milestone in host Seth Rogovoy’s life and will likely include appearances by surprise special-guest artists. Come out and help celebrate with Seth and the assembled crowd of family, friends, and music lovers.