Today's New York Times joins the celebration of the 60th anniversary of the Marlboro Music Festival. Bucolic it is, the former college campus in the woods of Vermont, near Brattleboro. Rudolf Serkin and Adolph Busch envisioned a retreat for musicians to live together, work, study and play-probably in all senses of the word. The Saturday night concerts in the dining hall-which had all the charm of what is was a dining hall, were always an adventure. You never know who would play what. Some weeks there were outstanding student ensembles. One night Mr. Serkin sat down and played the Goldberg Variations because he felt like it. Marlboro was and is a corner of heaven for musicians and their friends. http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=MsBXULVmBwE People bring their kids, spouses and students. The glorious outdoor setting is a day camp. The barns and studios are working laboratories, of music. And lest you feel sniffy about it, the sight of Rudolf Serkin busing tables was not uncommon. The Brattleboro Bach Festival is nearby, founded by the wonderful Blanche Honegger Moyse-she died this past February at 102! Sing the Bach Passions over three summer weekends! I did it, but...that's another story. Read More: Where Musicians Bask in the Luxury of Time (NY Times)
Christopher Purdy is Classical 101's early morning host, 7-10 a.m. weekdays. He is host and producer of Front Row Center – Classical 101’s weekly celebration of Opera and more – as well as Music in Mid-Ohio, Concerts at Ohio State, and the Columbus Symphony broadcast series. He is the regular pre-concert speaker for Columbus Symphony performances in the Ohio Theater.