Ella Fitzgerald (April 25, 1917 – June 15, 1996) was among yhe foremost jazz singers of her generation. In Ozawa Hall a centennial celebration was organized by arranger, Lee Musiker in collaboration with classical singers Stephanie Blythe and Dawn Upshaw. Together they are mentoring vocal fellows who comprised most of the program.

Lester Bangs tells us the story of his life, how he got turned on to words reading Allen Ginsberg, Jack Kerouac and William Burroughs, how he discovered the music that changed his life, and how he began to write music reviews. Also how he began to consume pills by the handful (acid, with beer) and Romilar cough syrup by the bottle.

The stage designs, lighting and props for Jessica Land Dance evoked a particular invention of abstract art. The now established company, founded in 2011, makes annual visits to Pillow this time on the main stage of Ted Shawn Theatre. The dance is varied, fresh and inventive.

Sondheim on Sondheim presents a multi-media scrapbook on the life and work of Broadway's genius, Stephen Sondheim. A unique personal glance at not only Sondheim's life, but his creation of Broadway musicals. This evening provides insight into Sondheim's process and the life experiences that influenced his work. The eight vocalists, including four Tanglewood Music Center Vocal Fellows, deliver Sondheim's music with feeling and vocal power.

Martina Arroyo, spinto soprano supreme, has committed a foundation in her name to the production of operas in which young talent, on the cups of careers, are given a chance to perform. At the Danny Kaye Theater in New York, George Bizet's Carmen was as fresh and compelling as any recent performance of this delicious warhorse.

With Cymbeline it seems that Tina Packer, the founding artistic director of Shakespeare & Company, has completed her personal cycle of the canon. Although rarely performed, arguably Packer has saved the best for last. This is a complex and messy play but with brilliant direction, a gifted cast and super production that welter of confusion has been turned on its head with stunning results. This is the must see play of the Berkshire season and is on the short list of best productions by Packer and S&Co.

It’s often said that in some museums you go from a masterpiece to something less in a step. The Frick, mainly the inspiration of the daughter of the steel magnate from Pittsburgh who dueled with Andrew Carnegie, each work that hangs on the walls of the Frick home in New York is perfection.

For Nelsons and the BSO the performance of Gustav Mahler's sublime, mystical, poetic and powerful Symphony No. 2 in C Minor proved to be physically and emotionally exhausting.

Ft. Lauderdale company's Twelfth Night achieves mixed results. Production of Shakespeare comedy is highly energetic, entertaining. The play is staged in intimate space through July 23

Measure for Measure is a romantic comedy, ending with the lusty union of a Duke and a prospective nun with other nuptials pending. Yet it is an odd romantic comedy, propelled by the Sermon on the Mount. Director Simon Corwin and his team make the message contemporary. Man's darker side often conflicts with society's laws. The play comes as close to being timeless as any of the Bard’s works.

It seems that almost everyone has a show-stopping song. And the action constantly moves to a change of place and tone and feeling. When, after we’ve been variously entertained by several couples, at least five major contenders for the star role, and much clowning, one of the big, oafish, slangy gangsters, stands up in church and sings a confessional song that brings the house down.

18,500 guests visit Tanglewood on July 4th to pay their yearly homage to the Berkshires' best known musician, James Taylor. Bonnie Raitt joined him during the holiday celebration.

The Summer of Love Experience: Art, Fashion, and Rock & Roll is celebrated at the De Young Museum in San Francisco through August 20. Fifty years ago kids from all over the nation flocked to Haight Ashberry with flowers in their hair. This amazing exhibition displays the artifacts of that phenomenon.

The Bennington Center for the Arts, in partnership with the Summer Sonatina International Piano Camp, presents soprano, Sylvia Stoner and pianist, Noah Palmer as the fourth concert guests in the summer music series, performing on Friday, July 14th.

When in Frisco a landmark for hearty breakfast is Sears Fine Food steps from Union Square. There are lines from morning through dinner. Mostly the ham and egger, which was founded in 1938, is famous for Swedish pancakes.

Last summer at Williamstown Theatre Festival the director, Danny Sharron, collaborated with playwright, Jason Kim (HBOs' Girls) to develop a new play. The Model American is being given a hip and sleek world premiere at Nikos Stage. There is, however, nothing to like about its amoral anti hero and arguably the play itself. It is performing to sold out audiences with mostly positive reviews.

After leaving 10,000 Maniacs in 1993, her solo career debuted with her first album, Tigerlily, in 1995. Since then, Natalie Merchants hasn't turned back and is due to release a 10 record set on July 17th, a feat few artists achieve.

The play is originally set in Messina, Sicily. Except for retaining the Italian character names, director Robert Currier's delightful "Much Ado" is transported to the bare clapboard, hardscrabble world of the Hatfields and McCoys - the border lands of Kentucky and West Virginia. The set is crude, the costumes are peasant-style, and the language an admixture of Shakespearian eloquence with down home Southern earthiness.

Canada’s great Stratford Festival’s 63rd season also celebrates Canada’s 150th birthday. Its dazzling opening week of stunning productions this year consisted of seven major classic works; the later openings this season will feature new and experimental theater.

In the age of social media everyone is a critic., Some enthusiasts post their "reviews" and images to Twitter and Facebook before curtain calls.That was he elephant in the room as some 80 of the 250 members of American Theatre Critics Association gathered for an annual conference this time in San Francisco. In addition to several days of seeing theatre there were meetings and panel discussions focused on issues and ideas in the profession.

“Constellations”, a poignant drama written by British playwright Nick Payne, is deftly staged by award-winning director Giovanna Sardelli that validates the acting gifts of its two stars: pixie-like Ginnifer Goodwin and handsome leading man Allen Leech (best known for his six year run in the TV blockbuster series “Downton Abbey”, as the family chauffeur).

Samara is one of Wright’s Usonian houses, affordable homes for middle-income families. There are about 60 of these houses in the U.S. and they are smaller and less grand than some of the famous Wright Prairie-style mansions like the Robie house or the Avery Coonley house in Riverside. But they are no less uniquely Wrightian and feature the architect’s special touches in design and functionality.

A new dark comedy, Firemen Are Rarely Necessary shines harsh light on global warming, censorship and corruption in government. Short, pithy scenes and snappy dialogue keep us riveted. A new play by Theo Reyna has biting comedy that awakens us to realities.

Since a debut for Inside Out the free alfresco program Mi\chelle Dorrance and her company have appeared for times at Jacob's Pillow Dance. This time she was a two-week resident in a summit meeting of established and emerging tap dancers. The highlight of this event was an invitation to curate Tireless: A Tap Dance Experience. It introduced us to emerging as well as under-recognized tap performers. They were accompanied by astonishing jazz musicians.

With its own produced concerts and 18 sponsored groups, the BEMF programs music from 9:30 a.m. to midnight, which only the most intrepid music lovers can attend. Your reporter made it to nine, including both operas, in seven days. With the theme of "carnival," there was a lot of outside-the-law music, including some salacious texts, to consider.