Moments in Time

Head backstage at Tanglewood for candid, captured moments with some of the legendary stars that have made their mark on this very special place.

Photos courtesy of the Boston Symphony Orchestra; above, Leonard Bernstein prepares himself backstage for a performance at Tanglewood, 1977


1: Leonard Bernstein, at piano, rehearses with singers for the August 1951 performance of Beethoven’s “Missa Solemnis”


2: Head of costumes and makeup for the opera department, Leo Van Witsen, applies makeup on BMC student Marjorie McClung for the opera “Griffelkin,” 1956


3: Duke Ellington, Arthur Fiedler, and Richard Hayman laugh together during a recording playback session, circa 1965


4: John Denver, 1973


5: Janis Joplin and Erich Leinsdorf at Tanglewood, 1969 (Joplin reportedly refused to perform until the police left the stagefront area because she said that they spoiled the atmosphere)


6: James Taylor and Yo-Yo Ma, 2013


7: Tim Hardin and Joni Mitchell, 1969


8: NBC “Today” show camera crew films a string quartet on the lawn, 1962


9: Serge Koussevitzky walking to his car outside the backstage area behind the Shed, 1948


10: Andris Nelsons enjoying a quiet moment on the Tanglewood lawn, 2014

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