Tanglewood Online Exhibits

Iconic American Instrumentalists at Tanglewood

For more than eight decades, Tanglewood has served as a gathering place for many of America's greatest instrumental artists. From the 1940s through the 1960s, legendary performers such as Ruth Posselt, Isaac Stern, Van Cliburn, Gregor Piatigorsky, and Jascha Heifetz brought extraordinary artistry to the Berkshires, helping establish Tanglewood as one of the nation's premier summer music destinations.

The tradition continued through the rest of the century and into the new millennium with celebrated artists such as André Watts, Joshua Bell, Peter Serkin, and Sarah Chang, whose performances inspired new generations of audiences and young musicians alike.

Among the most beloved figures in Tanglewood's history is Yo-Yo Ma, whose wide-ranging collaborations have bridged classical music, folk traditions, jazz, bluegrass, world music, and contemporary composition. Through partnerships with artists from diverse musical backgrounds and his commitment to cultural exchange, Ma has expanded the possibilities of artistic dialogue while deepening Tanglewood's spirit of innovation. This 2026 season, he returns to Tanglewood to curate a new festival presenting his perspective on American community and potential.

Tanglewood's legacy also embraces the rich traditions of American jazz and popular music. From the recently departed tenor saxophone giant Sonny Rollins to folk-rock musician Tracy Chapman, popular artists have also contributed to the breadth of musical excellence that has defined Tanglewood for generations.

Yo-Yo Ma performs with Andris Nelsons and the BSO at Tanglewood on August 2, 2015.

Photograph by Hilary Scott

1940-1960s

Ruth Posselt bows after her performance of Hindemith's Violin Concerto with the Boston Symphony Orchestra, while Leonard Bernstein applauds from the podium — **Ruth Posselt bows after her performance of Hindemith's Violin Concerto with the Boston Symphony Orchestra, Leonard Bernstein conducting, on August 7, 1947.**
BSO Music Director Serge Koussevitzky frequently praised Posselt’s musicianship, stating it was his “duty to bring the name of that exceptional American artist to the knowledge of those of my colleagues.”
*Photograph by Howard S. Babbitt, Jr.*

**Cellist Gregor Piatigorsky and violinist Jascha Heifetz pose just outside the Koussevitzky Music Shed at Tanglewood, ca. 1949.**
Both musicians also immigrated to the United States, the cellist from Ukraine and the violinist from Russia.
*Photograph by Howard S. Babbitt, Jr.*

**Isaac Stern and Charles Munch clasp hands following a performance of the Beethoven Violin Concerto in D at Tanglewood, July 22, 1961.**
*Photograph by Heinz Weissenstein (Whitestone Photo)*

**Erich Leinsdorf conducts the BSO and pianist Van Cliburn in a rehearsal in the Koussevitzky Music Shed at Tanglewood, ca. 1964.**
*Photograph by Heinz Weissenstein (Whitestone Photo)*

**Pianists Claude Frank and Lilian Kallir backstage at Tanglewood, 1965.** This husband-and-wife artistic duo met while students at Tanglewood in 1947, having both immigrated to the United States from Europe. Their daughter Pamela Frank would perform with the BSO at Tanglewood nearly 30 years later.Photograph by Heinz Weissenstein (Whitestone Photo)

1970s-2000s

André Watts performs at the piano in the Koussevitzky Music Shed while Seiji Ozawa conducs, August 19, 1973 — **André** **Watts performed Franck's Symphonic Variations for Piano and Orchestra and Liszt's** **Totentanz (Dance of Death)** **in the Koussevitzky Music Shed, Seiji Ozawa conducting, August 19, 1973.**
*Photograph by Heinz Weissenstein (Whitestone Photo)*

**Seiji Ozawa conducting BSO in a rehearsal with pianist Peter Serkin, ca. 1983.**
*Photograph by Milton Feinberg*

**Violinist Sarah Chang performs the Tchaikovsky Violin Concerto with the Boston Symphony Orchestra at Tanglewood, July 14, 1995.**
Photograph by Walter H. Scott

**Harpist Deborah Henson-Conant performs at Tanglewood on July 4, 1998.**
At home in an eclectic range of musical genres, Henson-Conant has earned the moniker “the Hip Harpist.”
*Photograph by Walter H. Scott*

**Joshua Bell and the BSO in a performance of Sibelius' Violin Concerto at Tanglewood, August 25, 2000.**
*Photograph by Walter H. Scott*

Yo-Yo Ma: Curator and Collaborator

As these selected images demonstrate, Yo-Yo Ma has collaborated with an array of artists who span musical genres. This summer he curates a week-long festival entitled We the People: Our Shared Past, Present, and Future, with events running August 1-9, 2026.