My husband and I are classical music fans. We never tire of complex, emotionally powerful music that often has a compelling creation story, is performed by artists of extreme talent honed by extreme diligence, and is reliably  pitch-perfect. At Tanglewood, world-class music performance and instruction in indoor-outdoor venues of striking natural beauty combine with quirky customs and a history of pragmatism trumping ostentation, both New England hallmarks. Much more than a place, Tanglewood is a collection of people and their stories, stretching to even before it was a music destination*

The first time we visited Tanglewood was in 1993. We felt like we hit the jackpot in 2014, when our younger son joined the Tanglewood Festival Chorus. TFC has a generous program of family member support and we have taken advantage of it, including last weekend, when we attended 3 shows (our personal best to date is 13 shows in 9 days). We find it is always a treat,  often with a surprise in store. This past week, a black bear disrupted the orchestra rehearsal**, a 93-year-old piano soloist gave an encore, 17 married couples participated in a single concert, and there was a Tanglewood premier of a BSO-commissioned work (that was world-premiered in Boston in February). Superlatives are standard fare there.

We love Tanglewood so much that we simply cannot say goodbye to it, just au revoir: We will return. Our feelings are exactly the same, except much stronger, for the dear friends we are leaving behind. We will miss you so much, we will stay in touch, we will return to visit. We hope you will visit us. This move is a right decision for us and for our marriage, but it is also wrenching.  However anxious to leave we may seem, please know that you are valued, esteemed, treasured, admired, and loved, and will be missed more than you know, for your uniqueness, your accomplishments, your surprises, your superlatives.

*see Tanglewood Tales by Nathaniel Hawthorne

**bear at Tanglewood: