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2018 Season Highlights
OPENING NIGHT: Metamorphoses, July 12 and 14
Chee Yun plays Mozart Polivnick leads Wagner, Tchaikovsky and Hindemith
Our season begins with three familiar composers. The Wagner is festive and establishes the beautiful sonority of the orchestra. Mozart’s 5th Violin Concerto is his greatest and is a perfect contrast to the bombast of the Wagner Prelude. The Hindemith is jovial, colorful, energetic, and exciting, and the brilliant Tchaikovsky races to a breathless conclusion.
Composer Portrait: Jim Stephenson, July 19
Heavenly Bodies, Stephenson’s Ode to Peace and Beethoven’s Triple Concerto
Experience Nielsen’s romantic treatment of the god of the Sun. Become acquainted with composer Jim Stephenson through his Celestial Suite, made up of five short movements covering – Copernicus, Galileo, Newton, Hubble, and Hawking in a mix of styles including Renaissance and Ragtime! Stephenson’s Ode to Peace is inspired by Native American music and respect for the Earth. Finally, Beethoven’s Triple Concerto is a major work by the most popular composer in the world and features three of our own Festival musicians as soloists!
Enescu, Ravel & Verdi, July 26
Delve into the soul of Romania, France and Italy. Lara Downes plays Ravel
This program shows the ability of classical music to reveal national and cultural identity. In these pieces, the soul of Romania, France, and Italy is expressed with sincerity, eloquence, and power. Enescu’s Romanian Rhapsody is a heartwarming and charming piece. The popular Ravel is witty, colorful, sophisticated, and brilliant. And the Verdi is truly the very heart of what it means to be Italian.
A Tribute. Bernstein at 100, August 2 and 4
Bernstein arranged by Lukas Foss; Hot Jazz, Romance and Bernstein for the People
Celebrate the genius of Bernstein with Lukas Foss’ sophisticated hot jazz arrangements, the powerful and romantic On the Waterfront Suite, the delightful Candide Overture, and the perennially popular Mass.
SEASON FINALE, August 9 and 11
Stravinsky’s charm and Sibelius’ energy; Steven Lin plays Rachmaninov
Our 66th season closes with a powerful program! The curtain comes up on Stravinsky’s colorful and charming Scherzo à la Russe. Steven Lin returns to the Festival to perform the epitome of romantic music, Rachmaninov’s Piano Concerto #2. Sibelius’ Symphony #3 is the most classically oriented of his set of seven. The symphony’s dance-like rhythms, nostalgic, heart-warming and noble melodies, incredible energy and positive spirit bring our season to a fulfilling close.
