SummerFest Concert Program and Tickets on Sale Now
August 2 - 18, 2013 - Incline Village, Nevada
Experience the thrill of SummerFest Concerts featuring renowned soloists from the world's stages and the exceptional musicians of the Lake Tahoe SummerFest Orchestra, drawn from the New York Metropolitan Opera Orchestra, San Francisco Symphony, Los Angeles Philharmonic, Seattle Symphony and other exceptional orchestras throughout the world.
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Friday, August 2, 7 pm
Mozart: Overture to Don Giovanni
Sibelius: Valse Triste
Berlioz: Les Nuits d’Éte
Frederica von Stade, mezzo-soprano
Beethoven: Symphony No. 7 in A major
Frederica von Stade, Soloist
Bringing the thrilling presence of the world’s stages to SummerFest, mezzo-soprano Frederica von Stade joins Maestro Revzen and the SummerFest Orchestra for the season opening concert. Described as ‘enchanting’, ‘radiant’, and ‘a national treasure’, Ms. von Stade is beloved by audiences the world over - starring in productions with every leading opera company and performing as soloist with the world’s most esteemed orchestras and conductors. She brings her artistry to SummerFest, sharing one of her signature pieces; Hector Berlioz’ Les Nuits d’Éte. At turns light, mysterious, and haunting, these six songs lead the audience on an emotional journey through a cycle of love. The concert begins with Mozart’s dramatic Overture to Don Giovanni and Sibelius’ gentle Valse Triste, and finishes with the exhilarating Beethoven Symphony No. 7 - one of the most popular of all Beethoven’s works – a symphony rich in dance rhythms, bringing this concert to a stirring end.
Saturday, August 3, 7 pm
Chamber Music Concert: The Impressionist and the Romantics
Ravel: Introduction and Allegro for Harp, Flute, Clarinet, and String Quartet
Schumann: Frauenliebe und Leben (Woman’s Love and Life), op. 42
Frederica von Stade, mezzo-soprano, Joel Revzen, piano
Brahms: Quartet for Piano and Strings no.3 in c minor “The Werther Quartet”
Frederica von Stade, Soloist
The French impressionist composer Maurice Ravel painted music in sound-scapes, and in this unusual combination of harp, strings and wind instruments, we hear music as delicate and inspiring as the Tahoe surroundings. Then in a dramatic and emotional journey, star mezzo-soprano Frederica von Stade, with Maestro Joel Revzen accompanying on piano, bring to life Schumann’s song cycle ‘Woman’s Love and Life’, telling the story of first meetings, marriage, and loss. The concert finishes with the deep sonorities and stirring music of Brahms’ Quartet for Piano and Strings, alternately sighing and tempestuous, with a forbidden love theme at its heart.
Sunday, August 4, 4 pm
Family Concert
Mendelssohn: Scherzo and Nocturne from “A Midsummer Night’s Dream”
Hegge: Selected Songs: “Primary Colors”, “Bedtime Story”, “Daybreak”
Frederica von Stade, mezzo-soprano
Adolphe: “Witches, Wizards, Spells and Elves: The Music of Shakespeare”, with Actors
Frederica von Stade, Soloist
Enjoy a concert highlighting the magical partnership of words and music. Maestro Revzen leads the orchestra in sprightly selections from Mendelssohn’s Midsummer Night’s Dream, celebrating Shakespeare’s tale of magical fairies and young lovers. Ms. von Stade returns to the stage to perform songs written for her by lauded opera composer Jake Hegge, best known for his operas Dead Man Walking and Moby Dick. Ms. von Stade’s own lyrics, as well as lyrics by Sister Helen Prejean (Dead Man Walking), are featured in these moving songs. This concert also brings you the music of Bruce Adolph, Director of Family Concerts for Lincoln Center. ‘Witches, Wizards, Spells and Elves’ is Mr. Adolphe’s delightful composition for orchestra and actors featuring stories from Shakespeare’s plays in a performance for families to share.
Friday, August 9, 7 pm
Martinu: Nonet
Mendelssohn: Concerto for Violin, Piano and Orchestra, d minor
Jennifer Koh violinist; Benjamin Hochman, pianist
Mozart: Symphony No. 41 in C major, “Jupiter”
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Jennifer Koh and Benjamin Hochman, Soloists
In a rarely heard treat, this concert features the melodious beauty of the Mendelssohn Double Concerto for Violin and Piano. Ms. Koh, a winner of the International Tchaikovsky Competition and recognized for her intense commanding performances, together with Mr. Hochman, described by the New York Times as ‘a gifted, fast-rising artist’, bring their dazzling talents to present this stirring concerto. The concert begins with Martinu’s sparking gem, Nonet, and finishes with Mozart’s triumphant Symphony No. 41 - the last symphony of the prolific composer. Ablaze with light and joyful invention, this symphony is often called ‘Jupiter’ because of the link to the god of light and of the sky. Perfect for an evening at Lake Tahoe!
Saturday, August 10, 7 pm
Chamber Music Concert: Around the World with Stellar Musicians
Anthony Plog: Brass Trio for Trumpet, French Horn and Trombone
Oscar Piazzolla: 2 Tangos; ‘Oblivion’ and ‘Libertango’
Mozart: Quartet for Oboe and Strings, F Major
Tchaikovsky: String Quartet no. 1 in D Major
A rollicking tour-de-force Trio for Trumpet, French horn and Trombone by American composer Anthony Plog begins the musical journey of this concert. Then Brasilian influences take over with the sensual and fiery tango music of Oscar Piazzolla, written for piano, clarinet and bassoon, heating up the summer night with these unusual sonorities. Traveling back to 18th Century Europe, we encounter the elegance of Mozart’s Quartet for Oboe and Strings, highlighting the virtuosic playing of oboe and strings in a ‘perpetual motion’ 3rd movement. Finally we arrive in Tchaikovsky’s Russia with the composer’s String Quartet no. 1, with its famous 2nd movement based on a folk melody. Upon hearing this yearning music at a house concert, Tolstoy wept openly, while Hellen Keller - experiencing it by placing her fingers on a tabletop - was brought to tears by its beauty.
Sunday, August 11, 4 pm
Family Concert
Gluck: Overture and Dance of the Furies from Orfeo ed Euridice
Prokofiev: “Peter and the Wolf”, with Narrator
Mozart: Concerto for Violin and Orchestra No. 3
Jennifer Koh, violinist
Jennifer Koh, soloist
Described by The Strad magazine as ‘a risk-taking, high-octane player of the kind who grabs the listener by the ears and refuses to let go’, Ms. Koh brings her signature musicality to SummerFest in the Mozart Concerto No. 3 for Violin and Orchestra. In Mozart’s most popular violin concerto, you can experience Ms. Koh playing with what the New York Times praised as “…beautifully shaped, mesmerizing readings…” Also in this family concert, children will be delighted with the famous tale of Peter and the Wolf by Prokoviev, and will follow another hero’s journey in the Overture and Dance of the Furies from Gluck’s Orfeo.
Friday, August 16, 7 pm
Dvorak: Serenade for Winds, Op. 44
Mozart: Concerto for Flute, Harp and Orchestra
Meredith Clark, harpist, Demarre McGill, flutist
Brubeck: Concerto for Bass Trombone and Orchestra
Chris Brubeck, bass trombone soloist
Chris Brubeck, bass trombone soloist and composer
With a wealth of virtuosic playing, this concert features the members and soloists from the orchestra as well as the double talent of Chris Brubeck as instrumentalist and featured composer. Beginning the concert is the sparkling Dvorak Serenade Op. 44. Next, an inviting and elegant concerto features the talents of principal flutist Demarre McGill, an Avery Fisher Career Grant recipient and frequent soloist with major American orchestras, and principal harp Meredith Clark in the Mozart Concerto for Flute and Harp. Bringing the concert to a brilliant end is Chris Brubeck’s jazz-inspired Concerto for Bass Trombone and Orchestra, with the composer as soloist. Onstage as a performer, Brubeck is renowned for his irrepressible enthusiasm, matched by his fluid command of a wide variety of musical styles.
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Saturday, August 17, 7 pm
Chamber Music Concert: Two Glories of Vienna
Haydn: Trio for Piano, Violin, and Cello no. 39 in G Major “The Gypsy Trio”
Schubert: Octet in F Major for string quartet, bass, clarinet, bassoon, and horn
Music of the beloved classical composer ‘Papa Haydn’ brings us the tuneful and lyrical Gypsy Trio for piano violin and cello, with its signature Rondo movement, the thrilling and energetic Hungarian dance. In the brilliant work of 24 year old Franz Schubert, we hear the Octet for Strings and Winds. This remarkable piece features each player as soloist, and displays the tightknit partnerships and individual artistry needed for chamber music at its best, bringing the audience all the emotions of Romanticism in a heart-stirring and uplifting performance.
Sunday, August 18, 4 pm
Family Concert
Haydn: Symphony No. 93 in G major, “Surprise”
Brubeck: “The Celebrated Jumping Frog of Calaveras County”
Brubeck: “Tale of the Hermitage Cats” with Narrator
Prokofiev: Symphony No. 1 in D major “Classical”
Chris Brubeck, featured composer
This Family Concert brings the audience into the world of beauty and nature with Haydn’s ‘Surprise’ Symphony, No. 94 and Chris Brubeck’s “The Celebrated Jumping Frog of Calaveras County” (a tale by Mark Twain) and "Tale of the Hermitage Cats" about the felines that guard Russia's superb art treasures. Mr. Brubeck is not only a sought-after soloist with symphony orchestras, but also an award-winning composer whose pieces have earned him high praise in reviews such as the Chicago Tribune, which named him “a composer with a real flair for lyrical melody – a 21st Century Lenny Bernstein.” Bringing this season’s Festival concerts to a thrilling close is Prokofiev’s “Classical” Symphony No. 1, one of the composer’s most popular and beloved works.
Joel Revzen, Artistic Director and Conductor
Maestro Revzen has a distinguished career leading symphonies and operas throughout North America and Europe. His recordings with the London Symphony, Scottish Chamber Orchestra, St Paul Chamber Orchestra and Moscow Symphony, have garnered international acclaim, and he served as pianist and conductor on the Grammy Award winning “The Art of Arleen Auger”. Maestro Revzen and Chris Brubeck recorded his Concerto for Bass Trombone on the album “From Bach to Brubeck” with the London Symphony Orchestra.