Music in the Vineyards Begins

  • Activities
  • by WINECOUNTRY ADMIN
  • on JULY 29, 2009
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Chamber Music Festival Offers Concerts in Intimate Winery Venues

nvArts_MusicVineyards1.jpgBy Natasha Biasell

This August, 33 renowned musicians from around the world will travel to the Napa Valley to perform in Music in the Vineyards’ 15th annual chamber music festival. The three-week festival showcases artists-in-residence performing in intimate winery settings with complimentary wine tastings at intermission.

The festival kicks off on Wednesday, August 5th in the Hudson House of the beautiful Beringer Vineyards where The Blue Baroque Band, an ensemble of recorder, violin, oboe, bassoon and harpsichord, will play seven classical works from the great musical centers of the 18th Century. The new festival venue this year is Cakebread Cellars, hosting a concert featuring a Dvorak Quintet for two violins, viola, cello and double bass on Saturday, August 8th. nvArts_MusicVineyards2.jpgTo celebrate the 15th Season, Music in the Vineyards will reprise three exciting works commissioned by the festival from renowned composers David Evan Thomas, Miguel del Aguila and Daniel Brewbaker. Thomas’ To Live in This World for soprano and string quartet is based on three poems by Mary Oliver and was commissioned by the festival in 2002. The Journey, a song cycle for mezzo-soprano and strings by Brewbaker, is also based on poems by Mary Oliver and was commissioned by the festival in 2004. Both the Thomas and Brewbaker pieces are dedicated to the memory of Gail Adams, the founder of Music in the Vineyards. The unconventional, Argentinean-inspired Salon Buenos Aires for flute, clarinet, violin, viola, cello and piano by del Aguila was commissioned by the festival in 2005 and quickly became an audience favorite.

 “We are proud to have helped nurture the art form of chamber music with these three important pieces,” said Michael and Daria Adams, artistic directors of Music in the Vineyards.

The Pacifica Quartet opens the second week of the season with a concert in the Hess Collection’s beautiful art gallery. Awarded a Grammy in 2009 for Best Chamber Music Performance, the Pacifica Quartet has become a returning favorite amongst Music in the Vineyards patrons and will be performing during weeks two and three of the festival.

nvArts_MusicVineyards3.jpg“We have packed 13 concerts into 19 days of intense music making during August,” said the Adams’. “It is always a thrill to see how the unpredictable mix of personalities and talent combine to make beautiful music every summer in the picturesque Napa Valley.”

In addition to the complimentary wine at intermission, a unique highlight of Music in the Vineyards’ concerts is the insightful and witty commentary presented by Michael Adams. Before each piece, Adams gives audiences important and sometimes comical background information on the music and composer helping listeners experience the true meaning or nature behind each piece.

Music in the Vineyards is bringing back a Family Concert at Meadowood on Sunday, August 9th at 2:00 p.m. Adventures in Music is presented by violinist Dawn Harms and Ming Luke, conductor of the Napa Valley Youth Symphony, and is an interactive, energetic show for all ages. Children will hear the Hot Canary, Orange Blossom Special, and works by Bach and Mozart, enjoy flamboyant costumes, and taste kid-friendly refreshments after the concert outside on the lawn.
                                  
nvArts_MusicVineyards4.jpgThe 15th annual season of Music in the Vineyards is made possible in part by a generous donation from Constellation Wines U.S.

“As Constellation and its wineries continue to grow and thrive in Napa Valley – where many of our employees and customers live and work – we are pleased to be able to support these wonderful community events,” noted Chris Fehrnstrom, Chief Marketing Officer of Constellation Wines U.S.

Music in the Vineyards offers open rehearsals on Thursdays during the festival as well as a closing night dinner celebration with the artists at Meadowood. Tickets for the concerts are on sale now and cost $50. For more information or to purchase tickets, please call 707.258.5559, e-mail mitv@sonic.net or visit www.musicinthevineyards.org.


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WineCountry Admin

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