New venues mark 2013 Music in the Vineyards
Nearly 40 accomplished musicians from around the United States and beyond are preparing pieces to be performed in collaboration with other artists in the Napa Valley as part of Music in the Vineyards’ 19th annual chamber music festival, Aug. 7-25.
Some artists, like members of the Pacifica Quartet, are seasoned festival performers, gathering once again in the valley to collaborate with old friends, while others, like 18-year-old cellist Austin Huntington, are new to the festival, earning his spot by winning the prestigious Irving M. Klein International String Competition.
“It’s both a challenge and an honor to orchestrate it all from an artistic perspective,” said violist Michael Adams, who along with his violinist wife Daria Adams, co-direct the festival. Adams plays for the Minnesota Orchestra, and Daria Adams is a member of the world-renowned Saint Paul Chamber Orchestra. At each Music in the Vineyards concert, Adams presents witty and insightful background on composers and the pieces performed. “It’s a joy for us to watch the alchemy of it all come together on stage, and to experience the collaborative energy of such uniquely talented musicians.”
Music in the Vineyards, which offers complimentary wine at intermission, is held in barrel rooms, caves, art galleries, museums, and private event rooms of a dozen wineries up and down the valley, allowing audiences an up-close and personal look into the soul of chamber music.
“The two words that come to mind are “variety” and “intimacy.” The fact that we perform in so many unique settings all in this little slice of paradise sets this festival apart,” said Australian violinist Dale Barltrop, who served as Principal Second Violin in the Saint Paul Chamber Orchestra for six years prior to his appointment as concertmaster of the Vancouver Symphony.
Barltrop is performing during the festival’s second week along with the other members of the Ortelius Piano Trio, pianist Victor Ascuncion and cellist Joshua Roman. The group was formed in 2012 as a result of an invitation to travel to Australia to perform and teach. On Wednesday, Aug. 14 at Markham Vineyards, the trio will perform two pieces offering a virtuosic insight into Beethoven, as well as a piano trio by Dan Visconti.
“This will be my first time performing the Archduke Trio of Beethoven, a monumental work, which is undoubtedly a crowning achievement in his chamber music output, and I’m very excited for my maiden voyage with this piece,” said Barltrop. “Dan Visconti is fast making a name for himself as a composer of immense talent and breadth, drawing on a huge array of musical styles. His piano trio, ‘Lonesome Roads,’ is no exception — inspired by cross-country road trips and his music journeys through rock, blue-grass, new-age and back again, while evoking the sights, sounds and feelings of being on the open road.”
The festival’s 19th season offers new concert venues Freemark Abbey, Black Stallion Winery and the Napa Valley Museum. At the museum, attendees will experience a collaborative, fully staged performance of Stravinsky’s “The Soldier’s Tale,” complete with seven musicians, three actors, a dancer, conductor and narrator. Patrons will also get to view a new juried exhibition of work inspired by Faust’s tale.
Music in the Vineyards’ finale weekend will be at the picturesque Silverado Vineyards, where a stage is set in the event room overlooking the nearby terrace and valley floor below. Internationally acclaimed pianist Wei-Yi Yang will be performing on Aug. 24 and 25, a returning festival favorite who serves as associate professor of piano at Yale University.
On the Saturday concert at Silverado, Yang will be performing Schumann’s Märchenbilder (Fairytale Pictures), and for the final concert on Sunday, Brahms’ G Minor Piano Quartet.
“Silverado is a great venue with a clean, crisp acoustic, complete with a breathtaking view,” said Yang. “Schumann’s Märchenbilder are whimsical miniatures that exemplify the flights of fancy and imaginations of late stage unpredictable Schumann. On the other hand, the Brahms Quartet is a titan of the Romantic chamber music repertory, ripe with potent and mixed emotions and a structure that reminds me of a massive Gothic arch.”
Yang can be found floating by the wine tables at intermission chatting with patrons about wine, music and his love of performing. “Music in the Vineyards always offers such a diverse and unexpected combination of programs, which really speaks volumes of the unique artistic vision of our directors,” said Yang. “I invite the audience to come with an open mind and hungry ears, and enjoy the rich musical bouquets spanning four centuries.”
Similarly, Barltrop encourages patron interaction and enjoys meeting the audience. “These concerts offer the perfect opportunity to mingle, so come say hi,” says Barltrop. “When you know the people playing on stage, it will personalize your listening experience.”
Tickets for all Music in the Vineyards evening concerts cost $55 and are on sale now. The festival also offers free open rehearsals on Thursdays, a family concert ($5 & $10), and a closing night celebration ($135) at Meadowood Napa Valley. For more information call 707-258-5559, e-mail mitv@sonic.net or visit www.musicinthevineyards.org.