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A musical trip: 2009 Mammoth Lakes Music Festival |
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Saturday, 04 July 2009 |
 photo by yves rubin. The Felici Trio welcome international guest musicians for the sixth annual Mammoth Lakes Music Festival. Brian Schuldt, cello; Steven Vanhauwaert, piano; and Rebecca Hang, violin.
Concerts are performed on Monday, Wednesday and Friday evenings during the two-week festival, when international guest artists join Mammoth’s resident Felici Trio for eight performances in the intimate lobby-turned-concert-hall of Cerro Coso College.
Bookending the 2009 festival are two works by Felix Mendelssohn, whose 200th birthday is celebrated this year. And in between, audiences will take an aural trip to Russia, Spain, Norway, Italy, and take in America the Beautiful as well.
On July 15, the gala opening concert A Midsummer Night’s Dream showcases cellist Mark Kosower in Mendelssohn’s Cello Sonata No. 2 and violinist Hagai Shaham in Edvard Grieg’s Third Violin Sonata, culminating with Brahms’ cherished String Sextet No. 1.
In The Russia House on July 17, you’ll not only rub shoulders with Tchaikovsky, Arensky and company, but also with a Russian Count in Beethoven’s aristocratic Razumovsky String Quartet No. 3.
On July 20, America the Beautiful is graced by the resident diva of Prairie Home Companion, soprano Maria Jette, with a great selection of American songs, as well as a fiery quintet by the “Passionate Victorian,” Amy Beach.
Turina’s Prayer of the Bullfighter opens the Spanish program on July 22, followed by “Siete Canciones Populares Espanoles” by Spaniard Manuel De Falla. One word comes to mind when Corey Cerovsek and his golden violin tame Sarasate’s wild Carmen Fantasy: “Olé!”
On our Czech List you’ll find musical gems from the woods of Bohemia by Janácek and Dvorák, plus Smetana’s transcendent Piano Trio in G Minor, performed by the resident Felici Piano Trio on July 24.
If you are looking for some Northern Exposure on July 27, come hear some really cool Norwegians: Christian Sinding and Edvard Grieg (his String Quartet opus 27).
On July 29, Vivaldi, Boccherini, Donizetti (and more composers whose names end in “i”) tickle our senses in La Dolce Vita, with their seductive Italian charm.
The festival finale takes place on July 31. In LA Confidential the festival aims to blow the cover off those special behind-the-scenes agents of many a movie experience. Most of these “movie stars” have been heard before on countless soundtracks, but here, at the 2009 festival, you get to see them, as well.
The Felici Trio is comprised of violinist Rebecca Hang, cellist Brian Schuldt and pianist Steven Vanhauwaert.
Many concerts sold out last year, so early ticket purchase insures a seat. Tickets are available at Access Art and Business Center in Mammoth Lakes, at the door on concert nights or at www.ChamberMusicUnbound.org.
Sierra Academy of Music
Many summer music festivals have a scholarly component, and the Mammoth Lakes Music Festival is no exception.
Concurrent with the festival is the Sierra Academy of Music, an intensive music academy for outstanding young string players and pianists aged 14-24.
It is designed to develop and refine the skills needed for excellence in solo and ensemble performance.
This year, said Brian Schuldt, “the Sierra Academy of Music (SAM) is a new offering, and we’ll have 18 young musicians in the program ages 14-24, from music schools across the country, as well as some Eastern Sierra locals.
The weekly schedule consists of alternating days of private lessons, coached ensemble sessions, and masterclasses with outstanding faculty members – the international guest musicians of the Mammoth Lakes Music Festival.
Students’ daily schedules include individual practice time, chamber orchestra rehearsals and student ensemble rehearsals, as well as a theory and ear-training class, a language class and attending faculty concerts at night. While this is an intense course, students will also enjoy the uniquely beautiful mountain setting in organized outdoor activities.
Students study and perform prepared solo repertoire, such as sonatas and concertos, as well as trios, quartets and larger ensembles from the chamber music literature covering styles from baroque to contemporary. The development of sight-reading skills is emphasized in the ensemble playing.
“Festival Freebie” concerts by student musicians are performed at 7 p.m., July 18 and 25 at Cerro Coso.
Sierra Chamber
Ensemble Workshop
Since 2000, intermediate and advanced amateur players of strings, woodwinds and piano have also had the chance to be coached by the MLMF faculty of musicians.
Participants begin the day with fresh coffee and pastries and jump right into freelancing, or being inspired by the breathtaking beauty of the area on bike or hike. Afternoons are a plunge into rehearsals and coachings.
Player/coach-led sessions on Tuesdays and Thursdays are among the most popular aspects of the workshop, providing an opportunity for participants to tackle even the most challenging repertoire.
At night, faculty members lead special topic roundtables, or perform in festival concerts.
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Last Updated ( Monday, 13 July 2009 )
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