Bravo! Vail Music Festival Announces Its 31st Season  June 21–August 2, 2018

Residencies by four returning ensembles: Academy of St Martin in the Fields, the Dallas Symphony Orchestra, 
The Philadelphia Orchestra, and the New York Philharmonic

Innovative programming that features the world premiere of a Bravo! Vail- commissioned work by Gabriella Smith and programs that highlight Pulitzer Prize-winning composers David Lang and Caroline Shaw as part of the Festival’s evocative Classically Uncorked Series presented by Meiomi Wine

Exciting Festival debuts by such acclaimed artists as: pianists Behzod Abduraimov, Nicholas Angelich, George Li, Louis Lortie; accordion player Hanzhi Wang; and the Omer String Quartet, among others

New collaboration with genre-bending Asphalt Orchestra with pop-up performances throughout Vail and on Bravo! Vail After Dark series

Welcome return of internationally renowned artists, including:
violinists Joshua Bell, Augustin Hadelich, Nikolaj Znaider; cellist Alisa Weilerstein; pianists Hélène Grimaud, Jean-Yves Thibaudet, Bramwell Tovey, Daniil Trifonov; and organist Kent Tritle, among others

Musically-inspired menus created by award-winning area chefs paired with music performed in breathtaking homes by Festival guest artists as part of the Linda & Mitch Hart Soirée Series

Annual gala featuring Grammy Award-winning baritone, Nathan Gunn, in collaboration with his wife and pianist, Julie Gunn

Vail, CO - February 7, 2018—The Bravo! Vail Music Festival announces its 31st season, that runs from June 21 to August 2, 2018. This season features new and exciting debuts, first-time collaborations and unexpected performances, innovative and thought-provoking programming, concerts that showcase the orchestral power of four internationally-renowned ensembles, free concerts that further solidify the Festival’s ongoing commitment to its community and music education, and the welcome return of many of today’s leading artists. Bravo! Vail’s 31st season hosts a wide-array of highlights, including:

The return of longtime resident ensembles the Dallas Symphony Orchestra, The Philadelphia Orchestra, and the New York Philharmonic as well as the third-annual residency of the London-based chamber orchestra the Academy of St Martin in the Fields, led by violinist and Music Director Joshua Bell.

A new and exciting collaboration with the Asphalt Orchestra with surprise performances in and around Vail and on the Bravo! Vail After Dark series.

The world premiere of a timely and provocative musical commentary by Gabriella Smith commissioned by Bravo! Vail, featuring a collaboration between the dynamic vocal ensemble Roomful of Teeth and the Dover String Quartet. Presentations of Pulitzer Prize-winning works by David Lang and Caroline Shaw that speak to the innovative nature of this season’s programming.

Both of Ravel’s piano concertos are presented this season, his Piano Concerto in G with pianist Hélène Grimaud and the Dallas Symphony Orchestra and his Piano Concerto for the Left Hand performed by the New York Philharmonic featuring pianist Louis Lortie in his Bravo! Vail Debut. 

A celebration of Leonard Bernstein in honor of his centennial by the New York Philharmonic, showcasing his Chichester Psalms.

The debuts of several exciting guest artists, including the young prize-winning accordion player Hanzhi Wang.

A super-charged program with the Dallas Symphony Orchestra shining a passionate spotlight on Tango with soprano Camille Zamora, award-winning Argentinian dancers Patricio Touceda and Eva Lucero, and bandoneón player Hector Del Curto.

The Festival will also offer 25 free concerts offered throughout the season, including two programs that feature a new collaboration with Magic Circle Mime Company.

"Composing a Bravo! Vail season is a privilege and special joy I have shared for eight years with Director of Artistic Planning, Jacqueline Taylor. The scope and variety of what we do in just six weeks still boggles my mind. Whether new music, old music, new artists, or familiar favorites, there is literally something for everyone,” said Artistic Director Anne-Marie McDermott. “We have Tango, mime, film, an accordion virtuoso, a rock music celebration, free chamber music, library concerts, chapel concerts, bar concerts, large scale choral works, a concerto for organ, chamber concertos, wind and string octets, and, yes, four world-class orchestral institutions led by the some of the best conductors in the world. For 2018, I am particularly excited that we are realizing a dream to introduce the Asphalt Orchestra, an amazing outdoor contemporary marching band. I am thrilled about the debuts of four incredible pianists -- George Li, Louis Lortie, Nicholas Angelich and Behzod Abduraimov -- in addition to our two piano fellows, Albert Cano Smit and Do-Hyun Kim. Another personal highlight is the return of the vocal ensemble Roomful of Teeth and the Dover String Quartet, who together premiere a work we've commissioned for them from the American composer Gabriella Smith, as part of our exciting Classically Uncorked series.  The passionate engagement on the part of all of the musicians who come to play music from a span of four centuries is only topped by the enthusiasm and gratitude of our amazing audience. That it happens in one of the most beautiful spots in the world makes its nothing short of exhilarating!" 

"Artistic Director Anne-Marie McDermott has created a spectacular season that showcases the depth of classical music diversity performed by some of today’s leading and most exciting artists and ensembles. It is a season that is truly a hallmark of who we are at Bravo! Vail,” said Executive Director Jennifer Teisinger. “We are continuing our commitment to showcasing the music of our time, with a world premiere of a Bravo! Vail commission. We are deepening our dedication to music education by offering more than 25 free concerts and events up and down the valley. We are joining in the national celebration of one of this country’s most cherished musical voices, Leonard Bernstein, during his centennial year. All of this is set against powerful performances by our four resident orchestras. We have so much to be proud of, and we can’t wait to share it with everyone." 

EXCITING DEBUTS AND WELCOME RETURNS

Bravo! Vail welcomes more than 20 internationally acclaimed guest artists who perform a range of repertoire with all four of the Festival’s resident ensembles, as well as across Bravo! Vail’s chamber music residencies.

Artists making their Bravo! Festival debut this season are: pianists Behzod Abduraimov (June 27 with the Dallas Symphony Orchestra), Nicholas Angelich (July 7 with The Philadelphia Orchestra), George Li (July 22 with the New York Philharmonic), Louis Lortie (July 27 with the New York Philharmonic), Do-Hyun Kim(July 10 on the Chamber Music Series, Bravo! Vail Piano Fellow), and Albert Cano Smit (July 10 on the Chamber Music Series, Bravo! Vail Piano Fellow); accordion player Hanzhi Wang (July 13-20 Bravo! Vail Chamber Musician-in- Residence); the Omer String Quartet (July 22-27 Bravo! Vail Chamber Musician-in- Residence); and the Asphalt Orchestra (July 4-8 in and around Vail).

Artists returning to Bravo! Vail this season include: violinists Joshua Bell (June 21, 23 & 24) with the Academy of St Martin in the Fields, Augustin Hadelich (July 13) with The Philadelphia Orchestra), Nikolaj Znaider (July 6 with The Philadelphia Orchestra); cellist Alisa Weilerstein (July 26 with the New York Philharmonic); pianists Hélène Grimaud (June 30 with the Dallas Symphony Orchestra), Jean-Yves Thibaudet (July 8 with The Philadelphia Orchestra), Daniil Trifonov (July 14 with The Philadelphia Orchestra), Bramwell Tovey (July 21 with the New York Philharmonic from the podium and piano), and organist Kent Tritle (July 22 with the New York Philharmonic).

 

BRAVO! VAIL WORLD PREMIERE

Bravo! Vail is proud to present the world premiere of a new thought-provoking work by Gabriella Smith. Commissioned as part of the New Works Project, Smith’s piece is written for eight voices and string quartet and will be performed by the vocal ensemble Roomful of Teeth and the Dover String Quartet on Bravo! Vail’s Classically Uncorked Series presented by Meiomi Wine, to bring the Festival to a close on August 2. For this evocative work, Smith derived her text from the Latin names of all the species that have gone extinct over the last 100 years, creating a poignant backdrop for her self-described “Requiem.”
 

PROVOCATIVE COLLABORATION: ASPHALT ORCHESTRA

Bravo! Vail is excited to announce a new collaboration with the genre-bending street band, Asphalt Orchestra—Bang on a Can's eight person ‘mobile’ ensemble. The band brings together some of the most exciting rock, jazz, and classical players in New York City. This radical band, known for having an eclectic ear for new music and boundary-blurring arrangements, is designed to take sophisticated music out of the concert hall and directly to the public, often in places where the public does not normally encounter a ‘performance.’ As part of the Festival, they will be performing a handful of concerts and surprising audiences with pop-up performances in and around Vail from July 4-8.

BRAVO! VAIL’S ANNUAL GALA

On July 15, Bravo! Vail’s annual gala will feature an unforgettable program of cabaret standards from Grammy Award-winning baritone Nathan Gunn and his wife, pianist Julie Gunn. The evening’s program is themed “An American in Paris,” and the proceeds will benefit Bravo! Vail’s Education Programs and Free Concerts.

EDUCATION AND OUTREACH

Having served the Vail Valley community for the past 31 years, the Festival continues its deep commitment to making classical music and its numerous benefits accessible to as wide and diverse a local audience as possible, by presenting more than 25 free events across the season. Among these, Bravo! Vail will collaborate again this year with the National Repertory Orchestra on a presentation of “The Listener,”featuring Magic Circle Mime Company in its Festival debut. The engaging production will be performed both up valley and down valley at the Gerald R. Ford Amphitheater in Vail and the Lundgren Amphitheater in Gypsum.

BRAVO! VAIL RESIDENT ORCHESTRAS

For more than three decades, Bravo! Vail has been presenting some of the world’s most revered orchestral ensembles with esteemed conductors at the helm leading performances that feature many of today’s leading artists. This season, Bravo! Vail welcomes back the Academy of St Martin in the Fields, the Dallas Symphony Orchestra, the Philadelphia Orchestra and the New York Philharmonic. 

The Academy of St Martin in the Fields

The Academy of St Martin in the Fields returns for a three-concert residency June 21–24, 2018. Music Director and violinist Joshua Bell directs the orchestra in programs that expertly balance orchestral works with the dramatic, yet intimate milieu of violin concertos (all performed by Mr. Bell), showcasing the dynamic virtuosity of this remarkable ensemble.

On June 21, the Academy opens its residency with Mendelssohn’s Midsummer Night’s Dream Overture, a piece that highlights the precision and clarity of its musicians. Next, passion and drama will be brought to the forefront as Joshua Bell performs Bruch’s Scottish Fantasy for Violin and Orchestra. Beethoven’s intimate and ingenious Symphony No. 6 ends the opening concert.

Saint-Saëns, not only a prolific composer but also an author, philosopher, linguist, and world traveler, plays a central role at this season’s festival when three of his works are performed, including the Academy’s June 23 presentation of his Violin Concerto No. 3.  Beethoven’s Coriolan Overture and his often-overlooked Symphony No. 4 are also on the program.

To conclude its residency, the Academy takes audiences on a journey from J.S. Bach to Tchaikovsky. On June 24, the first half of the program begins with Bach’s Brandenburg Concerto No. 3 paired with Haydn’s Violin Concerto No. 1 in C major. The evening ends with Tchaikovsky’s Souvenir de Florence.   

The Dallas Symphony Orchestra

From June 27 through July 4, the Dallas Symphony Orchestra returns to Bravo! Vail for a six-concert residency. The Dallas Symphony Orchestra presents a rich lineup that juxtaposes dramatic staples of the classical canon performed by some of today’s leading soloists with diverse popular offerings that feature movie scores, patriotic tunes, and more.

On June 27, the Dallas Symphony Orchestra, under the direction of Cristian Macelaru, presents a dramatic program that highlights the artistry of one of the most revered composers and pianists: Sergei Rachmaninoff. The first half of the all-Rachmaninoff program opens with his March from Cinq Études-tableaux and ends with his sensuous and driving Piano Concerto No. 2, featuring Behzod Abduraimov as soloist in his Bravo! Vail debut. The concert ends with one of the last orchestral pieces Rachmaninoff ever wrote, his Symphonic Dances.

For the orchestra’s second program, on June 29, Jeff Tyzik, the Dallas Symphony’s principal pops conductor, leads the ensemble and three of Broadway’s brightest stars – Cassidy Catanzaro, Katrina Rose, and Shayna Steele –  in a concert entitled “Women Rock” honoring powerful female singers who changed pop and rock & roll forever, including Carole King, Holly Knight, Tina Turner, Janis Joplin, Aretha Franklin, and Pat Benatar.

On June 30, Cristian Macelaru is joined by pianist Hélène Grimaud for Ravel’s Piano Concerto in G, a work with which Ms. Grimaud is deeply associated. (Ravel’s Piano Concerto for the Left Hand will also be played later in the Festival by Louis Lortie and the New York Philharmonic). The Dallas Symphony program is bookended by Rimsky-Korsakov’s Overture to May Night and Tchaikovsky’s Symphony No. 5, a work that signifies the composer’s triumph over adversity.

Next, the Dallas Symphony Orchestra and Jeff Tyzik are joined by soprano Camille Zamora, award-winning Argentinian dancers Patricio Touceda and Eva Lucero, and bandoneón player Hector del Curtoon July 1 for a night of fiery tango classics, including works by Ástor Piazzolla, Carlos Gardel, and others.

From the passion of Tango to the intrigue of Cinema, on July 2, the Dallas Symphony Orchestra and Jeff Tyzik take audiences on a Sci-Fi musical journey to the Final Frontier through the soundtracks of such classics as Star Trek, Star Wars, E.T., Close Encounters of the Third Kind, 2001 A Space Odyssey, Alien, and more.

Jeff Tyzik brings the Dallas Symphony Orchestra’s residency to a close on July 4 with the Orchestra’s annual Patriotic concert.

The Philadelphia Orchestra

The Philadelphia Orchestra returns to Bravo! Vail July 6–14 for a residency that puts the revered “Philadelphia Sound” on full display through powerful programs that feature collaborations with international superstars.   

Stéphane Denève, principal guest conductor of The Philadelphia Orchestra, leads the first concert of the residency on July 6 with arguably one of the most physically and technically demanding concertos ever written, Brahms’s Violin Concerto, featuring Nikolaj Znaider as soloist. This performance will mark the first time since 2012, that this concerto has been presented at Bravo! Vail. Dvorák’s Symphony No. 8closes out the program.

In his Bravo! Vail debut, pianist Nicholas Angelich joins The Philadelphia Orchestra and Stéphane Denève on July 7 for a powerhouse performance of Beethoven’s Piano Concerto No. 5 “Emperor.” The evening ends with a work that is considered one of Mahler’s most accessible, his Symphony No. 1. Frequently referred to as the “Titan,” this masterwork is one of the largest orchestrations ever used.

On July 8, Stéphane Denève and The Philadelphia Orchestra present the second of three works by Saint-Saëns during the Festival, his Piano Concerto No. 5, “Egyptian” performed by pianist Jean-Yves Thibaudet, who is closely associated with this piece. Humbly considering himself “the first among composers of the second rank,” Saint-Saëns wrote his Piano Concerto No. 5 while in Egypt – a country he adored – incorporating several of the sounds he encountered there, including crickets, which can be heard in the second movement. Berlioz’s Roman Carnival Overture, Connesson’s And Clearly in the Valley the River Appears, and Respighi’s The Pines of Rome are also on the program. Connesson was one of four orchestral composers commissioned in 2017 for Bravo! Vail’s New Works Project, in honor of its 30^thanniversary season.

On July 11, audiences are treated to a screening of the 1981 Steven Spielberg-directed film Raiders of the Lost Ark, set to a live performance by The Philadelphia Orchestra of John Williams’s Grammy Award–winning score, conducted by David Newman. 

Bravo! Vail is pleased to welcome back conductor Donald Runnicles on July 13 for a delightful program with The Philadelphia Orchestra that includes a work originally premiered by the ensemble in 1939, Barber’s Violin Concerto featuring the Bravo! Vail debut of the 2017 Musical America Instrumentalist of the Year, violinist Augustin Hadelich. Mozart’s “Prague” Symphony and Brahms’s Haydn Variations complete the program.

Last season, Bravo! Vail audiences were introduced to an extraordinary pianist, Daniil Trifonov, when he stepped in last minute for an ailing colleague. This season, Bravo! Vail is proud to welcome him back for a performance of Grieg’s Piano Concerto with The Philadelphia Orchestra and Donald Runnicles on July 14. Smetana’s Overture to The Bartered Bride opens the program while Humperdinck’s Selections from Hansel and Gretel and Wagner’s Overture to Tannhäuser bring The Philadelphia Orchestra’s residency to a fitting close.

New York Philharmonic

Returning to Bravo! Vail for its 16th annual residency, the New York Philharmonic presents six concerts July 20–27 that include a celebration of the American icon and former New York Philharmonic Music Director Leonard Bernstein over two diverse presentations; a program that explores the keyboard with landmark works performed by world renowned soloists; and concerts that shine a spotlight on the ethereal subtlety of the French repertoire.    

The New York Philharmonic, led by Bramwell Tovey, opens its residency on July 20 with one of two programs that celebrate the centennial of one of America’s defining musical voices and former Music Director of the orchestra (1958–69), Leonard Bernstein. The first of these presentations, Bernstein’s Broadway, is a concert that focuses on Bernstein's contributions to the Great White Way, including songs and music from Candide, Wonderful Town, West Side Story, and more. The concert will feature vocalist Laura Osnes as well as other singers to be announced.

On July 21, Bramwell Tovey and the New York Philharmonic partner with the Colorado Symphony Chorus (directed by Duain Wolfe) for a concert that opens with Gershwin’s Rhapsody in Blue – with Maestro Tovey as soloist – and ends with Bernstein’s Chichester Psalms, which was given its world premiere in 1965 by the New York Philharmonic with Bernstein at the podium. Copland’s Old American Songs will round out the program.

The New York Philharmonic and guest conductor David Robertson present a program on July 22 that showcases the keyboard from two different instruments, piano and organ. Pianist George Li, who won the silver medal in the 2015 International Tchaikovsky Competition in Moscow, makes his Bravo! Vail debut with Mendelssohn’s Piano Concerto No. 1. The concert is bookended by Copland’s An Outdoor Overture and the last of three monumental works by Saint-Saëns being performed over the course of this year’s Festival, his great “Organ” Symphony, featuring Kent Tritle as soloist.

New York Philharmonic Concertmaster Frank Huang takes center stage on July 25 when he and the orchestra, under the direction of David Robertson, perform Lalo’s Symphonie espagnole for Violin and Orchestra on the French-inspired program that also features Berlioz’s Le Corsaire Overture, Debussy’s La mer and Ravel’s Boléro.  

Bravo! Vail welcomes the return of festival favorite, cellist Alisa Weilerstein, for a performance of Elgar’s Cello Concerto conducted by her brother and former assistant conductor of the New York Philharmonic, Joshua Weilerstein, on July 26.

The New York Philharmonic’s residency comes to a close on July 27 with a program, led by Conductor (to be announced at a later date), that features the long-awaited debut of pianist Louis Lortie with a performance of Ravel’s Piano Concerto for the Left Hand. (Ravel’s Piano Concerto in G will also be performed earlier in the Festival by Hélène Grimaud as part of the Dallas Symphony Orchestra’s residency). The program will also include Ravel’s orchestration of Debussy’s Sarabande et Danse and Rimsky-Korsakov’s Scheherazade.  

CHAMBER MUSIC SERIES

Bravo! Vail’s annual Chamber Music Series presents four intimate and dynamic concerts by principal musicians from two of the festival’s resident orchestras – the Academy of St Martin in the Fields and the New York Philharmonic – as well as celebrated guest artists Ensemble Connect and Bravo! Vail’s Artistic Director, internationally acclaimed pianist Anne-Marie McDermott. The concerts are held on Tuesday nights in June and July at the beautiful Donovan Pavilion.

The series begins on June 26 with a performance by the Academy of St Martin in the Fields Chamber Ensemble. The program takes audiences on a profound musical journey and includes Schubert’s Octet for Winds and Strings, Françaix’s Octet for Winds and Strings, and Neilsen’s Serenata in vano for Winds and Strings.

Bravo! Vail examines chamber music from the unique perspective of the keyboard for its concert on July 10. Four pianists – Anne-Marie McDermott, Jean-Yves Thibaudet (a Festival guest artist appearing with the Philadelphia Orchestra earlier in the season), and Bravo! Vail’s 2018 Piano Fellows Albert Cano Smit and Do-Hyn Kim join forces to collaborate on a program that includes original works for two pianos and piano-four hands. McDermott and Kim will play Saint-Säens’s Variations on a Theme of Beethoven for two pianos and Thibaudet and Smit will play Ravel’s arrangement of Debussy’s Nocturnes for two pianos. The two piano fellows will perform Barber’s Souvenirs for Four Hands and the audience will be treated to McDermott and Thibaudet performing Ravel’s La Valse for two pianos.

On July 17, Anne-Marie McDermott collaborates with members of Ensemble Connect, a group of artists made up of young professional musicians from around the country who are participating in a two-year fellowship program, for a concert that will explore two of Bach’s concerti, his Piano Concerto No. 5 in F minor and his Piano Concerto No. 1 in D minor, both of which were originally written for the violin.  The evening will end with a dramatic presentation of a concerto by Mozart that was arranged by Czerny his Concerto No. 20 in D minor. This work is receiving its Bravo! Vail premiere. Following the concert, Anne-Marie McDermott and members from Ensemble Connect will be hosting a talkback to discuss performing major concerti in a chamber setting.

The series ends on July 24 with the recently created New York Philharmonic String Quartet, which debuted in New York City in 2017 and made their Festival debut last season. Concertmaster Frank Huang, Principal Associate Concertmaster Sheryl Staples, Principal Viola Cynthia Phelps, and Principal Cello Carter Brey present a dramatically varied program of Haydn’s String Quartet No. 2 in D minor, Op.76; Shostakovich’s rarely performed String Quartet No. 9; and Borodin’s String Quartet No. 2.

CLASSICALLY UNCORKED presented by Meiomi Wine

Another uniquely intimate experience offered by Bravo! Vail, Classically Uncorked presented by Meiomi Wine, features the Dover String Quartet and vocal ensemble Roomful of Teeth in three chamber music concerts with works juxtaposing traditional and contemporary repertoire. The concerts are held at Donovan Pavilion July 31–August 2 and include complimentary wine and hors d’oeuvres.

Classically Uncorked presented by Meiomi Wine begins on July 31 when the Dover String Quartet and the vocal ensemble, Roomful of Teeth, explore different nuances and textures of sound in a program that will invite audiences to feel and hear a diverse offering of music. The carefully-crafted series opens with Stravinsky’s Three Pieces, a gripping musical revolt against the accepted norms of the string quartet performed by the Dover String Quartet. Then, Roomful of Teeth takes listeners to a different realm, investigating vocal overtones and Sardinian nasal intonation in Mazzoli’s Vesper Sparrow. A physical study of breath and sound, including yodeling, dominate the program in a performance of Brittelle’s High Done No Why. The first half will close with the Dover String Quartet performing Haydn’s String Quartet in F minor, Op. 20, No. 5. Vocal diversity will open the second half, when Roomful of Teeth presents three contrasting works: Greenstein/Wells’s Montmartre, Dudley’s To Sound "Suonare", and Hearne’s "Letter to My Father." The Dover String Quartet will bring the evening to a close with Mendelssohn’s String Quartet No. 6 in F minor, Op. 80.

On August 1, the first of two works by Pulitzer Prize-winning composers appearing on the Festival will be performed when Roomful of Teeth presents David Lang’s Little Match Girl Passion (2008 Pulitzer Prize Winner in Music). David Lang, co-artistic director of New York's legendary music collective Bang on a Can, wrote this special version of his haunting work for Roomful of Teeth. Based on the Hans Christian Andersen story, "The Little Match Girl,” Lang powerfully tells the tragic morality tale through a musical language that was influenced by Johann Sebastian Bach’s St Matthew Passion. Lang’s profound offering will be balanced against one of Mozart’s most intimate pieces, his Fantasy in D minor, featuring Anne-Marie McDermottat the piano. The Dover String Quartet ends the evening with Mozart’s String Quartet in D minor, K. 421 (“Dover”), one of the few works Mozart wrote in a minor key.

The series and the 2018 Bravo! Vail Festival close on August 2 with the world premiere of a Bravo! Vail-commissioned work by Gabriella Smith on a provocative program that highlights a collaboration between the voice and stringed instruments. The evening begins with Ravel’s Pavane pour une infante défunte, performed by Anne-Marie McDermott, which will set the stage for the dramatic concert to follow. Gabriella Smith’s new work (commissioned as part of the Festival’s New Works Project) for eight voices and string quartet is a poignant musical commentary on the damage done to the planet by human activity over time. As the text for her new piece, Ms. Smith uses the Latin names of all the species of animals that have gone extinct over the past 100 years. Of the work, Ms. Smith says: “I was inspired to do this while watching several of the great requiems, to expand their scope to address not just death in a human sense but the deaths of entire species and, hopefully, make us think about our impact on the environment and place in history on a larger, geological/environmental scale.” Next, the second work of a Pulitzer Prize-winning composer will be presented on the series: Caroline Shaw’s Ritornello. Shaw, who is also a member of Roomful of Teeth and was awarded the Pulitzer Prize in Music in 2013, says: “[Ritornello] tries to evoke the notion of time folding in on itself, repeating and forgetting and unfolding again” and it is “a musical project that I find myself returning to again and again. It's not a fixed piece, no one commissioned it, and nobody really knows what it is yet. I'm looking forward to living with some of this material for a very long time”.

BRAVO! VAIL AFTER DARK

In an informal, unique, and highly accessible twist on the chamber music experience, Bravo! Vail After Dark presents the Festival’s Chamber Musicians in Residence, Asphalt Orchestra, Ensemble Connect and Hanzhi Wang performing in a handful of the Vail Valley’s most popular bars and ale houses. The series’ three concerts feature captivating music, from classical favorites to innovative contemporary works.

EDUCATION & FREE EVENTS

Education and community outreach are a vital part of Bravo! Vail’s core mission. In 2018, the Festival presents more than 25 free concerts throughout the Vail Valley.

2018 Free Concert Series

The popular Free Concert Series returns in 2018, featuring Bravo! Vail's Piano Fellows and the Chamber Musicians-in-Residence. Throughout the season, these musicians will perform beautiful and engaging programs on Tuesdays and Thursdays at the Vail Interfaith Chapel in Vail and evening performances at the Edwards Interfaith Chapel in Edwards and the Brush Creek Pavilion in Eagle. One of the highlights of this season's offerings will be a special collaboration between these young musicians and members of the Dallas Symphony Orchestra on July 3.

2018 Little Listeners

Bravo! Vail once again presents its Little Listeners at the Library series, which introduces children to the wonders of classical music. The series' eight programs will be staged in public libraries throughout the Vail Valley, including those in Vail, Avon, Eagle, and Gypsum. Members of the resident orchestras and Bravo! Vail's Chamber Musicians-in-Residence will perform engaging and entertaining repertoire at these fun and free family-friendly events.

2018 Pre-Concert Talks

The Pre-Concert Talk series is another key component of Bravo! Vail’s educational programming. In 2018, the series returns with five lectures, presented by musicologists from around the state, which are held before select orchestral performances. New this year, the series will feature one chamber post-concert talk. The lectures provide musical insights and historical context and details, giving concertgoers a deeper understanding of the works they will hear during that evening’s performance.

Free Family Concerts

Last season Bravo! Vail expanded its free family concerts to much success. Over 1,000 children and parents were reached. For the second consecutive year, Bravo! Vail is offering two free family concerts – both up valley and down valley – continuing the Festival’s commitment to serving local residents.

A collaboration between Bravo! Vail and the National Repertory Orchestra of “The Listener,” featuring Magic Circle Mime Company, takes place on Thursday, July 12, at the Gerald R. Ford Amphitheater in Vail at 11:00 a.m. and the Lundgren Amphitheater in Gypsum at 6:00 p.m. An hour before each performance, children of all ages are invited to Bravo! Vail's Instrument Petting Zoo, where they can explore real orchestral instruments.

“The Listener,” introduces new audiences to the workings of a concert orchestra and explores the active relationship between the listening audience and the musician. In the dramatic storyline, the conductor has prepared a program of music from the various artistic disciplines, but finds his efforts complicated by the unexpected participation of two audience members. Musical challenges between bugle and trumpet and tap dancing to ballet music are just part of the action as these two characters and the audience learn about the orchestra, its music, and the art of listening.

The National Repertory Orchestra, located in Breckenridge, is an entirely fellowship-based summer orchestra that trains young professionals as they embark upon their orchestral careers.

Chamber Musicians in Residence

Each season Bravo! Vail is proud to host musicians in the early stages of their professional careers. This year, Bravo! Vail welcomes 2017 Young Concert Artists Omer String Quartet and Hanzhi Wang as well as Ensemble Connect.

Comprised of violinists Mason Yu and Erica Tursi, violist Jinsun Hong, and cellist Alex Cox, the Omer Quartet is a leader among today’s young string quartets. The top prizewinner in the XI Premio Paolo Borciani Competition in Italy, a prizewinner of the 2016 Bordeaux International Competition in France, and the 2013 Grand Prize and Gold Medal Winner of the Fischoff National Chamber Music Competition, the quartet has been praised for playing with a “sense of discovery and adventure, but also with considerable finesse.” Established at the Cleveland Institute of Music in 2009, they have performed at prestigious venues in North America as well as Italy and France and with such internationally renowned artists such as Eugene Drucker, the Assad Brothers, and the Borromeo String Quartet, among others.

Hanzhi Wang is considered to be one of the shining stars amongst the young upcoming generation of classical accordionists. Despite her young age, she has already enjoyed a remarkable career, frequently touring worldwide as a soloist and chamber musician. Critics have described her playing as “technically flawless” and with “remarkable stage presence,” which adds to her innovative musicianship. Recently, she won the Beijing International Accordion Competition in China and Klingenthal International Accordion Competition in Germany as well as the Arrasate International Accordion Competition in Spain (2013), and was awarded the Premio Category of the International Accordion Competition in Castelfidardo (2015). She was most recently named a winner of the 2017 Young Concert Artists Auditions in New York.

Ensemble Connect

Ensemble Connect comprises young professional musicians selected to participate in a prestigious two-year fellowship program of Carnegie Hall, The Juilliard School, and the Weill Music Institute in partnership with the New York City Department of Education. The fellowship,

which celebrated its 10th anniversary in the 2016–17 season, includes residencies in schools throughout New York City and performances at Carnegie Hall, The Juilliard School, Le Poisson Rouge, and other local venues.

PIANO FELLOWS

This summer marks the fourth year of Bravo! Vail’s professional artist development program, which is designed to nurture and showcase the talents of two gifted young pianists. This year’s remarkable fellows, Do-Hyun Kim and Albert Cano Smit, both making their Bravo! Vail debuts, will give a number of recitals and chamber music performances throughout the Vail Valley. Mr. Kim and Mr. Cano Smit will be coached by the Festival’s Artistic Director, Anne-Marie McDermott, and other distinguished performer-pedagogues.

23-year-old pianist Do-Hyun Kim, winner of the 2017 Young Concert Artists Auditions, is currently pursuing his Master’s Degree at the Juilliard School under the tutelage of Sergei Babayan. Mr. Kim obtained his Bachelor’s Degree from the Cleveland Institute of Music (CIM). He is the recipient of numerous awards, including the Korean National Chopin Piano Competition, Samick Piano Competition and Kukmin Daily Piano Competition. In the spring of 2014, he performed as soloist with the CIM Orchestra. He was also a fellow of the 2014 Gilmore Keyboard Festival in Kalamazoo, Michigan.

21-year-old pianist Albert Cano Smit was the First Prize winner of the 2017 Walter W. Naumburg Piano Competition. He has performed as a soloist and chamber musician across Europe and America. In addition to the Naumburg prize, Mr. Cano Smit was also a finalist of the Concours International de Montreal 2017. Currently, Mr. Cano Smit studies with Ory Shihor at the Colburn School Conservatory of Music in Los Angeles, California. He is also under the regular tutelage of Jean-Yves Thibaudet.

THE LINDA AND MITCH HART SOIRÉE SERIES

The Linda and Mitch Hart Soirée Series gives patrons the rare opportunity to hear the Festival’s world-class musicians perform intimate concerts in some of the Vail Valley’s most beautiful homes. Guests enjoy cocktails and hors d’oeuvres before each performance and a gourmet three-course meal prepared by the finest local chefs afterwards.

The series begins on June 28 when pianist Anne-Marie McDermott and two members from the Dallas Symphony Orchestra – Concertmaster Alexander Kerr and co-concertmaster Nathan Olson – perform Mozart’s Violin Sonata in B-flat major, Moszkowski’s Suite for Two Violins and Piano in G minor, and Sarasate’s Navarra for Two Violins and Piano. The opening concert will be held at the Diane and Lou Loosbrock residence in Arrowhead and will be catered by Mirabelle at Beaver Creek featuring Chef Daniel Joly.

On July 9 pianist Nicholas Angelich will perform at the Barbie and Tony Mayer residence in Cordillera Valley. The event will be catered by The Left Bank featuring Chef Jean-Michel Chelain and the program will be announced at a later date.

Anne-Marie McDermott will join forces with the Omer String Quartet (Bravo! Vail Chamber Musician-in-Residence) on July 23 for Elgar’s epic Quintet in A minor for Piano, Two Violins, Viola and Cello. The concert will be held at the Ann and Dick Rothkopf residence in Cordillera and will be catered by Vail Catering Concepts featuring Chef Eric Berg.

The series will come to an end on July 29 with an all-Chopin program performed by one of today’s leading pianists and critically-acclaimed Chopin specialist, Louis Lortie. The event will be held at the Sarah and Peter Millett residence in Lake Creek. The evening will be catered by Foods of Vail featuring Chef Tracey Van Curan.

THE 2018 SEASON GALA

On July 15, Bravo! Vail hosts the 2018 Season Gala, An Evening with Nathan and Julie Gunn, held at the Ritz-Carlton, Bachelor Gulch. This year, Bravo! Vail is pleased to welcome the Grammy Award-winning baritone and opera superstar Nathan Gunn in collaboration with pianist Julie Gunn for “An American in Paris” program.

In addition to the Gunn’s performance, the Annual Gala includes dinner, dancing, and an auction. Proceeds benefit Bravo! Vail’s Education and Community Engagement Programs, helping to ensure that the Festival’s extensive community outreach initiatives continue to grow and evolve over the next 30 years. The event is co-chaired by Dierdre and Ronnie Baker and Lisa and Ken Schanzer.

TICKETS

Create Your Own Packages on sale now – save 10%

Create Your Own Packages of 3 or more orchestra concerts are on sale now! Receive 10% off, purchase before general tickets go on sale, and receive subscriber benefits. Packages start at

$75 for lawn, and $117 for pavilion seats.

Individual concert ticket sales begin March 20.

To purchase tickets please email ticketing@bravovail.org, buy online at bravovail.org, or call the Box Office at 877.812.5700.

ABOUT BRAVO! VAIL MUSIC FESTIVAL

The Bravo! Vail Music Festival brings world-renowned musicians to picturesque venues throughout the Vail Valley for nearly seven weeks, drawing music lovers from around the world. The only festival in North America to host four of the world’s finest orchestras in a single season, Bravo! Vail celebrates its 31^stseason from June 21 through August 2, 2018. The 2018 season features residencies with the Dallas Symphony Orchestra, The Philadelphia Orchestra, and the New York Philharmonic – plus the London-based Academy of St Martin in the Fields, which, in 2016, became the first international orchestra to perform at the Festival. In addition, internationally acclaimed chamber artists and soloists perform a wide array of unique and carefully curated chamber music programs. For more information about Bravo! Vail, visit bravovail.org or call 970.827.5700.

CHRONOLOGY OF CONCERTS IS AVAILABLE UPON REQUEST.

Media Contact: Amanda Sweet/Bucklesweet, 347.564.3371, amanda@bucklesweetmedia.com

 

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