Bravo! Vail Music Festival Opens with The Saint Paul Chamber Orchestra and Joshua Bell – June 24-27, 2021

The Saint Paul Chamber Orchestra joins Bravo! Vail’s other world-class resident orchestras – Dallas Symphony Orchestra (DSO), The Philadelphia Orchestra (TPO), and the New York Philharmonic (NYP)

Bravo! Vail proudly opens its vibrant 2021 season with the Vail debut of The Saint Paul Chamber Orchestra (SPCO) with violinist Joshua Bell – June 24, 26, and 27. The SPCO replaces programming originally scheduled with the Academy of St. Martin in the Fields, which has been canceled due to ongoing travel restrictions. The Festival also announces an evening with the celebrated double bassist Edgar Meyer and an evening of chamber music with esteemed cellist David Finckel and influential pianist Wu Han, the co-artistic directors of the Chamber Music Society of Lincoln Center.

Renowned for its artistic excellence, remarkable versatility, and adventurous programming, The Saint Paul Chamber Orchestra is widely regarded as one of the finest chamber orchestras in the world and has a long history performing with Joshua Bell. Bravo! Vail’s opening night features an all-Mozart program with Bravo! Vail Artistic Director Anne-Marie McDermott joining SPCO at the piano for the prolific composer’s Piano Concerto No. 9 in E-flat major, K. 271 while Joshua Bell performs his Violin Concerto No. 5 in A major, K. 219 (Turkish). Another highlight of opening night will be SPCO performing Mozart’s Prague Symphony. The next performance focuses on the theme of “The Four Seasons” with compositions by Piazzolla and Vivaldi. And finally, SPCO musicians are featured with Joshua Bell in a chamber music program for trio and quintet by Schubert and Brahms.

The Festival’s 34^th season continues with its three other fantastic resident orchestras at the outdoor Gerald R. Ford Amphitheater, as previously announced – Dallas Symphony Orchestra (June 30, July 1, 2, 4, and 5), The Philadelphia Orchestra (July 9, 10, 11, 15, 16, and 17), and the New York Philharmonic (July 21, 23, 24, 25, 27, and 28) – in addition to captivating programs for chamber ensembles and the mobile Music Box stage that brings concerts to communities throughout the Vail Valley through August 4.

Among the star-studded summer programming, Bravo! Vail announces the addition of Edgar Meyer on June 29. The virtuoso double bassist is also an acclaimed composer and offers an evening of Bach’s Suite No. 1 in G major paired with his own composition. Also new to the Bravo! Vail season, on August 4 David Finckel and Wu Han present an evening of beautiful works by J.S. Bach, Beethoven, Mendelssohn, Debussy, and Britten.

Bravo! Vail is following all local, state, and national health and safety guidelines, continuing its commitment to the health and safety of its patrons, artists, and staff as its top priority. Each of the resident orchestras has done the same over the past year and consequently will bring appropriately sized ensembles to the Gerald R. Ford Amphitheater stage to perform an incredible variety of music by composers spanning four centuries. 

SAINT PAUL CHAMBER ORCHESTRA 2021 CONCERT DETAILS

All-Mozart Evening
June 24, 2021 | 6:00 PM MDT
Gerald R. Ford Amphitheater

Anne-Marie McDermott, piano
Joshua Bell, violin

Mozart: Piano Concerto No. 9 in E-flat major, K. 271, Jenamy
Mozart: Symphony No. 38 in D major, K. 504, Prague
Mozart: Violin Concerto No. 5 in A major, K. 219, Turkish

A grand tour of music by Mozart. The journey begins with the piano concerto declared "one of the greatest wonders of the world" (revered pianist Alfred Brendel), then travels through the rich harmonies and Bohemian colors of the Prague symphony, arriving at the delightful Turkish violin concerto.

The Four Seasons
June 26, 2021 | 6:00 PM MDT
Gerald R. Ford Amphitheater

Joshua Bell, violin

Vivaldi: The Four Seasons 
Piazzolla: The Four Seasons of Buenos Aires

Virtuoso violinist Joshua Bell takes center stage for this lively linkage of Italian Baroque with 20^th century tango. Vivaldi’s hugely popular violin concertos alternate with Piazzolla’s rapturous re-imaginings for a vibrant exploration of each composer’s time and temperament.

Schubert & Brahms
June 27, 2021 | 6:00 PM MDT
Gerald R. Ford Amphitheater

Joshua Bell, violin
Members of The Saint Paul Chamber Orchestra
    Kyu-Young Kim, violin
    Hyobi Sim, viola
Zlatomir Fung, cello
Shai Wosner, piano

Schubert: Piano Trio in E-flat major, D. 929
Brahms: Piano Quintet in F minor, Op. 34

Tonight’s spotlight is on chamber music, with a program that marries powerful sound with small-scale intimacy. Schubert’s Trio is monumental in length, breadth, and wealth of thematic ideas, and the darkly gorgeous Piano Quintet by Brahms is widely considered his crowning achievement in chamber music.

ADDITIONAL NEW CONCERT PROGRAMMING

Edgar Meyer Solo Recital
June 29, 2021 | 7:00 PM MDT
Vilar Performing Arts Center, Beaver Creek

Edgar Meyer, double bass

J.S. Bach: Suite No. 1 in G major, BMV 1007
Meyer: Work in Progress for unaccompanied double bass

“The most remarkable virtuoso in the relatively un-chronicled history of his instrument,” (The New Yorker), Edgar Meyer returns to Bravo! Vail with the fascinating opportunity to hear a Work In Progress of his own composition, paired with his soulful, revelatory transcription of Bach’s beloved first suite for solo cello, performed with wondrous resonance on the double bass.

Han & Finckel in Concert
August 4, 2021 | 7:00 PM MDT
Vilar Performing Arts Center, Beaver Creek

David Finckel, cello
Wu Han, piano

J.S. Bach: Viola da Gamba Sonata No. 1 in G major, BWV 1027
Beethoven: Cello Sonata No. 4 in C major, Op. 102, No. 1
Mendelssohn: Cello Sonata No. 2 in D major, Op. 58
Debussy: Cello Sonata, L. 135
Debussy: Girl with the Flaxen Hair
Britten: Cello Sonata, Op. 65

Partners in life and in music for almost 40 years, this irrepressible power couple of the chamber music world has won international acclaim for their “eloquent and deeply committed performances” (The New York Times) as well as “glamour and theatrical flair [and] superb musical insight” (The Washington Post). 

Ticket Information
Ticket sales for all 2021 summer season concerts are open now. Please visit bravovail.org/tickets-performances/explore-the-2021-season for more information.

About Bravo! Vail Music Festival
The Bravo! Vail Music Festival brings world-renowned musicians to picturesque venues throughout the Vail Valley for six 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 34^th season from June 24 through August 4, 2021. The 2021 season features residencies with The Saint Paul Chamber Orchestra and the return of the Dallas Symphony Orchestra, The Philadelphia Orchestra, and the New York Philharmonic. In addition, internationally acclaimed chamber artists and soloists perform a wide array of unique and carefully curated chamber music programs. Artistic Director Anne-Marie McDermott has led the Festival since 2011. For more information about Bravo! Vail visit bravovail.org or call 970.827.5700. 

Event details including programs and artists are subject to change. Visit bravovail.org for complete season information and updates.