Midsummer’s Music Festival Announces Labor Day Concert Series

The Clearing in Ellison Bay is one of many venues which host Midsummer’s Music Festival.

For twenty-two summers Door County residents and visitors have had the opportunity to attend world-class music concerts, without having to venture into the big city and laying out “big bucks” for a little culture. Though many are cognizant of the prestige of the performers and the quality of the performances in Door County, those that don’t follow classical music on a regular basis might not be as aware of the value of hosting such a festival as our own Midsummer’s Music Festival. After all, it is hard to know which performing arts events to attend in the summers because there are so many quality ones to choose from.

Midsummer’s began concerts June 8 and finished their regular “mid-summer” performances in mid -July. This year, thirty-one concerts were held around Door Peninsula in private homes, art galleries, churches, and halls. The opening night performance included a celebration gala at Birch Creek. Birch Creek is also where Midsummer’s will hold its final performance of the summer.

Midsummer’s Music will begin, “Mozart’s Sphere,” the first of its last two program series, on Aug. 29 at the Unitarian Universalist Fellowship in Ephraim at 7:30 pm. Sister Bay Moravian Church welcomes the festival on the following evening, Aug. 30, also at 7:30 pm. Ephraim Moravian Church hosts two days later on Sept.1, 7:30 pm. The concert will consist of Schilflieder, Opus 28 by August Klughardt (1847-1902) performed by oboe, viola, and piano; Quartet in G Minor, K.V. 478, by Wolfgang Amadeus Mozart (1756-1791), written for piano, violin, viola, and cello; with the finale piece, Quintet in B Minor, Opus 118, by Philipp Scharwenka (1847-1917). This was composed for piano and string quartet. These concerts are all priced at $25 (adults), $10 (college students), free for 17 and under. Reservations are recommended. Tickets will be available at the door, but they will be $5 more.

The “Bon Voyage to Summer” celebration at Birch Creek will begin at 3 pm on Sept. 3. Artistic Director Jim Berkenstock invites people to “come early and stay late.”

The celebration will include chocolate covered strawberries upon arrival, a champagne toast and the second program of the series entitled, “Major Insights.” The concert opens with a work by Bernhard Henrik Crusell (1775-1838), Quartet in D Major, Opus 8, performed by flute, violin, viola, and cello. Quartet No. 1 in B-flat Major, Opus 69, written by Mélanie Bonis (1858-1937) is the next selection played by piano, violin, viola, and cello. Antonin Dvořäk’s (1841-1904), Quintet in A Major, Opus 81 features piano and string quartet. A special encore presentation will round out the program with the playing of the Scherzo from Christian Sinding’s (1856-1941) Quintet for Piano and String Quartet. The cost of this special event is $45 and reservations are required. An elegant reception will follow the program and a photo presentation of the 2012 season’s highlights will be shown.

For those wishing to hear the “Major Insights” program without all of the extras can attend Aug. 31 at 7:30 pm at St. Luke’s Episcopal Church in Sister Bay and on Sept. 2 at 3 pm at The Clearing in Ellison Bay for $25 (adults), $10 (college students) and free for those 17 and under. Again reservations are recommended, as prices will be $5 more at the door.

For more information or tickets call 920.854.7088 or visit http://www.MidsummersMusic.com.