Something for Everyone – PMF’s 56th Season

The Peninsula Music Festival (PMF) will open their 56th season on Tuesday, August 5, and this year’s festival is sure to be filled with many firsts, as well as a continued commitment to young artists and new music.

The Festival Opening will feature Maestro Yampolsky returning to the podium for the Star Spangled Banner, as well as pianist Ben Pasternak performing Gershwin’s popular Piano Concerto in F. The concert also includes Ticheli’s Blue Shades and Symphony in d minor by Cesar Franck. Yampolsky has also programmed a Mystery Piece to close the program.

“Very few people are aware of the piece, so hopefully the mystery will continue until the Festival Opening,” commented PMF Executive Director Sharon Grutzmacher.

Another highlight of this year’s festival schedule will be the Brahms Fest – a mini festival within the festival. Throughout August 2008, four Brahms Symphonies will be performed. There is a special subscription price available for this Thursday Series.

Week two of the festival opens on Tuesday, August 12 with a concert entitled “From the Old Times.” This program provides many new twists. First is a guest conductor, Ken Slowik, who is the artistic director of the Smithsonian Chamber Music Society. The evening will also feature another first – a post concert Encore. Concertgoers are invited to stick around after the concert for a ten to fifteen minute question and answer period with Slowik and the concert soloists.

Then, on Thursday, August 14, the winner of the Battle of the Baton All-Stars will take the stage to conduct a Sousa March. In the past, the winner has conducted the Star Spangled Banner on the Festival opening; however, since each of the contenders has already conducted the Star Spangled Banner, Maestro Yampolsky decided they should learn a new piece to expand their repertoire.

Also in week two, the festival’s presentation of a semi staged version of Mozart’s beloved opera, Cosi fan Tutte, Saturday, August 16, will be another first. The production will be conducted by associate conductor Stephen Alltop and will include costuming and minimal sets and props. It will be sung in Italian with supertitles. There will also be a post concert Encore discussion.

Then, all too quickly, week three of PMF is here. Two young artists will begin the week and then world famous cellist, Lynn Harrell will complete the 56th season. The Festival Finale or Brahms Fest IV, Saturday, August 23, will be the incredible culmination of an amazing season of symphonic music. The great cellist Lynn Harrell will return to perform with the PMF Orchestra having last appeared in 1981 on the stage of the Gibraltar School Gymnasium.

Tickets to all nine concerts of the Peninsula Music Festival are available and on sale now. Nine concert subscription packages, as well as smaller Brahms Fest and Week II Fest packages are also available. Visit http://www.musicfestival.com or call 920.854.4060.