- Music and Dance and a Classical Revolution
- July To Die Four
- Opera in the Park; Summer in the Mind
- Content restriction. Must be Under 19 to view this material
Music and Dance and a Classical Revolution
Ashkenaz, the music and dance community center in Berkeley, is one of those places that musically-minded parents love to hear about. There are a few others dotting the Bay Area, but Ashkenaz, which specializes in world music folk traditions, is worth a trip. There are dance classes for all ages in all kinds of folk styles and ballet as well as concerts year-round. The address is 1317 San Pablo Avenue. Berkeley. Check out the website for more details.
Now, tonight at Ashkenaz, Classical Revolution presents Squid Inc., a string quartet with an unusual repertoire — creative arrangements of hits by the Police, Seal, Lady Gaga, Queen, and others. The group has recorded with, among others, Peter Gabriel, Death Cab for Cutie and Bjork, as well as the San Francisco Symphony, and San Francisco Contemporary Music Players. Show at 8. Tickets are $10.
July To Die Four
What to do for the kids in July …. The music festivals that start up around the Bay Area in July are a perfect place to start. Most of them have child-oriented events like the ones at Music in the Mountains, which we mentioned in the last two newsletters. And older kids might just enjoy the variety of concerts. Stern Grove rundown next week, but here are the regional festivals most worth attending.
Festival Del Sole (July 12-22) in the wine country is the hottest ticket of the month. A 10-day kaleidoscope of concerts and performances, tastings, galas, receptions and after parties. Regional glitz at its height, and the quintessential California blend of food, wine and the arts. As well as yoga instruction and lectures on how to eat right to keep fit and “The End of Illness.” Plus the Russian National Orchestra and 24-hour plays. It is among the most expensive tickets of the summer, but the Bouchaine Young Artist Concerts are free and well worth attending. They’re at the Jarvis Conservatory in Napa at 11 a.m, July 16-18 and July 20. Also free is the concert of three youth choirs (from Indonesia, Lithuania, and Denmark) at 1 p.m. in the Napa Valley Opera House. More information at: Festival Del Sole.
Carmel Bach Festival (July 14-28). At the other end of the bay, something more sublime. More about the music, which is after all, devotional. After 75 years this festival is an institution, and all under the thoughtful baton of Paul Goodwin. The festival is much more than just Bach —: Interesting riff events, such as Bach and Bluegrass and some Jazz. Here, the lectures are more traditional, including one on Bach in Hollywood music. See also master vocal classes and the young musician’s showcase. Whatever you do, don’t miss the showcase performance on the last day. And don’t forget a walk on the beach at sunset. That is priceless. Two or three events each day. Great variety of venues. $30 for afternoon concerts; can run to twice that after nightfall. More information: Carmel Bach Festival.
American Bach Soloists: San Francisco’s Summer Bach Festival: (July 12-22). If you’re in the city in July, by choice or not, this is something to look forward to. At the San Francisco Conservatory of Music, which is a terrific space and well worth experiencing. This is Bach in historically-informed performances from one of the renowned Bay Area early music groups. It’s for the serious musician or the classical fanboys and girls in your family. There are the regular concerts, performed by the ABS itself, which will be great. But check out the Academy in Action concerts — there are three of them priced at $10 each, or $24 for the whole series. The Academy is the ABS training group and composed of conservatory-level and young professional musicians. It’s an incredible deal, helped by the fact that Corey Jamason, ABS’ harpsichordist extraordinaire, also runs the San Francisco Conservatory Baroque Workshop. More information: American Bach Soloists.
Music@Menlo (July 20 – August 11). To round out the month, a South Bay festival, in its 10th year, featuring first-class chamber music and some interesting takes on big ideas, the biggest being how music inspires humanity. This festival is famous for making chamber music approachable and interesting (but not easy). There are “Cafe Conversations” before the festival concerts, “Audionotes”, the festival’s trademarked CD-format listening guides, and the Encounter series of multimedia symposia (including this highlight: Thursday, July 26, Pianist and composer Stephen Prutsman will introduce original music for two silent films: Buster Keaton’s Sherlock Jr. and Charlie Chaplin’s One A.M.). Again, the steal deal of the festival are the many student performances (the “Prelude” concerts before each main concert, and the “Koret Young Performers” concerts). These are free, but hard to get into. You have to be at Will Call at least an hour before the concert. Don’t be late. More Information: Music@Menlo
Opera in the Park; Summer in the Mind
It will be something for the cover of the Saturday Evening Post, circa 1947. A Norman Rockwell to catch a Sunday afternoon in the local park. The caption should be, ‘an exhausted country catching its breath.’ And for one late afternoon, under the trees around the gazebo in Civic Park in Walnut Creek, perhaps there will be a truth in that.
Why not. Some of the finest opera singers in the area, including the incomparable Kristin Clayton, whose less esoteric roles include the Cinzano diva; Zachary Gordin; sopranos Rebecca Garcia and Loren Woody, along with 40 choristers, singing favorite hits, including the “Anvil Chorus” from Il Trovatore, “Toreador Song” from Carmen, and “America” from West Side Story, along with selections from some of Festival Opera's past productions.
All you need bring is a picnic, which Safeway and Whole Foods are already preparing. And of course you must bring the children. This is a community fair as well. There will be craft booths including one where you can make an opera mask. Interaction with the singers is encouraged.
Sunday, June 24. Come at 3; music begins at 4 p.m., or so. It’s 90 minutes long and there are no bad seats. Corner of Broadway and Civic in Walnut Creek. Weather will be 71 degrees and sunny. Everyone will be in a splendid mood. And it’s all free.
Content restriction. Must be Under 19 to view this material
Santa Rosa Symphony’s Summer Music Academy (July 9 -28). North Bay, about a one-hour drive from Berkeley or San Francisco. But it may be worth it, even if you are the far end of the drive. Workshops in various instruments and groupings, both classical and jazz, along with songwriting and composition, and conducting. Ages 12 to 19.
Ben Taylor teaches the songwriting and composition classes: “We start with getting to know each other and getting over the fear of being openly creative. I introduce 20th-century works and songs from obscure artists to suggest notions of meter and style. From listening we begin talking about the music and each student has something they’re working on …. My goal is to give them the tools they need to create and also the confidence to receive constructive criticism. There is no sense of competition in my class.” Songwriting meets twice a week; Composing meets twice a week, on alternate days. $350 for one class. Meetings are from 1:30 pm to 3:30 pm. No musical training required.