Summer Festivals Guide

We have remembered the Earth, retrieved Easter eggs or afikoman, bird-watched, and otherwise celebrated the reemergence of nature in spring. We may have even decided which camps to deliver our children to during the summer holidays. Now it’s time to think about all the summer music and arts festivals that dot the Bay Area like California poppies, brightening every available nook and cranny. Here are some highlights for the coming season, for those who have date planners and like to buy their tickets in advance.

The San Francisco Opera’s Ring Festival, June 9–July 3:

Early June is not that far away. The international tourists who make up a significant portion of the audience for any major production of Wagner’s The Nibelung’s Ring have their tickets and hotel reservations. The Opera is now selling tickets to individual performances, and a few of the ancillary events have already begun. (SFCV will publish the complete list and accompanying article on May 10.) Donald Runnicles conducts a cast that will include a number of singers getting their feet wet in their roles, including Mark Delavan (as Wotan), Nina Stemme (Brünnhilde), and Ian Storey (Siegfried). It’s an artistic event like no other, and Lisa Hirsch’s ecstatic review of last year’s Die Walküre now reads like a promissory note that Wagnerians hope the complete cycle will pay off.

Ojai and Ojai North, June 9–12 and 13–18:

For years now, lovers of contemporary music have taken off in June to Ventura County where the Ojai Festival is situated among rolling hills still green from spring rains (sometimes.) The festival is programmed each year by a guest music director, who this year is the divine soprano Dawn Upshaw. This year, however, Bay Area denizens can save a few shekels because Ojai will come to them, courtesy of UC Berkeley’s Cal Performances. They’re bringing the highlights of Ojai north, including a new music theater piece by Upshaw’s frequent collaborator Peter Sellars, called The Winds of Destiny and taken from composer George Crumb’s American Songbook IV. Also appearing are Maria Schneider and her jazz big-band, who are featured in a new, commissioned work, Winter Morning Walks; and the Australian Chamber Orchestra under Richard Tognetti.

Stern Grove Festival, San Francisco, June–August:

You don’t generally buy tickets far in advance to this one — actually you can’t, because the schedule hasn’t been released yet (it’s coming on May 2). But, as always, the S.F. Opera, Symphony, and Ballet will have one day each to display their wares, while the other weeks will be taken by a variety of musical acts. Check our Music News next week.

Summer and the Symphony, June 27–July 29:

The San Francisco Symphony’s summer pops series brings back favorites like lounge band Pink Martini (June 30), vocalist Laura Benanti (July 7), jazz trumpeter Chris Botti (July 14–15), and even an ABBA tribute band (July 16). Classical faves are mixed in, too: Look especially for Concertmaster Alexander Barantschik leading the orchestra in Mozart’s Eine kleine Nachtmusik, and the gorgeous string serenades by Dvořák and Tchaikovsky. The festival winds up with a screening of the classic movie Casablanca, with the full Symphony playing the score.

Fillmore Jazz Festival, July 3–4:

Three stages, two “entertainment areas,” two days of jazz and related musics from across the spectrum. Yes, it will be crowded, and it will be a gas. Featured acts include the celebrated Marcus Shelby Orchestra, San Francisco reggae band Native Elements, gospel choir Consonance, and local jazz vocalists Kim Nalley and Lisa Engelken.

Mendocino Music Festival, July 9–23:

This festival could well be named by one of the groups performing in it: Eclectica. When the tents go up, the big-ticket items won’t just be classical events like the finale production of Mozart’s Grand Mass in C Minor. MMF not only boasts a jazz big-band, it’s also welcoming soul singer Bettye LaVette, the Travelin’ McCourys (sons of bluegrass genius Del McCoury), and San Jose Taiko.

And just to drive the point home, festival cofounder Susan Waterfall leads one program that explores the diversity of American musics and considers how American classical music has been affected by that fullness.

Festival del Sole, Napa, July 14–24:

This is possibly the most Californian of music festivals because it’s all about the Chardonnay (and the Cabernet and the Zinfandel ...) and about food and scenery, to boot. Sure, there will be a lot of fine music — the Russian National Orchestra returns to ensure that a high musical level is maintained — but the reasons to attend really involve the concert locations, including the spectacular Castello di Amorosa courtyard; the numerous afterparties, dinners, and luncheons hosted at the area’s wineries, including the annual Taste of Napa, which this year will be taped for a local TV show; and even a Wellness program at Solage Calistoga Resort (July 21, 11 a.m.). Artists include violinist Sarah Chang, who will perform a medley of her favorite movie themes on one concert (July 20); pianist Joyce Yang, who helps close out the festival with a performance of Rachmaninov’s Second Concerto; and the Emerson String Quartet, playing last works by Haydn, Bartók, and Schubert.

Midsummer Mozart Festival, July 14–24:

George Cleve’s modest festival is offering Jon Nakamatsu this summer, playing Mozart’s Piano Concerto No. 26, along with the “Linz” Symphony (No. 36). The second program features Mark Brandenburg in the Clarinet Concerto, plus the Symphony No. 39 in E-flat. As always, Cleve and his orchestra visit several Bay Area locations, including, for the first time, Gundlach Bundschu Winery in Sonoma.

American Bach Soloists Festival & Academy, July 15–23:

Two good ideas are refined into one. A year ago, ABS introduced an academy for providing early-music training to up-and-coming performers in the field. This year, it has expanded the academy to include a music festival, with performances of Handel’s magnificent opera Ariodante and Bach’s epochal Mass in B Minor anchoring a full slate of chamber music and master classes. See SFCV’s accompanying article for more details. 

Carmel Bach Festival, July 16–30:

And, speaking of great locales, Carmel is not a shabby place to have one. The Bach Festival is now in its 74th year, but change has come with a new music director, Paul Goodwin, and a new concertmaster, Peter Hanson. To celebrate, the Festival has commissioned a new work from composer John Corigliano. Goodwin continues the Festival’s recent programming style — a core of Bach and his contemporaries, but with a great many of the concerts ranging far afield.

This year, the big Bach piece is the St. John Passion, but the rest of the main concerts have a delightfully eclectic feel: In “War and Peace: Landscapes of the Soul,” the Festival Orchestra plays Vaughan Williams’ “Pastoral” Symphony and Mark Antony Turnage’s A Man Descending as a context for Beethoven’s Pastoral Symphony. Advertising Goodwin’s English roots, another concert traverses English music from Purcell to the modern John Taverner. As always, the festival’s chamber concerts and smaller events contain a wealth of fascinating concerts, including tenor saxophonist Joe Lovano and the Monterey Jazz Festival’s Next Generation Jazz Orchestra in big-band arrangements of, yes, Bach.

Music@Menlo, July 22–Aug. 13:

A chamber music lover’s dream, the Wu Han–David Finckel brainchild, now in its ninth season, has convinced a wide audience that this music is not just for the super-aficionado. Rather, it’s three weeks of full immersion for young musicians and old, with teaching studios, master classes, symposia, audio concert notes, and, of course, performances. This year’s edition focuses on the music of Brahms, looking both back to his roots and forward to his admirers. The Orion String Quartet focuses on Brahms’ three contributions to the repertoire, along with works by Beethoven, Anton Webern, and Leon Kirchner. Program VI is devoted to Brahms’ last works, the gorgeously lyrical Clarinet Quintet (with David Shifrin, clarinet), the Second Viola Sonata, and the Second String Quintet. Other concerts look at music in the alla zingarese style, and at the songs. And on Program III, you get to hear the Piano Trio in G Minor by Clara Schumann, a key influence on Brahms. Once again, the Festival’s broadcast partner, American Public Media, returns to share some of the music via radio on Performance Today.

Cabrillo Festival of Contemporary Music, Santa Cruz, Aug. 3–14:

Some folks still don’t believe it: Every year, the success of the Cabrillo Festival disproves the zombie notion that contemporary classical music can’t appeal to audiences. There’s always a range of boardwalk familiars enjoying the music at Santa Cruz Civic Auditorium, apparently unaware that what they’re listening to is supposed to be difficult. Again this year, Music Director Marin Alsop’s personal fave composers will be well-represented, with Christopher Rouse, Philip Glass, Michael Daugherty, and Mason Bates all returning to the festival. And, as always, there are plenty of highly anticipated Festival commissions and world premieres, from Avner Dorman’s Reflections to Daugherty’s guitar concerto, Gee’s Bend to Mark Adamo’s Prepositions and the Names of Fish and John Corigliano’s Cabrillo Lullaby. Guest soloists include pianist Jean-Yves Thibaudet and guitarist D. J. Sparr. Most of the composers, refreshingly alive, will take part in a Meet the Composers Forum on Aug. 6.

Music in the Vineyards, Napa Valley, Aug. 3–21:

Michael and Daria Adams’ festival is a low-key alternative to the Festival del Sole, offering fine chamber music, and of course food and drink, at various wineries around Napa. Although the schedule is not yet released, it may be a good thing to have the festival on your calendar now, as tickets are always limited, due to the nature of the venues.

Day and Nights Festival, Carmel Valley/Big Sur, Aug. 19–Sept. 3:

As SFCV reported last week, Philip Glass’ inaugural edition of his festival will be a convergence of various artists with whom Glass has collaborated over the years. The Philip Glass Ensemble does a residency at the end of the festival; Molissa Fenley will be there with her dance company, as will director John Moran. The film Kundun, which features Glass’ score, will also be screened.