The 2015 Carmel Bach Festival, Bach, Bohemia and Beyond, offer a wide array of musical selections, free events and family-friendly offerings. We invite you to join us in celebration of our 78th Season, July 18 – August 1 with pre-festival activities July 11-17.
On Monday July 20 and 27 at 8:00 p.m., Concertmaster Peter Hanson presents the entire festival string section in a moving performance that will include works by Johann Sebastian Bach, Béla Bartók and Antonín Dvořák. The emphasis on the big string sound creates a rich and romantic atmosphere that will not disappoint. Peter Hanson is our beloved concertmaster who has performed worldwide with many different musical groups including the Hanson String Quartet, the Orchestra of the Age of Enlightenment and the Eroica Quartet. Peter famously performed and acted in the BBC TV show Eroica which is a dramatization of the genesis of Beethoven’s Symphony No. 3.
Here is what this musical virtuoso had to say about his vision for Monday night’s performance, “I have chosen to use this year’s ‘Bohemian’ theme to put on performances of two of the greatest string orchestral works. We are going to play them on gut strings and we will be experimenting with performance practices of the times in which each was written.’
‘I’ve included a performance of Bach’s Ricercar from the Musical Offering. This is the big six-part fugue and when played with a large string orchestra sounds marvelous. It will remind people of Stokowski’s arrangements from the 40’s for the film Fantasia. I’m going to try and give an authentic 1940’s style of performance for the Bach, something that many players have tried to avoid in their studies! I think, however, that they will enjoy a short indulgence in ‘modern’ style playing for this particular concert. This will be Bach played very romantically.”
We are very excited for our second family matinee concert on Saturday July 25. The Underwater Adventure of Leonard and Rasmus is a continuation of the story that began at last year’s family concert. This is a special, interactive and participatory concert designed for young people ages 5 + and their families, featuring a string quartet, woodwinds, brass, piano, and voice. This year’s adventure takes us under the sea where Leonard and Rasmus, guided by a mermaid, will visit a kelp forest and discover the many sea creatures who live right off the Pacific Coast. Come hear the great music that inspires this unforgettable adventure! Story line, characters, and script created by Suzanne Mudge, longtime member of our Artistic Team. The illustrations for this year’s adventure were created by a local CSU Monterey Bay student Kai Schoneweis.
Our Festival has just begun and the office is buzzing with excitement! If you don’t have your tickets yet, there is still time to order and our friendly box office is standing by to take your call. Tickets are available to purchase online by clicking here, over the phone 831-624-1521 and in person at Cottage 16 on the Sunset Center Theatre campus at the NW Corner of 10th and Mission. The Festival runs July 18-August 1 with pre-festival activities July 11-17.
This article is sponsored by Carmel Bach Festival. Find more info with the festival’s official website.
