Britt Music Festival 2007

Mar 16, 2007 11:03:00

Britt Festivals Classical Festival 2007 (11-1-06) — August 3-19 • Tickets on sale December 1, 2006 — JACKSONVILLE, OR—Britt Festival Music Director and Conductor Peter Bay announces the line-up for Britt’s 45th Classical Festival and the programs that are coming to Jacksonville for three weeks next August. Long-time Britt Classical patron Gary Lovre calls the Britt Orchestra the “‘Brigadoon orchestra’ because it appears each August as if by magic and we are enchanted once again by the combination of world-class music and beautiful moonlit evenings on the Britt hill.” One hundred of the nation’s best musicians will journey to southern Oregon for three weeks of music-making as they come together to form the 2007 Britt Festival Orchestra. On Saturday, Aug. 11, two of the opera world’s biggest names— Frederica von Stade and Samuel Ramey—join forces with the Britt Orchestra to present an evening of opera and musical theatre arias, songs and duets. The personal charm, charismatic stage presence and deep friendship of these two artists is sure to create an unforgettable evening. For the final weekend of the 2007 Classical Festival, Maestro Bay has planned three programs including the annual family concert. On Friday, Aug. 17 the orchestra celebrates “the circle of Brahms” by presenting his Double Concerto for violin and cello along with works by two of his closest friends, Joseph Joachim and Robert Schumann. Platypus Theatre will be featured on August 18 as Britt brings actors, masks and puppets to the stage to help the orchestra tell a musical story. Young children will delight as the imaginary Gimquat bird searches for her perfect song and helps us all find joy in music. The 2007 Britt Classical season comes to a close on Sunday, Aug. 19. Back by popular demand following her 2006 performance of Vivaldi’s Four Seasons, violin phenomenon Sarah Chang performs the virtuosic and emotionally charged Sibelius Violin Concerto. The program showcases the orchestra and the summer enchantment ends with a haunting waltz by Maurice Ravel. Tickets for the 2007 Classical Festival go on sale to Britt members on December 1 with “Early Bird” discounts of $2 off each ticket until February 15. Call the box office (1-800-882-7488 or 773-6077) or visit www.brittfest.org for a complete listing of repertoire, guest artist information, other ticket discounts and details on ordering tickets.