The Strad: Bravo! Vail launches re-imagined summer festival following May cancellation

The Strad

The Bravo! Vail Music Festival has announced a re-imagined summer season from 16 July - 6 August 2020 in Eagle County, Colorado. On the agenda are outdoor concerts in the Gerald R. Ford Amphitheater, a mobile performance stage bringing music to local communities, and online educational presentations. The festival re-launch follows the cancellation of all originally planned events in May 2020 due to coronavirus. 

The new programme features seven chamber music performances at the Gerald R. Ford Amphitheater, including appearances by the Dover Quartet in Brahms, Haydn, Dohnányi, Mendelssohn and Barber; violinist and founding festival director Ida Kavafian and pianist and current festival director Anne-Marie McDermott in Beethoven’s complete Violin and Piano Sonatas; and violist Paul Neubauer and pianist Amy Yang in Schubert’s Arpeggione Sonata. All seven of the concerts are open to a limited capacity audience and subject to social distancing regulations. 

Read more here.

The New York Times: Grand Teton Music Festival Named One of Top 15 Classical Music Festivals

The New York Times
David Allen

From Bernstein centennials at Tanglewood to Mahler in the desert, concerts across the county you don’t want to miss this season.

Grand Teton Music Festival

TETON VILLAGE, WYO., JULY 3-AUG. 18 Donald Runnicles is the music director in this picturesque town opposite Jackson Hole, which is just south of Grand Teton National Park and an hour’s drive from Yellowstone. With an orchestra whose players are drawn from major symphonies across the country, Mr. Runnicles conducts Mahler’s Symphony No. 3, Bernstein’s “West Side Story” and much else. Visiting soloists include Daniil Trifonov, Leila Josefowicz and Kirill Gerstein. gtmf.org

For the full list of top 15 classical music festivals, click here.

Chicago Tribune: A selective guide to U.S. summer classical music festivals

Chicago Tribune
John von Rhein

Grand Teton Music Festival: July 3-Aug. 18; Jackson Hole, Wyo.: This year’s festival at the foothills of the Teton Mountains celebrates American music. Music director Donald Runnicles leads the orchestra, which comprises players from several top U.S. orchestras. The 2018 roster includes Daniil Trifonov, Julian Rachlin, Johannes Moser and Kirill Gerstein. Repertory includes Mahler’s gigantic Third Symphony and world premieres by Kareem Roustom and Sean Shepherd. 307-733-1128; www.gtmf.org

Click here to see the full guide.

BBC Music Magazine: Grand Teton Music Festival Featured in Summer Music Festivals Guide

BBC Music Magazine

GRAND TETON MUSIC FESTIVAL

With Grand Teton National Park as a dramatic backdrop, this festival features seven weekends of orchestra concerts, each with a noted concerto soloist. They include pianists Yefim Bronfman, Denis Kozhukhin and Garrick Ohlsson, violinists Augustin Hadelich and James Ehnes, and cellist Maja Bogdanovic. It's also an opportunity to hear conductors Fabian Gabel, Vasily Petrenko and Cristian Măcelaru, along with music director Donald Runnicles.

WHEN: 3 July - 20 August
WHERE: Teton Village, Wyoming
TEL: +1 307-733-1128
WEB: www.gtmf.org
HIGHLIGHTS:
7 & 8 July: Wagner Prelude to Die Meistersinger, Sibelius Violin Concerto, Neikrug The Unicorn of Atlas Peak, Beethoven Symphony No. 7; Augustin Hadelich (violin), Festival Orchestra/Runnicles
14 & 15 July: Prokofiev Suite from Romeo and Juliet, Saint-Saëns Cello Concerto No. 1; Maja Bogdanovic (cello), Festival Orchestra/Cristian Macelaru
11 & 12 August: Holst The Planets, Aaron Jay Kernis Musica celestis etc; James Ehnes (violin), Festival Orchestra/Donald Runnicles

More on the BBC Music Magazine's full Festivals Guide here.

BBC Music Magazine: Musical Peaks in the Old West

BBC Music Magazine
By Oliver Condy

Tucked into the northwest corner of Wyoming sits the majestic Teton mountain range, its peaks rising 2,000 meters either side of the vast, flat valley floor, known as Jackson Hole. In winter, the Tetons host world-class skiing, but come summer, the lush grassland, forests, lakes and rivers of Jackson Hole teem with wildlife, including eagle, elk, moose and grizzly bear, along with thousands of tourists who head there for kayaking, walking, rafting, fishing, horse riding... Jackson Hole styles itself as the 'Last of the Old West' and there are still ranches where you can see cowboys at work.

But if, like me, you don't catch so much as a whiff of a moose or bear, you can console yourself with the sight and sounds of one of America's most impressive music festivals. Located in the ski resort of Teton Village, the Grand Teton Music Festival (GTMF) is, at over 50 years old, almost as well established as the geyers in nearby Yellowstone Park. Scottish conductor Donald Runnicles, who's often seen sporting a stetson, has been the festival's music director since 2006, bringing the GTMF to a wider international audience and attracting world-class soloists and conductors. Most of the concerts take place in the 600-seat Walk Festival Hall, built in the 1970s. 'A lot of people think this is an outdoor location.' Runnicles says over a coffee at one of Jackson Hole's ranches, 'but they're astonished to find we have this jewel of a hall.'

And playing in it is a jewel of an orchesta, an unpaid, crack team of players made up of members of the finest orchestras across the US. Many of them have been coming to Jackson for over 10 years (one or two for almost 30) and most of them stay for at least two or three weeks during the summer - over the course of the festival's five weeks, hundreds of musicians pass through Jackson Hole. Simply playing for the joy, they say, is a chance for them to 'renew their vows' with orchestra music, to remind themselves why they play music, without the crushing pressures they're up against at home. 'It's not a gig,' says Utah Symphony Orchestra's Ralph Matson, festival veteran of 20 years. 'Everyone's here because they want to make music together' chips in Seattle Symphony violist Susan Gulkis Assadi, who has made Jackson Hole something of a second home during the summer. 'It's the most collegial orchestra in the world.' 'Each member of the orchestra is reminded what a privilege it is to be performing great music with great musicians,' says Runnicles. 'There are moments during performances that I'm viscerally aware of who I have in front of me.'

Runnicles faces the challenges of not only pleasing his faithful audiences but also the orchestra - feeding them repertoire that doesn't make them feel they're on a busman's holiday. 'I'm not going to attract people from Chicago, Philadelphia, Dallas or The Met if I programme Tchaik Five, Rach Two...They've done those sorts of pieces. I see the music we play as nutrition - they have to do something where they're challenged.'

2015's curveball was Vaughan Williams's Symphony No. 3, a work that most of the musicians, plus Runnicles himself, hadn't performed before. The previous year it was Vaughan Williams's Fifth Symphony, also well received. 'Every one of our players will return to their orchestras and share their new love of Vaughan Williams. So many of the musicians have come up to me and thanked me for introducing them to this music.'

Jackson Hole's elevation also presents its demands: the dryness and lack of humidity makes playing a reed instrument a lot trickier. And singers, who have to take more frequent breaths than usual during performances, are advisde to acclimatise by arriving a few days earlier. Not that they need any encouragement to spend more time in Jackson Hole...

Music Industry News Network: Festival D'Aix & Beijing Music Festival Sign Five-Year Agreement

Long Yu, Linda Davies, and Bernard Foccroulle in Beijing, October 2015

Music Industry News Network

Two of the world's most renowned music festivals have agreed an historic five-year artistic collaboration, orchestrated by the KT Wong Foundation.

Bernard Foccroulle, Artistic Director of the Festival d'Aix-en-Provence, and Long Yu, Founder and Artistic Director of the Beijing Music Festival, signed an agreement on 10th October 2015 that will see an exchange of the finest classical and operatic productions between China and Europe.

This groundbreaking partnership will launch in October 2016 with a series of performances of Benjamin Britten's operatic masterpiece, A Midsummer Night's Dream. This 2015 revival of the legendary 1991 production, directed by Robert Carsen, will be staged at the Poly Theatre in Beijing as part of the Beijing Music Festival.

This unique cultural milestone was conceived by the pioneering KT Wong Foundation, an organisation that has led the way in delivering boundary-pushing cultural, artistic and educational exchanges between China and the West since its launch in 2007. As well as a commitment to promoting cultural relations, the Foundation has also established itself as a leading supporter of young musical talent in China, Europe and the US.

Under the leadership of Founder and Chairman Lady Linda Wong Davies, the organisation has been a longtime supporter of both the Festival d'Aix-en-Provence and the Beijing Music Festival, and worked tirelessly over the past three years to bring them together.

In France the Foundation has supported a range of productions presented at the Festival d'Aix-en-Provence including:

- Handel's Ariodante directed by Richard Jones
- JS Bach's Trauernacht directed by Katie Mitchell
- Britten's A Midsummer Nights Dream directed by Robert Carsen
- Tchaikovsky's Iolanta/Persephone directed by Peter Sellers
- Jonathan Dove's Monster in the Maze directed by Marie-Eve Signeyrole

In addition the Foundation has been introducing the work of the Festival d'Aix-en-Provence to Chinese audiences since December 2014 with a series of film screenings in Beijing, Shanghai and Tianjin of some of the Festival's previous seminal productions. These extraordinary productions have included Patrice Chéreau's chilling production of Strauss' Elektra, The Robert Carsen sparkling revival of A Midsummer Nights Dream and Robert Lepage's water-filled production of Stravinsky's The Nightingale.

Lady Linda Wong Davies said: "The KT Wong Foundation are extremely proud to have played a key role in securing this historic partnership between the Festival d'Aix-en-Provence and the Beijing Music Festival.

"These two leading music festivals are recognised for showcasing the world's finest artistic and musical talent, and this argument will allow them to reach out to new audiences in both countries, create new artistic ventures, and provide opportunities for young artists, creators and performers.

"The KTWF has worked tirelessly over the past three years to bring these two festivals together. This collaboration represents a significant triumph for the Foundation's continuing commitment to building cultural bridges and creating the best environment for artistic exchange to thrive between China and the West.

"I commend my colleagues B Foucroulle and Maestro Long Lu on their individual and combined vision and courage to come together in their desire for greater artistic creativity and excellence.

"We must remember that in these uncertain times, where our societies are rocked by economic and political changes, that France‎ has continued to show the world that support of the cultural arts remain a priority. The leadership shown by the signing of this agreement is a testament to the strength of the relationship between France and China.'

"Since its launch in 2007, the Foundation has already produced a hugely diverse body of work, creating, producing and supporting boundary-pushing creative ventures across disciplines including opera, design, architecture and film.
"I am very excited to be part of this cultural milestone and look forward to helping make this unique collaboration truly an exciting creative platform for meaningful cultural exchange between China and France."

BBC Music Magazine: An American Adventure

BBC Music Magazine

'Welcome to Jackson Hole', says the sign at the exit to the airport, 'The last of the old west.' Driving through the wide open plains of the Grand Teton National Park framed by the majestic Teton Range, calls to mind Jerome Moross's evocative music to the opening minutes of the 1958 film, The Big Country. You can still see genuine cowboys at work here, who share the spectacular landscape with bison, elk, moose, eagle, bear (black and grizzly) and the odd peckish mountain lion, who add a frisson of excitement to any hill runner's morning constitution.

Just down the road from Jackson Hole (in American terms, that is – it's a three-hour drive) is Yellowstone National Park, packed full of thrilling geological wonders, the most famous being the Old Faithful geyser that spouts a gigantic column of boiling water almost 200 feet into the air every hour and a half, and the otherworldly, primordial Grand Prismatic Spring that reflects the entire spectrum of colours around its rim accompanied by warm, eggy gusts of sulphurous steam.

The Teton area, by winter, is one of the finest places to ski anywhere on earth, but by summer, its mountains and valleys, now devoid of snow, seduce lovers of cycling, climbing, kayaking, bird watching, fishing, and hiking. It also plays host to one of the oldest and best classical music festivals in America.

Since 1962, Jackson Hole has been the backdrop to a seven-week celebration of orchestral and chamber music, the Grand Teton Music Festival, at the heart of which is the festival orchestra, a super-ensemble comprising the finest players from America's orchestras, from Atlanta to Louisiana, Dallas to Pittsburgh. And the conductor of this staggering group of musicians is none other than Donald Runnicles, musical director of the Deutsche Oper, principal guest conductor of the Atlanta Symphony Orchestra, and, until September 2016, principal conductor of the BBC Scottish Symphony Orchestra, after which he becomes conductor emeritus. 'It’s a testament to this place that the players keep coming, year in, year out'. Runnicles has been the festival's musical director since 2006.

The players themselves, some of whom stay for a couple of weeks, some for the entire seven, see it as a chance to renew their vows with orchestral music, as it were, among friends and away from the stresses of unions, orchestra politics and the school run. ‘Each and every musician is here because they want to be’, Runnicles explains. ‘There’s no compulsion to be here – their focus is on this bucolic experience and great music-making. And many of their absolute best friends were made here. They can’t wait to get back.’

The festival audience benefits from this unique chemistry through exciting, fresh, often revelatory performances in the stunning 800-seat Walk Festival Hall, although the real challenge, Runnicles admits, is finding repertoire that will fascinate his group of musicians but that will still attract audiences. The final two concerts of this year's festival featured Vaughan Williams's Symphony No. 3, a work that Runnicles had never conducted before, and which only two members of the orchestra had played before. ‘So many musicians have thanked me for bringing this repertoire to the festival – that’s beautiful,’ he smiles, ‘and each of these musicians will return to their institution and share their new love of Vaughan Williams.’

The GTMF closed with a stupendous performance of Respighi’s breathtaking Pines of Rome – a grand ending to the Grand Teton. The festival traditionally allows its players to stay for one more day following the final concert, easing them gently back into the real world. Just about enough time for a decent mountain hike and one last moose encounter…

Broadway World: Opera Star Renée Fleming To Perform Gala Concert At Grand Teton Music Festival

Photo: Jonathan Tichler

Broadway World

A regular performer on the world's grandest stages, international opera superstar Renée Fleming's radiant voice and compelling artistry will soon be heard for the first time in the heart of the American West--Jackson Hole, Wyoming. Program to run gamut from opera arias to Broadway show tunes.

GTMF Music Director Donald Runnicles invited his long-time collaborator to perform as part of a special, gala event at Walk Festival Hall tonight, July 29 at 7pm--an invitation Ms. Fleming happily accepted. Guest conductor Edo de Waart leads the Festival Orchestra for this concert at the request of Maestro Runnicles who will be appearing at the Proms in London with the BBC Scottish Symphony Orchestra.

Joining Ms. Fleming on stage is the Grand Teton Music Festival Orchestra. This unique ensemble, which is brought together each summer by Maestro Runnicles, is comprised of leading orchestral musicians from North America's top orchestras, the nation's finest orchestra of this kind.

Tickets for this gala event are $85 and go on sale June 2 at 10am. They can be purchased at GTMF.org or by calling 307-733-1128. Tickets include a complimentary beverage at intermission. Advanced purchase is highly recommended.

Ms. Fleming, known for her sumptuous voice, consummate artistry, and compelling stage presence, has appeared in concert and in operas on every major stage in the world. Ms. Fleming is among a handful of classical artists who have transcended her art to reach millions of adoring fans worldwide. A frequent performer at high profile events, Ms. Fleming was the first classical artist to sing at a Super Bowl (2014), performed at the Beijing Olympics (2008), and sang on the balcony of Buckingham Palace in the Diamond Jubilee Concert for HM Queen Elizabeth II. Fans of the Metropolitan Opera's Live in HD series also know her as a charismatic, charming host to these lavish, big screen productions.

GTMF presents exhilarating musical experiences, and reunites a celebrated orchestra of musicians with Music Director Donald Runnicles each summer. During its annual, seven-week summer classical music Festival, GTMF presents full Festival Orchestra concerts on weekends and smaller ensembles on weeknights.