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Vail music: ‘Music is enough for a whole lifetime’

Lynne Mazza
My View
Vail, CO Colorado

VAIL, Colorado –Do not miss Thursday’s free concert at the Gerald R. Ford Amphitheater in Vail, Colorado. The National Repertory performs Fancy Fiddlin’ at 11 a.m. This is fun concert for the whole family and it is free.

Date night is Friday night. On Friday, The Philadelphia Orchestra conducted by Miguel Harth-Bedoya takes Bravo! on an irresistible Spanish journey with Ravel, Iturriaga and Turina. Ravel’s Rhapsodie espagnole, inspired by Ravel’s Spanish heritage (Basque mother), was his very first orchestral composition; it reveals his mastery of orchestration with its power and diverse sounds. Spain is seen through romantic French eyes. Popular Peruvian composer Enrique Iturriaga’s works express the multi-culturalism of Peru. With Sinfonia Junin y Ayacucho Iturriaga paints a vivid musical picture of the battles of Junin (Aug. 6, 1824) and Ayacucho (Dec. 9, 1824) in which the revolutionary troops under the command of liberator Simon Bolivar and Antonio Jose de Sucrewon won two decisive victories; it resulted in the independence of Peru. Understandably, this work is infused with intense emotion and rhythmic fire. Joaquin Turina’s Danzas fantasticas, deeply rooted in the folk idiom, is a natural and instinctive expression of the people. Albeniz (1860-1909), Granados (1867-1916), de Falla (1876-1946) and Turina, together created a Spanish nationalistic compositional school. Turina never loses his Spanish heritage; the Andalusian character of his music and his individual way of using Spanish rhythms becomes a personal encounter. All three pieces draw on traditional Spanish song and dance idioms. And, the evening comes to a lush and dreamy end with Ravel’s mesmerizing Bolero. Reignite your romance with Ravel. Take advantage – it’s a great date night!

On Saturday charismatic conductor Rossen Milanov returns with The Philadelphia Orchestra, highlighted by guest soloist, cellist Alisa Weilerstein, performing one of the most explosively passionate cello rhapsodies, BLOCH’s Schelomo. Alisa will captivate you, and yes, no doubt trigger a few tears. And, coupled with Rachmaninoff’s Second Symphony, one of the orchestra’s specialties, it will be a night to remember-I guarantee it. As Rachmaninoff said, “Music is enough for a whole lifetime, but a lifetime is not enough for music.”



On Monday at 7 p.m. we present another installment of Bravo’s complimentary and easy listening Casual Classics at Eagle Ranch. It will feature Rob Patterson, a young, talented and exciting new clarinetist on the scene. Rob will be joined by Bravo’s artistic director and flutist Eugenia Zukerman and the Vuillaume String Quartet, gifted young artists from the distinguished Curtis Institute of Music (Rob’s alma mater). It is a rare opportunity to hear these great musicians play delightful and charming works by Villa- Lobos, Mozart and Gershwin, for free; and, it is a rare opportunity to ask questions and mingle with these fun folk.

On Tuesday at 6 p.m. is another blockbuster evening at the Vail Mountain School with Schubert, Mozart and Dohnanyi, and, the Miami String Quartet, Rob Patterson, clarinet (again!) and superstar pianist Inon Barnatan. You do not want to miss hearing Mozart’s sumptuous and very popular Clarinet Quintet or the virtuosic and dazzling Dohnanyi Quintet for Piano and Strings, gems of chamber music literature. And, if you want some “inside” information about the performers and have an opportunity to ask a question or two, come to the 5 pm. Performance Prelude pre-concert talk in the VMS lobby.

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For tickets and concert information, call 877-812-5700 or http://www.vailmusicfestival.org.


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