Violinist Tim Fain, cellist Inbal Segev and pianist Alon Goldstein are this year's guest artists at Festival Amadeus.
Glacier Symphony has planned a grand week of classical and classical music spinoffs for Festival Amadeus Aug. 6-12 in Whitefish. The concert poster features a sunglass-clad Wolfgang Amadeus Mozart and the words “Let’s Festival! Ja?” – a hint that the festival will offer as much good fun as it will great music.
Festival music director John Zoltek has organized a stellar line-up of classical artists to perform in the three orchestra concerts and three cabaret chamber nights. Guests include Tim Fain, a charismatic violinist known for his film appearance in “The Black Swan” and work with composer Philip Glass; Inbal Segev, a renowned cellist who hails from Israel; Alon Goldstein, piano, another Israel native who studied under Zubin Mehta; and INVOKE, a cross-over string quartet which adds mandolin, banjo and voice to their repertoire.
Held in two venues in the resort town of Whitefish, the festival offers visitors the option to explore the majesty of Glacier National Park by day, followed by the luxury of an expertly performed classical concert each night.
New this year will be an Amadeus Reception on Monday, Aug. 6, to meet the festival musicians, acclaimed soloists and Maestro Zoltek (included for Pick – 3 and Full Festival Pass holders). Also new will be cabaret seating during the three chamber night concerts at the O’Shaughnessy Center where audience members may sit at tables and enjoy a beverage while listening to the concert, or opt for traditional concert seating.
Several open rehearsals will be available during the week and festival guest artists share their stories in “Musical Journey” talks held in conjunction with Camp Festival Amadeus that runs concurrently during the week. The camp is facilitated by North Valley Music School with support from the Whitefish Rotary Club.
“Don’t miss this Whitefish summer tradition,” says Maestro Zoltek. “Be a part of our audiences for one or more of these fabulous performances – Let’s Festival! Ja?”
Festival Amadeus Concert Line-up
All concerts begin at 7:30 p.m.:
- Amadeus Reception, Monday, Aug. 6, at the O’Shaughnessy Center (OSC): Meet and mix with the musicians at this casual gathering. Hors D’oeuvres, beverages, and desserts provided for multi-concert pass holders.
- Summer Pastoral, Tuesday, Aug. 7 at the Whitefish Performing Arts Center (WFPAC): This evocative collection of music will feature the internationally acclaimed cellist, Inbal Segev, performing Haydn’s Cello Concert No. 2along with the dreamy summer sounds of Honegger. Mozart’s “little g minor” symphony from the movie soundtrack “Amadeus”brings the Festival Amadeus Orchestra center stage. Segev’s playing has been described as “delivered with impressive fluency and style,” by The Strad. Equally committed to new repertoire and known masterworks, the artist brings interpretations that are both unreservedly natural and insightful to the vast range of solo and chamber music that she performs.
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INVOKE, a versatile and adventurous string quartet, performs Aug. 8. INVOKE in concert, “Americana,” Wednesday, Aug. 8, OSC: A string quartet with mandolin and banjo? That’s INVOKE – four young virtuoso musicians whose crossover music spans classical to contemporary. The set tunes will range from “I ain’t broke (but I’m badly bent)”to “Furious Creek,” “Hard Times” and many more. “Versatile and musically adventurous, way more than classical …” writes the Capital Gazette.
- “The Soldiers Tale,” Thursday, Aug. 9 (OSC): Is it Dixieland? Tango? A play or a parade? This year marks the 100th anniversary of Stravinsky’s “Faustian” tale set to cool music with cabaret seating that will make it an in-your-face theatrical experience. This story of good versus evil will be performed by prominent actor David Ackroyd as the narrator, actress Pam Ponich, playing the devil, and opera singer Andrew Surrena, as the soldier, plus seven select musicians.
- “Power Trio: Fain, Segev, Goldstein,” Friday, Aug. 10 (OSC): by Three seasoned musicians – violinist Tim Fain, cellist Inbal Segev and pianist Alon Goldstein –explore Beethoven’s ghostly romanticism, Dvorak’s Slavic-infused “Dumky” trio and Leonard Bernstein’s vigorously eclectic music.
- “Mozart & the Miracle,” Saturday, Aug. 11 (WFPAC): Violinist Tim Fain will solo on Mozart’s elegantly turned Violin Concerto No.1. The program continues with the Festival Amadeus Orchestra performing Prokofiev’s quirky “Classical” and Haydn’s “Miracle” symphonies. This will be Tim Fain’s third appearance at Festival Amadeus. This “charismatic, young violinist with the matinee idol profile, and first rate chops” (Boston Globe) is featured prominently in the film “Black Swan” and gave a violin “voice” to the lead characters in the films “12 years a Slave” and “Bee Season.” He regularly performs with orchestras around the world.
- “Heroic Finale,”Saturday, Aug. 12 (WFPAC): The festival concludes with Mozart’s masterful Piano Concerto No. 17 in Gfeaturing pianist Alon Goldstein, who made his orchestral debut at the age of 18 with the Israel Philharmonic under the baton of Zubin Mehta. Goldstein is an international artist performing with orchestras and music festivals around the globe.
Tickets for Festival Amadeus
Fully transferable passes are available for $237 for all six concerts (three chamber and three orchestra) or $126 for a pick-three concert pass (includes Amadeus Reception and choice of chamber or orchestra concerts). Pass purchasers also receive a complimentary gondola ride to the top of Big Mountain at Whitefish Mountain Resort.
Passes can only be purchased through the GSC Box Office 406-407-7000, 10 a.m.-4 p.m. Tuesday to Friday, or at the Whitefish PAC daily from 11 a.m.-1 p.m. and starting at 6 p.m. nightly. The O’Shaughnessy box office is open at 6 p.m. before curtain.
Single concert tickets are available online at www.gscmusic.tix.com and range from $12-$40 for orchestra concerts and $10-$25 for chamber performances. Visit www.glaciersymphony.org for details or call 406-407-7000.
Open Rehearsals and Musician Talks
North Valley Music School in Whitefish holds Camp Festival Amadeus concurrently with the Festival at Whitefish Middle School. The public has an opportunity to enjoy the process of making music when the festival guest artists share their stories at several “Musical Journey” talks with the students. The programs are held in the lobby of Whitefish Middle School and are free of charge. The public is also invited to observe Camp Festival Amadeus classes during the week.
For more information contact NVMS at 406-862-8074 or head to www.northvalleymusicschool.org.