7/14 - 8/05: Twenty three days of orchestral music performed in beautiful places.

I’ve been Put In Trouble more than once for never having made it to Tanglewood during the summer, and thereby never having been able to fully understand one of the main inspirations from the musical histories of most of my close friends in New York and Boston. I’m looking forward to finally making amends this summer by visiting for a few days. But instead of heading north from what is quickly becoming the typical steamy, putrid, unbearable New York City of mid-to-late July, I’ll actually be heading south from what has become my own summer escape: unbelievably gorgeous northern Vermont, where I am about to spend my third year as the timpanist for the Vermont Mozart Festival.

The festival was founded in 1974 by longtime Juilliard professor Mel Kaplan and University of Vermont Music Department chair Bill Metcalfe. Mr. Kaplan now also runs a successful Vermont-based artist managment company (and still performs as the festivals principal oboist), and Mr. Metcalfe is a principal conductor of the festival. It draws more than 16,000 visitors annually to the area, and this year is looking to be the most well attended yet, as many of the concerts are already sold out. I’m also told that the venerable harpist Bridget Kibbey, with whom I have worked in New York from time to time (she’s quite good with all that thorny contemporary music as well), is one of this year’s soloists.

I find myself playing so much contemporary music in New York that I’ve come to really look forward to this chance to just be a timpanist on a range orchestral music over the course of several very musically satisfying weeks. The fact that Burlington (and surrounding area) is one of my favorite places on earth just sweetens the deal. If you happen to be anywhere near the area this summer: bring wine, bring food, its totally great I promise…

Below are the nine concerts I am involved in. Title links lead you to ticket information, more specifics, and a nice picture of old people relaxing in a meadow. Aww!

Grand Opening
Sunday, July 15, 2007 ~ 7:30 PM
VMF Orchestra, Peter Leonard, Conductor
Mozart, Saint-Saens, Dvorak, Beethoven

Brahms on the Bay
Saturday, July 21, 2007 ~ 7:00 PM
VMF Orchestra, Gil Shohat, Conductor
Mozart, Ravel, Haydn, Brahms

American Masterpieces
Sunday, July 22, 2007 ~ 7:00 PM
VMF Orchestra, Gil Shohat, conductor
Bernstein, Gershwin, Copland

A Voyage to Venice
Wednesday, July 25, 2007 ~ 7:30 PM
VMF Orchestra, Oriana Singers and Soloists
William Metcalfe, conductor
Gilbert & Sullivan’s The Gondoliers

Marriage of Figaro
Saturday, July 28, 2007 ~ 7:00 PM
VMF Orchestra and Soloists
William Metcalfe, conductor
Mozart’s The Marriage of Figaro

Mendelssohn in the Mountains
Sunday, July 29, 2007 ~ 7:00 PM
VMF Orchestra, Peter Leonard, Conductor
(Featuring Bridget Kibbey, harpist)
Beethoven, Mozart, Brahms, Mendelssohn

Grand Finale
Saturday, August 4, 2007 ~ 7:00 PM
VMF Orchestra, Christopher Wilkins, Conductor
Mozart, Rossini, J.S. Bach, Beethoven

Carnival of the Animals
Sunday, August 5, 2007 ~ 11:00 AM
VMF Orchestra, William Metcalfe, Conductor
Vermont Teddy Bear Factory in Shelburne
Saint-Saens’ Carnival of the Animals

Royal Encore
Sunday, August 5, 2007 ~ 7:00 PM
VMF Orchestra, Christopher Wilkins, Conductor
Mozart, Beethoven