Staunton Music Festival begins Friday

From staff reports
Published: August 12, 2008

Schedule of events:
Opening concert: Vienna; Friday at Trinity Episcopal Church, 7 p.m.; Strauss Kaiserwalzer, op 437, arr. by Schoenberg; Berg Four Pieces, op 5; Mahler Three Songs from Des Knaben Wunderhorn; Schubert “Trout” Quintet in A-major
Gala dinner and concert: Saturday at President’s House, Mary Baldwin College, 7 p.m.; Schubert Der Hirt auf dem Felsen; Stravinsky Three Pieces for Clarinet, Suk Piano Quartet in A Minor
Musical offerings: Sunday at Trinity Episcopal Church, 4 p.m.; Bach Cantata “Christ lag in Todesbanden”; Schrader Organ Improvisation on B-A-C-H; Messiaen Quartet for the End of Time
Song and dance: Aug. 20 at Trinity Episcopal Church, 7 p.m.; Couperin Concert Royeaux No.1; Schoenberg Two Satires from op.28 and Dreimal Tausend Jahre, op. 50a; Mozart Pantomime, K. 446, reconstructed by V. Mendelssohn (U.S. premiere); Chester Biscardi Three Songs; Betty Olivero Six Yiddish Songs and Dances
Schumann Mania: Aug. 21 at Trinity Episcopal Church, 7 p.m.; Music of Robert Schumann; Märchen Erzählungen; Dichterliebe; Toccata, for piano; Spanische Liebeslieder
Baroque Inside and Out: Aug. 22 at Trinity Episcopal Church, 7 p.m.; Telemann Overture in B flat-major; Ferrandini Cantata: Il Pianto di Maria; Vivaldi Gloria in D; In the intermission, enjoy madrigals both in the Trinity sanctuary and church yard.
A Handel Celebration: Aug. 23 and 24 at Trinity Episcopal Church, 3:30-4:15 p.m.; Handel’s Trio Sonata in G Minor and an Introduction to Acis and Galatea by David Schrader; free to all
Acis and Galatea: Aug. 23 and 24 at Blackfriars Playhouse, 7 p.m.; Handel’s masterpiece in a fully-staged production. With Kim Childs as Acis, Ilana Davidson as Galatea, Michael Haag as Polyphemus, Derek Chester and Deepak Marwahas Damon, Jennifer Lane as Corydon, Jennifer Lane is the stage director and Carsten Schmidt conducts
September Chinese Weekend:
Celebrated pipa-virtuoso Min Xiao-Fen joins some of our favorite SMF performers for an exciting exploration of the contemporary Chinese musical world.
An Evening of Chinese Music: Sept. 13 at Trinity Episcopal Church, 7 p.m. A celebration of traditional Chinese music, combined with chamber music, vocal, and choral works by some of the most outstanding Chinese contemporary composers: Chen-Yi, Tan Dun, Zhou-Long, Bright Sheng, and Huang Ruo
Reflecting China: Sept. 14 at Trinity Episcopal Church, 4 p.m. An adventurous program combining traditional Chinese music with responses from the West, including works by Couperin, Cage, Debussy, and the world premiere of a new piece for pipa and jazz ensemble by Chuck Dotas
Young Artist Events: all free
Emerging Composer’s Concert: Tuesday at First Presbyterian Church, Staunton, 12:15-1:45 p.m. Premieres of songs cycles by 2008 SMF Emerging Composers as well as works by composers-in-residence, all performed by our Young Artist Fellows
Concert: Tuesday at Virginia Mennonite Retirement Community, 7 p.m.
Master Classes: Aug. 20 at First Presbyterian Church, 1:30-3:30 p.m.
Concert with Madison Singers: Aug. 21 at the Booker T. Washington Community Center, 12:15-1 p.m.
Concert: Aug. 23 at First Presbyterian Church, noon-1 p.m.
Tickets for all events are available at: Celebrate!, 107 East Beverley St., Staunton, 885-0300; online at http://www.stauntonmusicfestival.com; by phone at 1-800-594-TIXX (8499); at the door. Note: Telephone and online purchases may be subject to additional service charges.

SMF Concert venues

n Trinity Episcopal Church
213 W. Beverley St., Staunton
n American Shakespeare Center’s Blackfriars Playhouse
10 S. Market St., Staunton
n President’s House at Mary Baldwin College
Entrance off North Coalter Street, Staunton
n For detailed directions to all SMF venues, please visit the Web site, http://www.stauntonmusicfestival.com
Young Artist Venues
n First Presbyterian Church
100 E. Frederick St., Staunton
n Booker T. Washington Community Center
1114 W. Johnson St., Staunton
n Virginia Mennonite Retirement Community
1501 Virginia Ave., Harrisonburg (http://www.vmrc.org or 1-888-564-VMRC)