American Bach Soloists' SummerFest 2008 is scheduled July 18-20 at the Mondavi Center for the Performing Arts, after earlier three-day runs in Belvedere and San Francisco.
Each evening starts with an Artist Spotlight at 6 p.m., and a Bach Supper at 6:30, followed by a Twilight Serenade at 7:15 and a Main Event concert at 8.
The Artist Spotlight and music programs:
July 18 -- Artist Spotlight, a family concert during which four ABS musicians take the audience on "a musical journey exploring the world of Baroque music," in a program suitable for all ages; Twilight Serenade, Cecilia, a new vocal ensemble featuring Ruth Escher and friends; and Main Event, Baroque Gems, Albinoni: Concerto a 5 in D Minor for Oboe, Strings and Continuo; J.S. Bach: Orchestral Suite No. 2 in B Minor; Corelli: Concerto Grosso in D Major; Marcello: Concerto for Oboe in D Minor; Telemann:Trio in E Minor from Tafelmusik; and Vivaldi: La Follia Trio Sonata for 2 Violins and Basso Continuo in D Minor.
July 19 -- Artist Spotlight, ΢²ªÊÓƵ music professor Jeffrey Thomas (artistic and musical director of American Bach Soloists) reads excerpts from his forthcoming book about Handel's Messiah, followed by a question-and-answer session; Twilight Serenade, David Daniel Bowes, Adam LaMotte and Robert Howard, 18th- and 19th-century "salon music"; and Main Event, Classical Classics, C.P.E. Bach: Flute Concerto in G Major; Haydn: Military Symphony No. 100 in G Major; Mozart: Oboe Quintet in C Minor, and Adagio in C Major for English Horn, Violins and Violoncello.
July 20 -- Artist Spotlight, Steven Lehning, ABS's principal violone, contrabass and viola da gamba player, presents a "curator's tour" of priceless string instruments and harpsichords, explaining how they are built, copied and used in period performances; Twilight Serenade, The Whole Noyse, brass and wind music from 16th- and 17th-century Europe; and Main Event, The Romantics, Beethoven: String Quartet No. 3 in D Major; Mendelssohn: Theme and Variations in E Major, Scherzo in A Minor and String Quartet No. 1 in E-flat Major; and Schubert: Quartettsatz in C Minor.
For more information, . Separate tickets required for Artist Spotlights, Bach Suppers and Main Events. All ticketholders can attend the Twilight Serenades. Advance tickets available through the Mondavi Center: (530) 754-2787 or (866) 754-2787, or . Tickets also will be sold at the door, and people without Bach Supper reservations can buy meals, if available.
Media Resources
Dave Jones, Dateline, 530-752-6556, dljones@ucdavis.edu