The Festival proudly welcomes back four world-class orchestras – the Academy of St Martin the Fields, Dallas Symphony Orchestra (DSO), The Philadelphia Orchestra (TPO), and New York Philharmonic
The Festival proudly welcomes back four world-class orchestras – the Academy of St Martin in the Fields, Dallas Symphony Orchestra (DSO), The Philadelphia Orchestra (TPO), and the New York Philharmonic – and seven leading conductors, including Jaap van Zweden, Yannick Nézet-Séguin, and Fabio Luisi, to perform live concerts held safely outdoors for in-person audiences, many for the first time in over a year.
Soloists include Daniil Trifonov, Joshua Bell, Conrad Tao, Jean-Yves Thibaudet, Yefim Bronfman, James Ehnes, Gil Shaham, Augustin Hadelich, and Bravo! Vail Artistic Director Anne-Marie McDermott. DSO Music Director Fabio Luisi and TPO Principal Guest Conductor Nathalie Stutzmann make Festival debuts.
The Danish, Escher, Verona, and Viano String Quartets are featured in a full schedule of chamber music that also includes the pioneering Music Box – a mobile concert hall – and a multitude of free community concerts.
Bravo! Vail announces a vibrant summer of music
in the beautiful Vail Valley with more than 50 concerts taking place
from June 24 to August 4, 2021. The Festival’s 34th season showcases
four world-class resident orchestras at the outdoor Gerald R. Ford
Amphitheater
– Academy of St Martin in the Fields, Dallas Symphony Orchestra (DSO), The
Philadelphia Orchestra (TPO), and the New York Philharmonic – in addition to riveting
programs for chamber ensembles and the mobile Music Box stage that brings live
concerts to neighborhoods throughout the Vail Valley.
Bravo! Vail is following all local, state, and
national health and safety guidelines, continuing its commitment to the health
and safety of its patrons, artists, and staff as its top priority. Each of the four resident orchestras has done the
same over the past year and consequently will bring appropriately
sized ensembles to the Gerald R. Ford Amphitheater stage to perform an
incredible variety of music by composers spanning four centuries.
Artistic
Director Anne-Marie McDermott comments, “I
have never been more grateful as an Artistic Director to play a role in
bringing audiences and artists together again to experience the power and
exhilaration of live music in the midst of such an extraordinary time. It is my
greatest hope that the magical combination of Bravo’s magnificent setting, its
world-class artists, and incredible music will provide us all with inspiration
and healing.”
Artist highlights
• The New York Philharmonic returns to Vail July 21,
July 23, July 24, July 25, July 27, and July 28, performing its first
in-person concerts with Music Director Jaap van Zweden since February
2020.
• Superstar violinist and conductor Joshua Bell leads
the Vail return of the Academy of St Martin in the Fields across three
evenings – June 24, June 26, and June 27 – including performances of
Tchaikovsky’s Violin Concerto, Dvořák’s Violin Concerto, and Mozart’s “Turkish”
Violin Concerto.
• Violinist James Ehnes performs Mendelssohn’s
Violin Concerto with the Dallas Symphony
Orchestra and Fabio Luisi, who
makes his Vail debut as DSO’s Music Director on June 30.
• DSO’s Principal
Pops Conductor Jeff Tyzik returns for his 27th season at
Bravo! Vail for two pops programs and a patriotic concert – July 2, 4, and 5.
• Violinist Gil
Shaham returns to Vail to perform Joseph Bologne’s Violin Concerto No. 9 in
G major on July 9 with The Philadelphia
Orchestra and Nathalie Stutzmann, who makes her Vail debut.
• Pianist Yefim
Bronfman joins The Philadelphia
Orchestra and Yannick Nézet-Séguin for
Beethoven’s Third Piano Concerto on July 16.
• Bravo! Vail
Artistic Director Anne-Marie McDermott takes the stage with the Academy
of St Martin in the Fields and Joshua Bell performing Mozart’s Piano
Concerto No. 9 on June 27 and with The Philadelphia Orchestra and Yannick
Nézet-Séguin performing Mozart’s Piano Concerto No. 25 on July 17.
• Pianist Daniil Trifonov returns to Vail performing
Beethoven’s Piano Concerto No. 4 with the New
York Philharmonic led by Music Director Jaap van Zweden on July 21.
Premieres
• World premiere
of Bruce Adolphe’s Diesen Kuss der ganzen Welt! with the
Dallas Symphony Orchestra and Fabio Luisi on July
1
• Vail premiere of Valerie Coleman’s Seven O'Clock
Shout, commissioned and performed by The Philadelphia Orchestra to honor
frontline workers, conducted by Yannick
Nézet-Séguin
on July 17
• Vail premiere of
Caroline Shaw’s Evergreen – co-commissioned by the Festival and
performed by the Viano String Quartet on July 22
More Festival
highlights
• Bramwell Tovey returns to Vail conducting the New York Philharmonic in a program with Augustin Hadelich as well
as one featuring beloved songs and Broadway hits on July 27 and 28
• The return of Anne-Marie McDermott’s artistic initiative, Immersive
Experiences, which features the complete string quartets by Bartók examined
by the Escher String Quartet over three concerts
• Jeff Tyzik conducts an upbeat,
lively symphonic pops concert – the Queens of Soul – including
works by Aretha Franklin and other hitmakers on July 2
• The continuation of
community concerts on Bravo! Vail’s innovative Music Box mobile
concert hall on July 7, July 8, July 12, July 21, July 22, and August 1
Education & Engagement highlights
• Bravo! Vail’s 2021 Family Concerts – chamber music in a family-friendly, interactive format and setting – are dedicated to the premiere of a Bravo! Vail commission entitled The Robot Piano Teacher written by Bruce Adolphe, which features Anne-Marie McDermott, violinist Oliver Neubauer, and violist Tabitha Rhee on July 7 and 8.
• The 2021 Piano Fellows invited as part of Bravo! Vail’s Professional Development initiative – Chaeyoung Park and Dominic Cheli – are featured on the Vail Chapel Series and Community Concerts. During their residence, the Fellows also collaborate with other musicians and receive personal coaching and mentoring from Anne-Marie McDermott.
ACADEMY OF ST MARTIN IN THE FIELDS
In its
much-anticipated return to Bravo! Vail, London’s Academy of St Martin in the
Fields – one of the world’s finest chamber orchestras – brings its fresh, brilliant interpretations back to Vail with Music Director
and virtuoso violinist Joshua Bell at the helm.
• *Thursday,
June 24: Bell Plays Tchaikovsky – Joshua Bell performs Tchaikovsky’s Violin Concerto alongside
Beethoven’s Overture to Egmont and Bizet’s Symphony No. 1
• Saturday, June 26: Beethoven’s “Eroica” – Joshua Bell performs
Dvořák’s Violin Concerto in addition to Beethoven’s “Eroica” Symphony
• Sunday, June
27: All-Mozart Evening – In
this all-Mozart program, Joshua Bell performs Mozart’s “Turkish” Violin
Concerto alongside his “Prague” Symphony and Piano Concerto No. 9 with Bravo! Vail’s
Artistic Director Anne-Marie McDermott
DALLAS SYMPHONY ORCHESTRA
Bravo!
Vail is thrilled to welcome Maestro Fabio Luisi, Music Director of the
endlessly inventive Dallas Symphony Orchestra, as the Orchestra returns to Vail
in its 20th season. Luisi makes his Vail debut as part of his
inaugural season with the DSO while Principal Pops Conductor Jeff Tyzik returns
with soulful pizzazz.
• *Wednesday, June 30: Ehnes Plays Mendelssohn – James Ehnes performs Mendelssohn’s renowned Violin
Concerto with Fabio Luisi on the podium alongside Beethoven’s Eighth Symphony and Leonore
Overture No. 1
• Thursday, July 1: Saint-Saëns & Schumann – Fabio Luisi leads the DSO with 2009 Avery
Fisher Career Grant winner Alessio Bax at the piano performing Saint-Saëns’
Piano Concerto No. 2, plus Bruce Adolphe’s Diesen
Kuss der ganzen Welt! and Schumann’s
Fourth Symphony
• Friday, July
2: Queens of Soul, a symphonic
experience including hits by Aretha Franklin, Tina Turner, Whitney Houston, Amy
Winehouse, Alicia Keys, and more, conducted by Jeff Tyzik with vocalist Shayna Steele
• Sunday, July 4: Patriotic Concert led by Tyzik with trumpeter Byron Stripling
• Monday, July 5: Ragtime Kings, a syncopated, toe-tapping evening of music led by
Tyzik with trumpeter Byron Stripling
THE PHILADELPHIA ORCHESTRA
The
Philadelphia Orchestra’s distinctively luxurious sound and penchant for
innovation are showcased in its 14th Bravo! Vail season with six
diverse programs. Principal Guest Conductor Designate Nathalie Stutzmann makes
her Vail debut, and the imaginative power of the Orchestra’s artistic
leadership will be on full display as Music Director Yannick Nézet-Séguin also takes the podium in Vail. Performances
feature Anne-Marie McDermott and longtime Festival favorites Stéphane Denève, Gil
Shaham, Yefim Bronfman, and more.
• Friday, July
9: Stutzmann Conducts Shaham Gil
Shaham performs Joseph Bologne’s Violin Concerto No. 9 in G major alongside
Beethoven’s Seventh Symphony
• Saturday, July 10: Mendelssohn “Italian” Symphony plus Ricardo Morales joins for Mozart’s Clarinet Concerto in
A major
• Sunday, July 11: Denève Leads Philadelphia Pianist Jean-Efflam Bavouzet
joins TPO under Stéphane Denève in Beethoven’s Second Piano Concerto; other
works of the evening include Prokofiev’s “Classical” Symphony and two pieces by
Ravel
• *Thursday,
July 15: Barber & Dvořák The
evening features Dvořák’s Symphony No. 8, Walker’s Lyric for Strings,
and Barber’s Violin Concerto with Juliette Kang, all led by Stéphane Denève
• Friday, July
16: Yannick Returns Yefim Bronfman
joins The Philadelphia Orchestra conducted by Yannick Nézet-Séguin for Beethoven’s Piano Concerto No. 3 and the
Orchestra performs Florence Price’s Symphony No. 1
• Saturday,
July 17: McDermott Plays Mozart Anne-Marie McDermott joins TPO for Mozart’s Piano
Concerto No. 25 in C major and Yannick leads the Orchestra in Brahms’ Symphony
No. 1 alongside Valerie Coleman’s Seven O'Clock Shout – commissioned by
The Philadelphia Orchestra and premiered virtually last summer to honor
frontline workers
NEW YORK PHILHARMONIC
America’s first symphony orchestra, the
storied New York Philharmonic, brings the orchestral series to a brilliant
finale. Its six-concert residency opens with pianist
Daniil Trifonov playing Beethoven and features many of the world’s greatest
musical artists.
• Wednesday, July 21: Trifonov Plays Beethoven Daniil Trifonov
joins the New York Philharmonic and Music Director Jaap van Zweden with
Beethoven’s Piano Concerto No. 4 alongside Mozart’s Symphony No. 40 in G minor
• Friday, July
23: Tchaikovsky & Haydn Van
Zweden leads the New York Philharmonic in Tchaikovsky’s Souvenir de Florence and Philharmonic Principal Cello Carter Brey performs
Haydn’s Cello Concerto
• Saturday,
July 24: Tao Plays Shostakovich Conrad
Tao and Philharmonic Principal Trumpet Christopher Martin are soloists in Shostakovich’s
Concerto for Piano, Trumpet, and String Orchestra, and Jaap van Zweden leads
Haydn’s Oxford Symphony
• Sunday,
July 25: Thibaudet Plays Ravel Stravinsky’s Suite from Pulcinella is featured alongside Jean-Yves
Thibaudet’s performance of Ravel’s beloved Piano Concerto in G, led by Jaap van
Zweden
• Tuesday, July
27: Tovey & Hadelich Augustin
Hadelich joins the Orchestra for Prokofiev’s Violin Concerto No. 2
• Wednesday,
July 28: Bramwell Returns to Vail Bramwell
Tovey leads the Orchestra through an evening of beloved songs and Broadway hits
CHAMBER MUSIC SERIES
Chamber
music is at the heart of the Festival, and this year a four-concert series celebrates
the genre’s iconic works.
• Tuesday, June 29: Academy of St Martin in the Fields
Chamber Ensemble performs Schubert,
Mozart, and Mendelssohn
• Tuesday, July
13: Two Pianos Four Hands Anne-Marie McDermott and Jean-Efflam Bavouzet join forces in a piano duo
program including Bavouzet’s two-piano arrangement of Debussy’s Jeux
• Tuesday, July
20: New York Philharmonic String Quartet with Anne-Marie McDermott performing Mendelssohn and Schumann
• Wednesday, August 4: Danish String Quartet performs Mozart and Schubert
IMMERSIVE EXPERIENCES
Now in its second season, Bravo! Vail’s
Immersive Experiences series focuses on the chamber music of Bela Bartók.
Featuring the Escher String Quartet, the series provides audiences with the
opportunity to hear all six of Bartok’s epic string quartets as well as his
early romantic piano quintet and several of his fun violin duos. This deep dive
provides a rare immersion into a sonic world where classical traditions are
melded with Eastern European folk music central to the composer’s life.
Pre-concert talks and artist Q&As enhance a fascinating journey into one of
the most influential composers of the 20th century.
• Thursday, July 29: Bartók, Part I featuring string quartets 1, 3, and 5
• Friday, July 30: Bartók, Part II featuring string quartets 2, 4, and 6
• Saturday, July 31: Bartók, Part III featuring his violin duos and piano quintet
MUSIC BOX
Bravo!
Vail’s Music Box, a mobile stage, was conceived and built in 2020 in response
to the pandemic and allowed the Festival to present nearly 50 concerts safely
outdoors throughout the Vail Valley. With the Music Box this summer, Bravo!
Vail continues to serve its community and fulfills its mission of enriching
people’s lives through the power of music. Music Box concerts are part of the
Free Concert Series.
• July 7, July 8, July 12, July 21, July 22, and August 1
THE LINDA & MITCH HART SOIRÉE SERIES
Renowned
musicians lead four evenings of chamber music at magnificent private residences
– settings reminiscent of those envisioned when the works were composed. Artist and program details will be announced in the coming weeks.
• June
28, July 14, July 19, and July 26
Bravo! Vail’s Education & Engagement Programs feature emerging artists as well as musicians from visiting orchestras and ensembles. They create meaningful connections, inspire musical curiosity, spark lifelong learning, and share the joy and power of great music with the broadest possible audience, which is central to Bravo! Vail’s mission.
• Free Concert Series: Hour-long afternoon chamber music concerts performed at the Vail Interfaith Chapel. Includes performances by the Viano Quartet and 2021 Piano Fellows Dominic Cheli and Chaeyoung Park, among others (July 6, July 13, July 15, July 20, July 22, July 27, and July 29)
• Family Concerts: In its second season, Family Concerts at the Brush Creek Pavilion and the Eagle Vail Pavilion provide an hour of classical chamber music in a program titled The Robot Piano Teacher performed by Anne-Marie McDermott, violinist Oliver Neubauer; and violist Tabitha Rhee on July 7 and 8 in a family-friendly, interactive format
• Little Listeners @ The Library: Engaging performances by Festival artists followed by age-appropriate musical activities in area libraries (July 1, July 5, July 6, July 12, July 14, July 19, July 21, and July 26)
• Community Collaborations: Through collaborative partnerships with Roundup River Ranch, Vail Health, Golden Eagle Senior Center, and Castle Peak Senior Center, Bravo! Vail is able to use the arts to strengthen community, bring music to audiences outside the concert hall, and enhance understanding through innovative, interactive programs.
• Year-Round After-School Piano & Violin Program: Bravo! Vail's popular after-school programs include group classes and performance opportunities throughout the year
• Meet-and-Greets: Local piano and violin students are given several opportunities to connect with Festival artists throughout the summer
• Piano Fellows: Each year, Artistic Director Anne-Marie McDermott personally selects two young pianists to spend an immersive two weeks at Bravo! Vail, performing in varied programs for diverse audiences with the esteemed musicians of the festival. This year, the Piano Fellows are Chaeyoung Park and Dominic Cheli.
o Chaeyoung Park, the first female Korean pianist to win the Hilton Head International Piano Competition in 2019, has been a top prizewinner in numerous international piano competitions including the 2012 Eastman Young Artists International Piano Competition, 2015 Cleveland International Young Artists Competition, and 2015 Yamaha USASU International Senior Piano Competition
o Winner of the 2017 Concert Artists Guild Competition, Dominic Cheli has already recorded two albums on the Naxos label and performed at the Walt Disney Concert Hall with legendary conductor Valery Gergiev
Ticket
sales open on May 17. Please click below for more information about purchasing tickets.
About
Bravo! Vail Music Festival
The
Bravo! Vail Music Festival brings world-renowned musicians to picturesque
venues throughout
the Vail Valley for six weeks, drawing music lovers from around the world. The
only festival in North America to host four of the world’s finest orchestras in
a single season, Bravo! Vail celebrates its 34th season from June 24
through August 4, 2021. The 2021 season features residencies with Academy of St
Martin in the Fields and the return of the Dallas Symphony Orchestra, The
Philadelphia Orchestra, and the New York Philharmonic. In addition,
internationally acclaimed chamber artists and soloists perform a wide array of
unique and carefully curated chamber music programs. Artistic Director
Anne-Marie McDermott has led the Festival since 2011. For more information
about Bravo! Vail visit bravovail.org or call
970.827.5700.
Event
details including programs and artists are subject to change. Visit bravovail.org for complete season information and
updates.
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