La Jolla’s SummerFest Presents Great Music

Aug. 3 to 26 Musicians Gather in Popular Resort

By Larry Taylor

Quoting the New York Times on summer’s cultural events: “The highlight of the performing arts scene may be the chamber music, particularly [La Jolla’s] SummerFest, which takes place each August.”

On the same subject, Britain’s BBC, has had this to say: “...which is the odd one out; sun, sand or chamber music? None of the above, at least when it comes to August in La Jolla. SummerFest in this piece of Southern California paradise means one thing: intimate music-making at the highest level.”

No little praise for one of Southern California’s premium musical events.

Beginning its 2lst year, Aug. 3 through Aug. 26, SummerFest 2007: “Bach, Beethoven...and Beyond,” will feature over 70 world-class artists and ensembles performing 16 concerts.

Putting all this together is Cho-Liang Lin, also an acclaimed violin soloist. He is celebrating his seventh year at SummerFest. This year the series will pay tribute to the most revered composers of all time, while continuing to promote the creation and performance of modern-day masterworks. Most performances will be held in Sherwood Theatre at the Museum of Contemporary Art in La Jolla, known for its Andy Goldsworthy cairn sculpture at the entrance.

Highlights this year include:

• Three evenings dedicated exclusively to the works of Beethoven, exploring in chronological order the composer's early, middle and late works.

• Each Wednesday, beginning Aug.8 , the new "Evening with..." series at  Sherwood Auditorium showcases a different virtuoso. Cho-Liang Lin, himself, opens the series

• Friday, Aug. 10,  titled  "American Classics–Gershwin, Copeland, and Barber," honors  20th Century American composers with performances by the Shanghai String Quartet, violinist Sheryl Staples, pianist Anne-Marie McDermott. The program also includes a performance of “An American Songbook” by soprano Sylvia McNair. This will be held at the Stephen and Mary Birch North Park Theatre, San Diego.

• Friday, Aug.17, there will be the West Coast premiere of two newly commissioned works by resident composers Joan Tower and Mark Neikrug.

• Saturday, Aug.18, celebrates young artists' prelude performances by three young artists hand-selected to receive top musical instruction throughout the festival.

• Friday, Aug. 24 presents a performance by modern dance ensemble BodyVox, performed at the North Park Theatre.

• Ensemble debuts this year are slated for the American String Quartet, Real Quiet and the Escher String Quartet, as well, the Shanghai String Quartet returns for its second festival appearance.

Besides Beethoven, the schedule  pays tribute to the great works of other famed composers in performances including Schubert with "A Schubertiad" on Sunday, Aug. 12, reminiscent of the musical gatherings where Schubert himself would play at the piano among friends.

A special "Rule Britannia!" on Sunday, Aug.19, pays tribute to British composers Walton and Elgar with a special performance of Walton's Façade featuring Sylvia McNair as reciter. This years’s finale, Aug. 26, will be a performance of Bach's Brandenburg Concerti.

Produced by the La Jolla Music Society, SummerFest has evolved from a small, local summer music event into one of the most prestigious and innovative chamber music festivals in the country.  Since 1986, SummerFest has welcomed more than 550 artists and ensembles and nearly a quarter of a million audience members at concerts.

The society’s first festival in 1986 presented 30 artists in a two-week series of 12 concerts and events held primarily in La Jolla. Since then, SummerFest’s artist roster has read like a “who’s who” of the greatest chamber musicians of our time, many of whom have made repeat visits: Emmanuel Ax, Carter Brey, Yefim Bronfman, Lynn Harrell, Leon Fleisher, Jeffrey Kahane, Yo-Yo Ma, Garrick Ohlsson, Christopher O’Riley, Cynthia Phelps, Gil Shaham, Paul Neubauer, André Watts and numerous others.

Over the years, the event has continually supported the creation of new works by commissioning and premiering music by such as John Harbison, André Previn, Esa-Pekka Salonen, Lalo Schifrin, Tan Dun, Bright Sheng, Wayne Shorter, Chick Corea, Augusta Read Thomas and Joan Tower.

A commitment to fostering young musicians has always been a priority.  One of the pleasures each year is attending the free afternoon open rehearsals where the famous work with young, aspiring artists, hand-picked for the opportunity to study and perform with world-class musician.

SummerFest continues to attract music lovers far and wide to the gorgeous San Diego coast, where scenic coves, great beaches, fine restaurants and  picturesque downtown La Jolla beckon. Furthermore for culture lovers and everyone, there is Balboa Park with its museums and venerable Old Globe theater complex.

This summer the Globe’s outdoor Festival Stage features Shakespeare’s “Hamlet” and “Two Gentlemen From Verona.” The two indoor stages present, Noel Coward’s “Hay Fever” and a revival of the musical  “Bell, Book and Candle.” And, in the park, for adults and kids alike, there is the world famous San Diego Zoo.

Nearby, the La Jolla Playhouse has three venues. Highlighting this year’s schedule will be a new musical adaptation of “Carmen,” along with two international-flavored productions–“After the  Quake,” based on the aftermath of the Kobe, Japan earthquake, and “The Deception,” produced by Theatre de la Jeune Lune,” a company originating in France.

So, as the slogan says: “La Jolla comes alive in the summer.”

For information on SummerFest, call (858) 459-3728; website www.la-jolla-music-society.com

Regarding La Jolla Playhouse,  (858) 550-1010; www.lajollaplayhouse.org. For details about Balboa Park, including museums, zoo and Old Globe Theater, (800) 719-89051 or visit the site: www.balboapark.org.