In the Festival’s final concert Beethoven’s Eroica Symphony will be performed by the 2023 Apprentices in a version for Piano Quartet arranged by Ferdinand Ries, Beethoven’s dedicated student and fan. To end the festival on a celebratory note, Apprentices and faculty join forces in Tchaikovsky’s ecstatic “Souvenir de Florence” for string sextet. Before the concert join musicologist, Kate van Orden, in “Conversations with Kate”for perspective and context on the 2023 theme.

This concert is preceded by a free Blattner Series Lecture at 2:30pm offered by Kate Van Orden.

EPSG:4326

The Eroica For Four: Beethoven & Tchaikovsky

Hanna Boys Center

Our dazzling Festival Apprentices take the stage in a 45-minute musical experience designed to engage audiences of all ages.

MATINEE Concert 2023 Apprentices Perform!

One of the greatest orchestrators of all time, Stravinsky, is heard on this program in his original 4-hands version of The Rite of Spring. This concert opens with Schumann’s dramatic first violin sonata performed by VMMF’s 2023 Apprentices.

THE RITE OF SPRING ON 88 KEYS: Beethoven, Berlioz & Stravinsky

Don’t miss VMMF’s first-ever “Lieder Evening”, an intimate event celebrating Schumann’s “Dichterliebe” (“A Poet’s Love”). Come listen to one of the most moving works of all time for voice and piano, and get to know the musicians and your fellow concertgoers over a post-concert drink. In this special evening devoted entirely to a song cycle of exquisite music set to poems by the great German poet Heinrich Heine about love, dreams and tears, you will also participate in a discussion with the performers: tenor, Kyle Stegall and Music Director, Eric Zivian after the performance.

This event will feature a cabaret-style concert setting with a complimentary glass of wine and snacks. Engage with the artists in conversation during an intimate post-concert reception.

A POET’S LOVE: Schumann

VMMF Laureate violinist Carmen Johnson-Pájaro curates and hosts this exciting program of American and American influenced Romantic chamber music in the glorious setting of the Buena Vista Winery.

Alfresco Concert III

Buena Vista Winery

Beethoven’s great Pastorale Symphony in a chamber version? How is that possible? Join us to find out how powerfully the music comes across without a conductor and with only seven string players.  The first half of this program features another grand work on an intimate scale: Chopin’s Piano Concerto in E minor with VMMF Laureate, Suren Barry as soloist, and string quartet accompaniment. 

This concert is preceded by a free Blattner Series Lecture at 2:30pm. Lecturer: Francesco Spagnolo.

The Intimate Pastorale: Schumann, Beethoven & Chopin

Who needs a large orchestra when you can bring across the magic of Mozart’s Symphony Concertante with just a string quartet, bass and two soloists? In this case, star VMMF Laureates Rachell Ellen Wong and Andrew Gonzalez take the solo parts in an arrangement for string sextet. Excerpts of a string quartet by Florence Price and an arrangement of Ravel’s thrilling “La Valse” for four-hands piano round out the program.

The Concerto as Chamber Music: Price, Ravel & Mozart

Come experience the amazing virtuosity of VMMF Laureate Rachell Ellen Wong. Bring your friends and family to this concert with something for everyone.

Alfresco Concert II

Sugarloaf Ridge State Park

Acompáñenos en el Patio de La Luz Center para una tarde llena de música presentando a compositores latinoamericanos. 

Join us at the Patio of La Luz Center for an evening of music featuring latin american composers.

Alfresco Concert I

La Luz Center

Franz Liszt, one of the great piano virtuosos of his time was also a prolific arranger of orchestral and operatic music to further show off the prowess of his instrument. In this case he takes Wagner’s “Liebestod” and reworks it brilliantly for his instrument, showing that the piano can sound like any instrument – even the human voice! Incidentally, when the young prodigy, Clara Schumann, whose music is also featured on this program, played for Liszt, he was awestruck by her pianistic abilities. The program ends with Robert Schumann’s Piano Quintet, one of his most orchestral-sounding works of chamber music

This concert is preceded by a free Blattner Series Lecture at 2:30pm offered by Nic McGeegan

THE PIANO AS ORCHESTRA: Clara Schumann, Liszt, R. Schumann

Mozart’s Piano Quartets are written like concertos: the piano is featured, accompanied by a sort of “mini orchestra” of 3 string players. We are thrilled to feature Laureate Axel Trolese as the “soloist” with three generations of early music experts in the accompanying roles. True to this year’s theme, the program ends with an arrangement of Beethoven’s 2nd Symphony for Piano Trio by the composer himself. On an 18th-century fortepiano you can really hear the trumpets and drums!

The Symphony as a Trio: Mozart & Beethoven

Enjoy a special edition of our Kids & Family Concert featuring guest composer, host, musician, Wolgang Amadeus Schmutzinberry.  Fun fact, Schmutzinberry is the only living composer that loves wearing powdered wigs!

Kids & Family Concert

Sonoma Valley Museum of Art

Our dazzling Festival Apprentices and Laureates take the stage in a 35-minute musical experience designed to engage audiences of all ages.

FREE KIDS & FAMILY CONCERT

Alfresco Concert

This concert begins with warm and sunny weather: Mozart’s “Kegelstatt” Trio. The nickname stems from the legend that he composed it while playing “skittles,” an outdoor bowling game.

Valley of the Moon Music Festival

Jul 30, 2023

The Eroica For Four: Beethoven & Tchaikovsky

Jul 30, 2023

MATINEE Concert 2023 Apprentices Perform!

Jul 29, 2023

THE RITE OF SPRING ON 88 KEYS: Beethoven, Berlioz & Stravinsky

Jul 27, 2023

A POET’S LOVE: Schumann

Jul 25, 2023

Alfresco Concert III

Valley of the Moon Music Festival

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