Festival Amadeus returns to Whitefish

The Glacier Symphony and Chorale will present Festival Amadeus — six days and nights of music and events in Whitefish from July 27 through Aug. 1.

Nicknamed "Mozart in the mountains," the event features guest artists, two string quartets, chamber concerts, the Festival Amadeus Orchestra, festival boutique wine and an evening with the artists.

"Mountains by day, music by night" was the theme of last year's inaugural festival, which opened casually with a free community picnic.

Festival passes are $110 adults, $90 seniors and $60 youths. The July 27 opening reception is $45 or $25 with a festival pass. Single tickets are also available. Tickets are available by calling 257-3241 or visiting online at www.glaciersymphonychorale.org.

North Valley Music School will hold a Camp Festival Amadeus simultaneously with the festival and perform a free concert at noon on Friday July 31. Students in grades 7-12 will benefit from artist clinics and open rehearsals with festival guest artists and will receive a free pass to the festival.

Schedule of events:

- Festival Opening: An Evening with the Artists, Monday, July 27, 8 p.m., O'Shaughnessy. An engaging evening of music and friends with pianist Grace Nikae, cellist Stephen Framil and bass-baritone Ricardo Herrera, hosted by Glacier Symphony music director John Zoltek. Festival Amadeus boutique wine and hors d'oeuvres will be available, and the unveiling of "Mozart in the Mountains," a painting by Jennifer Li, will take place.

- Chamber Night 1: Quartet, Quintet, Sextet, Tuesday, July 28, 8 p.m., O'Shaughnessy, with the Glacier String Quartet, the Bridger String Quartet and Dinah Weimer, clarinet. Music selections will include Beethoven's String Quartet No. 9 in C Major, Op. 59 "Rasumovsky"; Mozart's Clarinet Quintet in A Major K. 581; and Brahms' String Sextet in G Major Op. 36.

- Chamber Night 2: The Solo Art and Mendelssohn, Wednesday, July 29, 8 p.m., O'Shaughnessy, with Tim Fain, violin, Stephen Framil, cello, and Grace Nikae, piano. Music selections will include piano works by Mozart, Liszt and Prokofiev; Ligeti's Sonata for solo cello; J.S. Bach's Chaconne in D minor; Puts' Arches; and Mendelssohn's Piano Trio in D minor, Op. 49.

- Chamber Night 3: Cantos and Horn Quintet, Thursday, July 30, 8 p.m., O'Shaughnessy, with Ricardo Herrera, bass-baritone, Jonas Van Dyke, horn, Megan McClendon, violin, April Lane, piano, Miriam Ward English, viola, and Jason Bell, violin. Music selections will include Mozart's Horn Quintet in Eb Major; Montsalvatge's Cinco Canciones Negras; Bowles' Blue Mountain Ballads; and Shostakovich's Piano Quintet in G minor.

- Orchestra Night 1: Mozart, Haydn and Beethoven, Friday, July 31, 8 p.m., Whitefish Middle School auditorium, with Tim Fain, violin, Stephen Framil, cello, and the Festival Amadeus Orchestra, John Zoltek, conductor. Music selections will include Mozart's Symphony No. 38 in D "Prague"; Haydn's Cello Concerto No. 1 in C Major; and Beethoven's Violin Concerto in D Major.

- Orchestra Night 2: Festival Finale, Arias and Concerto, Saturday, Aug. 1, 8 p.m., Whitefish Middle School auditorium, with Ricardo Herrera, bass-baritone, Grace Nikae, piano, and the Festival Amadeus Orchestra, John Zoltek, conductor. Music selections will include Mozart's Overtures; opera arias by Mozart, Bellini, Gounod and Bizet; and Mozart's Piano Concerto No. 23 in A major.

Music students to perform at festival

North Valley Music School in Whitefish will host Camp Festival Amadeus, a chamber music camp for youth string musicians, on July 26 through July 31. Held the same week as the Glacier Symphony and Chorale's Festival Amadeus, the camp will offer several free events open to the public. Ê

- On Tuesday, July 28, at 2 p.m., at North Valley Music School, on Spokane Avenue, acclaimed pianist Grace Nikae will teach a number of intermediate to advanced piano students in a master class.

An internationally renowned concert pianist, Nikae has given master classes, lectures and more informal sessions at conservatories and universities throughout the U.S., Asia and Europe. Ê

- On Wednesday, July 29, from 4 to 5 p.m., bass-baritone Ricardo Herrera will give a free lecture — Opera 101 — at the Whitefish Four Square Church, 233 Kalispell Avenue.

Herrera will be joined by Glacier Chorale members Heather Hillstead and Brad Seaman, and will share stories, pieces and roles from his favorite operas. Herrera has performed major operatic roles throughout the U.S. and Europe, including the title role in Mozart's Don Giovanni.

- On Friday, July 31, at noon at the O'Shaughnessy, camp students will offer a concert showcasing their work during the week. Students will perform classical and traditional pieces in both orchestral and small ensembles. ÊÊ

The camp is an Artist in Schools/Communities program partially supported by grants from the National Endowment for the Arts and the State of Montana. For more information, visit online at northvalleymusicschool.org or call 862-8074.