Now that the symphony’s season is over, there’s no reason to despair! No, in fact, there are many reasons to be happy, for there are myriad opportunities to hear live classical music nearly all summer long here in Portland and surrounding areas.
Starting in just a couple of weeks is the Astoria Music Festival (June 18 – 27), this year given over mostly to the mounting of a rare production of a chamber-sized version of Alban Berg’s crowning masterpiece, Wozzeck. Click here for more information.
Co-incident with the Astoria festival is the Chintimini Chamber Music Festival (June 18 – 27) in Corvallis. This festival features many musicians who grew up in the Corvallis area, as well as other parts of the Northwest. [link]
Chamber Music Northwest (June 21 – July 25) celebrates their 40th anniversary summer season, and they’ve pulled out many a stop to give their audiences a memorable summer. Of special interest is their inaugural Protegé Project, which features many up and coming young musicians who may well turn out to be the superstars of the future. Portland violinist Rebecca Anderson returns as part of this intriguing program. Find out about the entire season here.
The Oregon Bach Festival (June 25 – July 11) is no longer confined just to Eugene, this year the festival expands not only to Portland for two concerts, but to the central Oregon city of Bend as well. The season opens with the Verdi Requiem, and closes with Mendelssohn’s Elijah in both Portland and Eugene. More info is available here.
For keyboard aficionados, Portland Piano International (July 11 – 18) offers an array of recitals, lectures, master classes, and films all centered around the piano. There are always established artists and new discoveries represented at the festival, so it’s a great place to go and get your summer dose of pianistic prowess. Complete information may be found here.
Venturing away from greater Portland? There are still some options open to you that are sure to please. If you’re heading north, you can partake of the Olympic Music Festival (July 3 – August 22), located on the bucolic grounds of an old dairy farm on the Olympic Peninsula of Washington State. [Link]
The Sunriver Music Festival (August 10 – 21) will be presenting concerts both in Bend (at the Tower Theater) and at Sunriver Resort (in the Great Hall). The featured performer this year is Chinese pianist Di Wu. [link]
The Peter Britt Music Festival (August 6 – 22) in Jacksonville presents its usual stellar roster of soloists along with the Britt Festival Orchestra, including Chee-Yun, Emanuel Ax, Jennifer Frautschi, and Jon Nakamatsu. [link]
One reply on “summer music in portland”
There are a handful of music festivals in our area. Trouble is when the weather gets hot they go away. We love them and go as much as possible when weather permits.