The Valley of the Moon Music Festival, to be held over three weekends (now through August 2nd) at the Hanna Boys Center in Sonoma, CA, is the first ever event in North America to present Classical and Romantic music exclusively played on the instruments for which it was written.
“Many people don’t realize that composers such as Beethoven, Mozart, and Schubert can sound very different when played on the instruments from their own period,” says pianist Eric Zivian, festival co-founder and Music Director. “There is a warmth and depth of sound that can be truly breathtaking.”
The musicians participating in this year’s festival are drawn from the faculties of Juilliard, the Paris Conservatory, and the San Francisco Conservatory – to name a few – and include world-famous experts in historical performance.
All concerts will be held in the state-of-the-art auditorium of the Hanna Boys Center, in the peaceful, lush town of Sonoma, about an hour’s drive north of San Francisco.
Because Sonoma is in the heart of Northern California’s wine country, wines will be poured, during, and after the concerts. Buena Vista Winery is this year’s wine sponsor and on temperate nights, the glass doors of the hall will be opened directly onto the patio and guests will be encouraged to sip and mingle with the musicians.
“We have also invited top young musicians from the best conservatories to participate in our Apprenticeship Program,” adds cellist Tanya Tomkins, co-founder and Artistic Director, “We want to create an atmosphere of collaboration between experienced artists and new musicians, similar to what they do at the Marlboro Music Festival.”
Highlights will include Dutch violinist Vera Beths, playing her Stradivarius in the Schubert Cello Quintet; historical clarinet impresario Eric Hoeprich, playing clarinet trios by Haydn and Beethoven; and Elizabeth Blumenstock playing viola in Schubert’s “Trout Quintet.”
Tickets can be purchased at valleyofthemoonmusicfestival.org/concerts or by calling 1-888-596-1027 (phone purchases will incur an additional fee of $5 per event).
About Valley of the Moon Music Festival. The first chamber music festival in North America exclusively devoted to presenting Classical and Romantic music on period instruments. It is a non-profit organization that also seeks to educate young musicians and the world about original instruments and classical music. http://valleyofthemoonmusicfestival.org/about
All concerts held at Hanna Boys Center, 17000 Arnold Drive, Sonoma, CA 95476. Parking is free and plentiful.
