75th Carmel Bach Festival in Carmel and Monterey County

When: Friday, July 20, 2012, time TBA
Where: Monterey County,
Cost: Free - $128
Age limit: Not available
Categories: Community, Lectures, Bluegrass, Classical, Music (other)

It's a sprawling, heady, burly classical music event, but with some reading and listening, one can tailor a great, unforgettable experience out of the smorgasbord. Under the baton of music director/conductor Paul Goodwin (and his concertmaster David Hanson), the music portion begins on a big, triumphant note with Saturday's (July 14 and 21) The Mass in B Minor, a sort-of summation by Bach of some of his own favorite compositions into a monumental late work that promises to rumble with the shower of liturgical music. The one-day only (Sunday, July 22) Rachmaninoff Vespers is a rarely performed a cappella chorus and a high achievement of Russian Orthodox music. Mike Marshall and wife Caterina Lichtenberg apply their expert mandolin playing to Bach, bluegrass and Bulgarian folk music Thursdays ( July 19 and 26). These main concerts take place primarily at Sunset Center, but the chamber concerts and recitals lend light to venues like All Saints' Episcopal Church, Church in the Forest and San Carlos Cathedral, under the guidance of director Andrew Megill. Interspersed throughout are free lectures, like John Wineglass on "Bach in Hollywood Films" (Tuesdays, July 17 and 24) and free performances at Seaside's Oldemeyer Center (July 19) and Salinas High School (July 23), and many, many more instances of this cultural institution. The finale, Best of the Fest, is worth saving up for. [WR]

Various days, times, prices and locations in Carmel and Monterey County. Runs July 14-28. $40-76; $20 tickets for 30 and under, call in advance with code 30younger. 624-1521, www.bachfestival.org.

Use the comment form below to begin a discussion about this content.

Sign in to comment

Or login with:

OpenID