Arts and Entertainment

Virtual Penn’s Woods Music Festival features live talks and encore performances

UNIVERSITY PARK, Pa. — Penn’s Woods Music Festival is going virtual for 2020, with the broadcast of four encore performances from 2019. Tune in at 7:30 p.m. on June 20, 24, 26 and 27 at sites.psu.edu/pwmf for a live conversation with Maestro Geraldo Edelstein and special guests each night, followed by a performance. 

“Penn’s Wood Music Festival Encores will bring beautiful music to the homes of people during these difficult times,” said Edelstein.

All broadcasts take place at 7:30 p.m. at sites.psu.edu/pwmf.

Saturday, June 20

The June 20 hour-long program will feature a live discussion between Edelstein and Festival Concertmaster James Lyon, followed by a broadcast of performances of “Pavane for a Dead Princess” by Maurice Ravel, “Violin Concerto in D Major, Op. 35” by Pyotr Tchaikovsky and “Symphony No. 96 in D Major, Hob.I:96” by Franz Joseph Haydn. 

“This year’s online format combines the magic of live performance with a mode of delivery that provides front-row seats to everyone who wishes to tune in!” said Lyon. “So, curl up on the sofa with your favorite snacks and immerse yourself in the beauty of these timeless masterpieces!” 

Wednesday, June 24

On June 24 at 7:30 p.m., the broadcast will include two 2019 chamber concerts featuring “Sonata for Short Attention Spans” by Gary Schocker, “Souvenir de Florence, Op. 70” by Pyotr Tchaikovsky, “La Belle Excentrique” by Erik Satie and “Variations for Harp on a theme in ancient style, Op. 30” by Alberto Salcedo. Prior to the performances, Edelstein and PWMF flutists Naomi Seidman and Cathy Herrera will discuss the repertoire from those concerts.

Friday, June 26

Jazz musician and Penn State School of Music alumnus Jeff Kunkel will join Edelstein on June 26 to chat about Brazilian jazz and other popular Brazilian music, followed by a performance blending bossa nova, samba, música popular Brasilia (MPB) and jazz. The evening will feature some of New York’s finest musicians, including Leala Cyr on vocals, Kevin Bene on woodwinds and Kunkel on piano. 

Saturday, June 27

On the final night of the 2020 edition of the Penn’s Woods Music Festival, join Edelstein and special guest Lisa Bontrager as they discuss Richard Strauss’ Horn Concerto with Bontrager as soloist. This encore performance will include such numbers as “Music for Shakespeare’s 'Romeo and Juliet'” by David Diamond, “Horn Concerto No. 1, Op. 11” by Richard Strauss and “Symphony No. 35 in D Major, K. 385” (Haffner Symphony) by Wolfgang Amadeus Mozart.

Credit: Tracy JacksonAll Rights Reserved.

 

Last Updated June 24, 2020

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