Summer of Concerts: Week of Augst 17

Staunton Music Festival

August 17

For a Look or a Touch

The second of two performances. Jake Heggie’s powerful and touching one-act opera “For a Look or a Touch” (2007) tells the story of young lovers imprisoned in a Nazi camp. Directed by Timothy Nelson and performed by baritone Rob McGinness and actor Doug Schneider.

Intended for mature audiences

Polish Expats

Concert features signature works by two Polish composers who carried their native musical impressions across Europe.

Chopin | Piano Concerto No. 2, arranged for fortepiano & string quintet
Szymanowski | String Quartet No. 2

August 18

Silenced Voices

This free noon concert celebrates the music of four composers whose lives were cut short far too early. Mahler succumned to a weakened heart, while the other three composers - Pavel Haas, Erwin Schulhoff, and Ilse Weber - each met tragic ends in Nazi prison camps.

Haas | Quintet for Winds
Mahler | Three Rückert Lieder
Schulhoff | String Sextet
Weber | Wiegala for voice & guitar

Con Passione

Concertos by Bach and Jofre bookend this powerful program of impassioned music. The evening also offers the world premiere of Zachary Wadworth's new composition.

J. S. Bach | Concerto for Four Harpsichords in A Minor, BWV 1065
Wadsworth | Passion, for voice & chamber ensemble (world premiere)
Schumann | Spanische Liebeslieder Op. 138, for vocal quartet & fortepiano, four hands
J. P. Jofre | Dobule Concerto No. 2 for violin, bandoneon, & orchestra

August 19

Simple Pleasures

Simplicity in art and music can be both alluring and entrancing. Mozart's familiar Piano Sonata in C Major makes for a curious companion to American minimalist Terry Riley's "In C," a 45-minute shamanistic exploration of sound, written in 1964.

Mozart | Sonata in C Major, K. 545 ("Sonata facile"), for fortepiano
Riley | In C, for chamber ensemble

In C

Two symphonies dominate this mixed program of works in C major. In the first half, movements
of Stravinsky’s Symphony in C are interspersed with keyboard works by Bach, vocal music by Palestrina, & Gounod’s Ave Maria. The entire second half is given to Mozart’s crowning orchestral work, the “Jupiter” Symphony No. 41 in C, performed on period instruments.

Stravinsky | Symphony in C (first mvmt)
J.S. Bach | Organ Prelude and Fugue in C, BWV 545
Bach | Prelude in C, from Well-tempered Clavier 1
Palestrina | Sanctus-Benedictus, from Missa Papae Marcelli
Gounod | Ave Maria, for soprano and harp
Stravinsky | Symphony in C (fourth mvmt)
Mozart | Symphony No. 41 in C Major (“Jupiter”)

August 20

Still in C

The Thursday noon concert includes two chamber works, including a rarely-heard arrangement of Beethoven's First Symphony and the Sextet by Ernst von Dohnányi.

Beethoven | Symphony No. 1 in C Major, arr. for chamber ensemble by Ebers
Dohnányi | Sextet in C Major, Op. 37, for piano, clarinet, horn, & string trio

Musica Intima

The popular program returns to The American Hotel for music up-close and personal in a historic space. Program features vocal and instrumental music by Haydn, Beethoven's Horn Sonata and more.

Beethoven | Sonata for horn and fortepiano
Muffat | Violin Sonata in D Major
Haydn | Two songs for voice and fortepiano
Heinichen | Concerto Grosso in D Major, No 226

Flower Power

A series of works all connected by images and associations with plants bring Mother Nature to center stage. Program includes a mini-opera by composer Leah Reid, songs by Schubert, Cole Porter and Pete Seeger, as well as orchestral works by Johann and Richard Strauss.

J. Strauss | Roses from the South, for orchestra
Cage | Child of Tree, for two percussionists
Sierra | from Flower Pieces, for flute & harp
Schumann | from Waldszenen Op. 82, for fortepiano
Seeger | Where Have All the Flowers Gone, arr. by Crumb
Porter | Old-Fashioned Garden, arr. by Wadsworth
Hildegard | “In principio omnes,” from Ordo Virtutum
Schubert | Lieder: Der Lindenbaum & Frühlingstraum
Reid | Dream of Green, for soprano, ensemble & electronics
R. Strauss | “Presentation of the Rose,” from Der Rosenkavalier, arr. by Wadsworth

August 21

Enigmas

A recent arrangement by James Wilson of Elgar's beloved Enigma Variations headlines the Friday noon concert, where it is paired with the choral Enigma V (2012) by Austrian composer Beat Furrer.

Furrer | Enigma V, for chorus
Elgar | Enigma Variations, arr. by J. Wilson for flute, clarinet, bassoon, horn, string quintet, & piano

Baroque Inside-Out: The Glory of England

An evening devoted to Baroque treasures from the shores of Albion. Program features excerpts from Handel’s Coronation Anthem & Ode for the Birthday of Queen Anne, selections from Purcell’s opera King Arthur, as well as concertos & vocal music by Tallis, Byrd, Morley, Lawes, Geminiani, & others.

Nightcap 3: Baroque Jam

Let the Baroque celebration roll on! Performers gather for a spirited short program of chamber music, plus drinks for socializing into the night.

 

August 22

Serenades at Noon

The fabulous wind serenade by Antonín Dvořák concludes this diverse program, which also presents vocal works by Hugo Wolf and a contemporary percussion quartet by composer-in-residence Leah Reid.

Wolf | Three Songs for voice & piano
Reid | Clatter for percussion quartet
Dvořák | Serenade for Winds in D Minor, Op. 44

 

Baroque Lovers' Afternoon

The annual tradition continues with Baroque Lovers' Afternoon, a one-hour concert celebrating the best of the Baroque era. The event sponsors offer a matching challenge for all donations received at the event.

Telemann | Concerto for flute, recorder, & strings
J. C. Bach | Lament: “Ach, dass ich Wassers gnug hätte”
Plus works by Handel, Buxtehude, & others

The Turn of the Screw

Enjoy a complete concert performance of Benjamin Britten’s chamber opera The Turn of the Screw, based on the 1898 story by Henry James. The opera was commissioned by Venice‘s famous Biennale Festival in 1954. Britten uses imaginative musical themes to mirror the dark psychological themes explored in James’s text.

The Magic of M&M

The final day of Summer Festival 2026 starts with a scintillating combination of Mozart, Mendelssohn, and a world premiere by Zachary Wadsworth.

Mozart | Horn Concerto No. 1 in D Major, K. 412
Wadsworth | Felix/Fanny for narrator & harp (world premiere)
Mendelssohn | Octet for Strings in E-flat Major

Don Giovanni

Music hardly gets more dramatic than Mozart’s powerful opera, Don Giovanni. The 2026 Summer Festival concludes with a concert performance of DG featuring vocal soloists, chorus, & period orchestra. Sung in Italian with projected English supertitles.'

Garth Newel Music Center

August 22: String Weekend with Attacca Quartet

Saturday, August 22
5pm concert followed by optional four course dinner

 

Shaker Loops for string septet - John Adams (b. 1947)
Shaking and Trembling
Hymning Slews
Loops and Verses
A Final Shaking

Intermission

Souvenir de Florence for string sextet - Pyotr Ilyich Tchaikovsky (1840-1893)
Allegro con spirito
Adagio cantabile e con moto
Allegretto moderato
Allegro con brio e vivace

Attacca Quartet
Amy Schroeder, violin
Dominic Salerni, violin
Nathan Schram, viola
Andrew Yee, cello
with
Teresa Ling, violin
Fitz Gary, viola
Isaac Melamed, cello
Sam Suggs, bass

Menu

Sesame Fried Salmon, Cilantro Cabbage and Carrot Slaw, Miso Aioli, Teriyaki Lime Vinaigrette, Wasabi Crème Fraîche and Crispy Wontons

Roasted Broccolini and Brussels Sprout Leaves with Black Garlic, Shiitake Mushrooms, Feta Cheese, Pine Nuts, Dried Garlic and Ginger Chili Vinaigrette

Seared Duck Breast with Ginger and Jasmine Rice, Roasted Bok Choy and Shiitake Mushrooms, Wasabi Cauliflower Sauce, Cilantro Teriyaki Chimichurri with Carrot, Scallion and Asparagus Slaw

Banana Bread Pudding with Brown Sugar Ice Cream, Candied Pecans, Caramel Sauce and Mint Syrup

August 23: String Weekend with Attacca Quartet

Sunday, August 23
3pm concert followed by optional picnic

Only Ever Us for string septet - Paul Wiancko (b. 1983)
Lift for string quartet - Paul Wiancko

String Quintet No. 2 in G Major, Op. 111 - Johannes Brahms (1833-1897)
Allegro non troppo, ma con brio
Adagio
Un poco allegretto
Vivace, ma non troppo presto

 

Attacca Quartet
Amy Schroeder, violin
Dominic Salerni, violin
Nathan Schram, viola
Andrew Yee, cello
with
Teresa Ling, violin
Fitz Gary, viola
Isaac Melamed, cello

Menu

Flank Steak Tostadas with Pico de Gallo and Spicy Cabbage Slaw

Avocado and Tomatillo Enchiladas

Roasted Corn and Black Bean Salad with Cilantro, Tomatoes and Cumin Sour Cream

Various Sides, Salads and Desserts