Summer of Concerts: Week of August 10

August 14: Wolf Trap - NSO and Beethoven's Ninth Symphony

Bask in the brilliance of Beethoven with the National Symphony Orchestra, under its esteemed music director Gianandrea Noseda, and Wolf Trap Opera artists. This all-Beethoven program opens with the Handel-inspired overture to The Consecration of the House and his rarely performed Elegiac Song before concluding with Beethoven’s Ninth, the symphony by which all others are measured. The cosmic drama of this colossal masterwork—its grand, emotional melodies and the tremendous closing “Ode to Joy”—reminds us why Beethoven’s final symphony resounds as loudly today as it did two centuries ago.

Tessa McQueen, soprano
Cecelia McKinley, alto
Demetrious Sampson Jr., tenor
Jonathan Patton, baritone

PRE-PERFORMANCE DISCUSSION
Attend a pre-performance discussion at 7 PM on the Farmhouse Lawn (to the left of the main gate) featuring:

James Jacobs, WETA Classical Host
Eugene Rogers, Artistic Director at The Washington Chorus
Gianandrea Noseda, Music Director of the National Symphony Orchestra
PROGRAM

August 14: Staunton

Bach to B.A.C.H

The Summer Festival's first noon concert features JS Bach and Sofia Gubaidulina

Bach | Chorale: Vor deinen Thron, BWV 668
Bach | Contrapunctus XIV, from The Art of Fugue
Gubaidulina | Meditation on “Vor deinen Thron,” for string quintet & harpsichord
Bach | Brandenburg Concerto No. 5

BACHANALIA

The 2026 Summer Festival opens with a grand celebration of Bach, including works by the master himself as well as later responses by Schumann, Villa-Lobos, Piazzolla, and the Swingle Singers. Plus enjoy a short set of Brazilian jazz and drinks under the tent during intermission.

August 15: Wolf Trap - NSO and American Mosaic Featuring Renée Fleming

Conducted by the National Symphony Orchestra’s music director Gianandrea Noseda, the orchestra celebrates American composers and musical contributions to film, Broadway, and opera. Experience the unique musical-visual project that’s sweeping the nation with composer Peter Boyer’s American Mosaic paired with Americana photo historian Joe Sohm’s stunning imagery from across all 50 states. Afterwards, enjoy classic renditions of works from Bernstein’s beloved West Side Story and witty operetta Candide, plus Gershwin’s lively, jazz-influenced score of An American in Paris.

PRE-PERFORMANCE DISCUSSION
Attend a pre-performance discussion at 7 PM on the Farmhouse Lawn (to the left of the main gate) featuring:

John Banther, WETA Classical Host
Peter Boyer, American Mosaic Composer
Joe Sohm, American Mosaic Photo Historian
PROGRAM
PETER BOYER
American Mosaic

LEONARD BERNSTEIN
West Side Story – Symphonic Dances

GEORGE GERSHWIN
An American in Paris

LEONARD BERNSTEIN
Candide – Overture

August 15: Garth Newel - Piano Weekend

5pm concert followed by optional four course dinner

Hallelujah Junction - John Adams (b.1947)

Andante and Variations in B Flat Major Op. 46 - Robert Schumann (1810-1856)

Suite for two pianos founded on Old Irish Melodies, Op.104 - Amy Beach (1867-1944)
Prelude
Old-time Peasant Dance
The Ancient Cabin
Finale

Symphony No.4, Op. 36 - Pyotr Ilyich Tchaikovsky (1840-1893), arr. E. Langor (1835-1905)
Finale

Zsolt Bognár, piano
Jeannette Fang, piano
Genevieve Feiwen Lee, piano
Tian Tian, piano

Cumin Crusted Prawn Tostada with Black Bean Hummus, Red Pepper and Cherry Tomato Salsa and Cilantro Mole Vinaigrette

Wedge Salad with Heirloom Cherry Tomatoes, Chives, Bacon, Hard Boiled Egg, Diced Rainbow Radish, Toasted Flatbread Croutons and Creamy Ranch Dressing

Curry Rubbed Seabass, Turmeric Whipped Butternut Squash and Goat Cheese Purée, Papaya, Red Pepper, Couscous and Quinoa Salad, Roasted Rainbow Baby Carrots and Apple Basil Oil and Lemon Beurre Blanc

Pistachio and Hazelnut Tart with Vanilla Honey, Rosemary Ice Cream and Pomegranate Coulis

August 15: Staunton

Different Voices

Too often classical music recycles the same familiar names and pieces. In typical fashion, SMF presents an eclectic combination of works by diverse voices, often marginalized because of their gender, sexuality, or avant-garde aesthetics.

Midday Baroque

Beat the midday heat of August! This all-Baroque program features Bach’s Orchestral Suite No. 4 and works by Frederick the Great and Johann Rosenmüller. Plus enjoy free gelato courtesy of The Split Banana!

Frederick the Great | Sinfonia in D Major
Rosenmüller | Sonata No. 4 in C Major (a 3)
Rosenmüller | Vater ich bin ein Sünder, for alto, two tenors, bass, strings and continuo
Bach | Orchestral Suite No. 4

Brave Gay New World

The evening concert celebrates the monumental impact of gay composers on American musical life. The program culminates with excerpts from Leonard Bernstein’s Songfest, originally written for the 1976 Bicentennial but also features Aaron Copland, Jennifer Higdon, Cole Porter, Rufus Wainwright & many others.

Copland | Fanfare for the Common Man, for brass & percussion
Higdon | Amazing Grace, for strings
Wainright | Cigarettes & Chocolate Milk, arr. Wadsworth for voice & orchestra
Barber | A Hand of Bridge, for four singers & orchestra
Wuorinen | Percussion Quartet (mvmt II)
Coward | Some Day I’ll Find You
Britten | Tell Me the Truth About Love
Porter | The Tale of the Oyster
Tchaikovsky | Mini-Suite from The Nutcracker, arr. for chamber ensemble by Wadsworth
Bernstein | Selections from Songfest, for six singers & orchestra

August 16: Garth Newel - Piano Weekend

3pm concert followed by optional picnic

Gravity for piano 4 hands - David Lang (b.1957)

Symphonic Dances from West Side Story - Leonard Bernstein (1918-1990)
Arr. John Musto (b.1954)

American in Paris - George Gershwin (1898-1937)
Arr. Logan Skelton (b.1961)

Les Préludes, S.97 - Franz Liszt (1811-1886)
Arr. E. Kronke (1865-1938)

Zsolt Bognár, piano
Jeannette Fang, piano
Genevieve Feiwen Lee, piano
Tian Tian, piano

Steak Sandwiches with Pepperoncini, Green Olives and Avocado Salsa and Grilled Scallion Pesto Mayonnaise

Baked Trout with Dill, Lemon and Capers on Pickled Cucumber and Fennel

Quinoa and Couscous Salad in Bibb Lettuce with Cucumber, Red Onion, Spinach, Feta, Green Chickpeas with Garlic Parsley Vinaigrette and Pickled Red Onions

Various Sides, Salads and Desserts

August 16: Staunton

Summer Sounds

No sleeping in this Sunday morning! Be at Blackfriars Playhouse for a compelling program of chamber music. Composer & bandoneon virtuoso JP Jofre performs a stunning recent work, alongside works by Allan Blank, Jean Françaix, & Astor Piazzolla.

Jofre | The 5th Season
Françaix | Quintet for flute, harp & strings
Blank | Four Poems by Emily Dickinson
Piazzolla | Adiós Nonino

Magical Creatures (and where to find them)

Musical imagination & fantastical creatures are on full display. The program includes a staged version of Debussy's song-cycle, directed by Timothy Nelson, as well as the world premiere of Stravinsky's radiant Firebird ballet score in a new version for two pianos & percussion.

During intermission, you are welcome to meet special guests (two-legged and four-legged) from our friends at

Jofre | Universe, for bandoneon & chamber ensemble
Joh. Strauss | Overture to Die Fledermaus, arr. by Wadsworth
Shatin | Dreamtigers for flute & guitar
Debussy | Fêtes galantes, for voices & piano, staged by Timothy Nelson
Stravinsky | The Firebird, arranged for two pianos & percussion by Smith & White (world premiere)

For a Look or a Touch

Performed for just two evenings, 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

Filed under: Summer, Summer Music Festivals

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