JACKSONVILLE, OR — The Britt Festival Orchestra (BFO) announces its 2024 season, with three weeks of exciting outdoor programming in historic Jacksonville, Oregon, June 13 – 29, 2024. Under the leadership of Artistic Advisor Peter Bay and Guest Conductor Alexandra Arrieche, the Orchestra’s 62nd season highlights film music alongside beloved classical favorites. The season features four extraordinary soloists: pianist Gabriela Montero performing Grieg’s Piano Concerto; violinist Geneva Lewis performing Beethoven’s Violin Concerto; violinist Alex Gonzalez performing John Corigliano’s Chaconne from the film score of The Red Violin; and cellist Joshua Roman performing Tan Dun’s Crouching Tiger Concerto from the film score of Crouching Tiger Hidden Dragon.
The season is anchored by two evenings of Star Wars: A New Hope in Concert, following 2023’s sold-out production of The Princess Bride. John Williams’ score will be performed live-to-picture by the full orchestra in one of the most iconic films of the 20th Century.
Well-known classical works to be performed include Antonin Dvorák’s (pronunciation: deh-vor-jhak) Seventh Symphony; Piotr Ilyich Tchaikovsky’s (pronunciation: chai-koff-skee) Second Symphony “The Ukranian;” Gustav Mahler’s First Symphony; and Nikolai Rimsky-Korsakov’s (pronunciation: rimsky-kor-sa-koff) Sheherezade (pronunciation: shuh-heh-ra-zahd).
The Britt Festival Orchestra is well-known for showcasing living composers, and this season features works by many of the greatest composers working today. Nigel Westlake’s Flying Dreams depicts paperplanes; John Estacio’s Wondrous Light imagines the Aurora Borealis; and Gabriela Lena Frank’s Elegía Andína explores the mythology and folk heritage of Peru.
And for the final night of the season, the Britt hill captures the spirit of Buenos Aires for a tango program featuring works by Astor Piazzolla, alongside other extraordinary composers from Brazil, Mexico, and Cuba: Heitor Villa-Lobos, Alberto Ginastera, Arturo Márquez and Oscar Lorenzo Fernandez. As the celebration concludes, tango dancers will join the Orchestra on stage.
Artistic Advisor Peter Bay returns to the Britt stage after a ten-year absence to lead the first four performances, while Guest Conductor Alexandra Arrieche will lead the final four performances. President & CEO Abby McKee says, “The Britt Festival Orchestra is one of the gems of our summer season, and this year we’re unbelievably excited about the music we’ll be sharing. From classical icons to new music to film melodies that we all know and love, there truly is something for everyone! Experiencing a full orchestra on the Britt hill is nothing short of magical, and we are so proud to bring this extraordinary ensemble of musicians together or three weeks every summer.”
McKee reminded would-be concertgoers to get their tickets early, saying “Last year, our production of The Princess Bride sold out completely within weeks! It was one of the most in-demand tickets of the entire summer. Even though we’ll be presenting two performances of Star Wars: A New Hope In Concert, people should get their tickets early. We anticipate another sell-out!”
Concertgoers are invited to attend free pre-concert talks at the Sam & Hannelore Enfield Stage in the Performance Garden. Each talk begins at 7:00 PM and features a discussion about the performance of the evening. Come and enjoy a full Britt experience at every BFO concert.
Tickets and Other Information
Tickets will go on sale beginning at 10:00 AM, Friday, February 23 on the Britt website: brittfest.org. There will not be a Member pre-sale for the Britt Festival Orchestra concerts. Britt recommends making sure you are using the website brittfest.org, as there are several websites that look official while charging higher prices and inflated fees. Tickets may also be purchased at the Britt Box office, 9:00 AM-5:00 PM weekdays at 216 W. Main St, Medford, Oregon, or by calling 541-773-6077.
Following is standard pricing for the BFO concerts:
ORCHESTRAL CONCERTS:
Premium Reserved: $49
Standard Reserved: $35
Adult Lawn Seating: $29
Children (1-12) & Student Lawn (with a valid student ID): $12
STAR WARS: A NEW HOPE IN CONCERT (June 20 & 21):
Premium Reserved: $49
Standard Reserved: $49
Adult Lawn Seating: $29
Children (1-12) & Student Lawn (with a valid student ID): $15
All Britt Festival Orchestra evening concerts begin at 8:00 PM with gates opening at 6:00 PM (Early Entry at 5:45 PM).
Pre-concert talks will be held at 7:00 PM on the Sam & Hannelore Enfield Stage in the Performance Garden. Guest speakers will be announced at a later date.
Music Director Search
Following the departure of Music Director Teddy Abrams in 2023, Britt will launch its search for the next Music Director in late 2024. It is anticipated that candidates will lead the Britt Festival Orchestra in its 2025 season, and Abrams’ successor will be announced in late summer 2025.
To stay informed about Britt Festival Orchestra events and everything else Britt, sign up for the monthly Britt Buzz newsletter at Brittfest.org. You can subscribe in the “Stay in the Loop” section at the bottom of every page.
Season Overview
GRIEG, DVORÁK, & GABRIELA MONTERO – June 13
Peter Bay, conductor
Gabriela Montero, pianist
Nigel Westlake, Flying Dream
Edvard Grieg, Piano Concerto in A minor, Op. 16
Gabriela Montero, piano
Antonín Dvořák, Symphony No. 7 in D minor, Op. 70, B. 141
BEETHOVEN, TCHAIKOVSKY, & GENEVA LEWIS – June 15
Peter Bay, conductor
Geneva Lewis, violinist
John Estacio, Wondrous Light (1997)
Ludwig van Beethoven, Violin Concerto in D Major, Op. 61
Geneva Lewis, violin
Piotr Ilyich Tchaikovsky, Symphony No. 2 in C minor, Op. 17 “Ukrainian”
STAR WARS: A NEW HOPE IN CONCERT – June 20 & 21
Peter Bay, conductor
Set 30 years after Star Wars: The Phantom Menace, Star Wars: A New Hope, the fourth episode of the saga, returns to the desert planet of Tatooine. A young Luke Skywalker (Mark Hamill) begins to discover his destiny when, searching for a lost droid, he is saved by reclusive Jedi Obi-Wan Kenobi (Alec Guinness). A civil war rages in the galaxy, and Rebel forces struggle against the evil Galactic Empire, Luke and Obi-Wan enlist the aid of hotshot pilot, Han Solo (Harrison Ford). Joined by the quirky droid duo R2-D2 and C-3PO, the unlikely team sets out to rescue Rebel leader Princess Leia (Carrie Fisher) and make use of the stolen plans to destroy the Empire’s ultimate weapon. In a legendary confrontation, the rogue group mounts an attack against the Death Star for a climactic battle with the evil Sith Lord Darth Vader.
MAHLER 1 & ALEX GONZALEZ – June 22
Alexandra Arrieche, conductor
Alex Gonzalez, violinist
John Corigliano The Red Violin: Chaconne for Violin and Orchestra
Alex Gonzalez, violin
Gustav Mahler, Symphony No. 1 in D Major “Titan”
SPECIAL FUNDRAISING EVENT
Judy Collins Presents
Wildflowers in Full Bloom Concert and Garden Party – June 24
SCHEHERAZADE & JOSHUA ROMAN – June 27
Alexandra Arrieche, conductor
Joshua Roman, cellist
Gabriela Lena Frank, Elegía Andína
Tan Dun, Crouching Tiger Concerto
Joshua Roman, cello
Nikolai Rimsky-Korsakov, Scheherazade, Op.35
TANGO: PIAZZOLLA & MUSIC OF LATIN AMERICA – June 29
Alexandra Arrieche, conductor
Ignace “Iggy” Jang, violinist
Delight in a sweeping musical tour of Latin America as Alexandra Arrieche leads the Britt Festival Orchestra in works that spotlight the folk traditions of Brazil, Mexico, Cuba, and Argentina. From the pulsating rhythms of Afro-Brazilian drumming in Oscar Lorenzo Fernandez’s Batuque, to Arturo Márquez’s tribute to the festive salon dances of Mexico City and Astor Piazzolla’s sultry, tango-infused take on Vivaldi’s Four Seasons, this program celebrates the kaleidoscopic color and insatiable energy of Latin dance music.
About the Britt Orchestra and Britt Music & Arts Festival
Founded in 1963, the Britt Orchestra brings together over 75 professional musicians from across the United States for three weeks of open-air performances each summer. Forming the heart of the annual Britt Music & Arts Festival, the Britt Orchestra Season takes place in Jacksonville, Oregon, less than half an hour’s drive from the world-renowned Oregon Shakespeare Festival.
The festival was the brainchild of Portland conductor John Trudeau and musician Sam McKinney, who came to southern Oregon in search of the perfect location. When they discovered the superb natural acoustics and stunning views of Britt Hill – the former hillside estate of Jacksonville pioneer Peter Britt, a Swiss-born photographer who became one of Oregon’s most celebrated citizens – they knew that they had found it. In 1963, with a small chamber orchestra on a makeshift stage, the first summer outdoor music festival in the Pacific Northwest was born.
Since its grassroots beginnings, the non-profit organization has grown from a two-week chamber festival to a multi-disciplinary summer-long concert series with year-round education and engagement programs. Constructed 40 years ago, the 2,200-capacity Britt Pavilion enables Britt to present world-class artists while maintaining the intimacy for which it is known.
Links:
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Britt Music & Arts Festival shares extraordinary live performances and arts education experiences that inspire discovery and build community, anchored at the Britt hill amphitheater. Since its grassroots beginnings in 1963, the non-profit organization has grown from a two-week chamber music festival to a summer-long series of concerts in a variety of genres, including a three-week orchestra season, and year-round education and engagement programs. For more information, visit www.brittfest.org