When the Beethoven Festival Park City began 29 years ago, there weren’t too many summer chamber music festivals around the country. That’s not the case anymore. Today there is an abundance, but few do it as well as Park City’s own summer series, which also happens to be Utah’s oldest chamber music festival.
The secret to the Beethoven Festival’s success lies in the fact that directors Leslie and Russell Harlow strive to make chamber music accessible to everyone. To that end the festival, which begins Saturday and runs until Aug. 12, presents a number of informal outdoor concerts that are free of charge. “I didn’t think I would like doing outdoor concerts, but we actually enjoy them,” Leslie Harlow said in an interview with Reichel Recommends. “The players let their hair down and the audience is so appreciative.”
These concerts are held at the gazebo in Park City’s City Park, and Harlow said many of the people who come love classical music. “We have to use sound system, but it doesn’t take away from the intimate feel [of chamber music].”
And the audience loves the informal atmosphere. “They love to meet their friends there and bring a picnic,” Harlow said. “We talk to the audience in between pieces and have drawings for prizes.” If the weather turns wet, then everybody gathers under the gazebo for shelter. “We all have plenty of room, and we keep playing.”
The first outdoor concert will be held July 15, and the festival ends with an outdoor concert on Aug. 12.
Another informal event at the festival are the Saturday brunches. This year there will be five. “All of them will be at our house,” Harlow said. “We’ve moved the furniture and piano around, so we have a large space that can accommodate 35-40 people. The acoustics are good and the music sounds great.” Performing will be the musicians who will be at the festival that particular week, and the brunches will give the audience a chance to get up close and personal with the players. “We do all of the rehearsing at our home. It’s a happy atmosphere, and doing performances in our home is something we have always wanted to do.”
The minimum donation to attend a brunch is $45. Call the festival office at 435-649-5309 or send an email to chmusic@pcmusicfestival.comfor more information and to make reservations.
The artist roster this year includes several local as well as international musicians. Starting things off this weekend are renowned cellist Jeffrey Solow and pianist Doris Stevenson, both charter members of the Park City festival. “Jeff recently played all of the Bach suites for solo cello at Bargemusic,” New York’s well known riverside concert venue. “He’ll be doing movements from three of the suites in Park City,” Harlow said.
Stevenson has also been a frequent performer at Bargemusic, often with cellist Zuill Bailey, and in August she will be playing with the Harlows at a concert there.
Also coming to the festival are pianist John Jensen and violinist Manuel Ramos.
“John is phenomenal. He has a photographic memory and has a huge repertoire of works, everything from classical to jazz, TV shows and musicals. He’s always a lot of fun.”
Ramos has spent the last year on sabbatical from the St. Louis Symphony and touring and will be returning to his orchestra this fall. “He’s going to be playing a lot of flashy stuff,” Harlow said.
Among local players, Brigham Young University violinists Monte Belknap and Alexander Woods will be performing , as well as cellist Julie Bevan, pianist Bryan Stanley and classical guitarist Jon Yerby. And, of course, the Harlows will also be playing. (Leslie Harlow is a violist and Russell Harlow plays clarinet and is the former associate principal clarinet of the Utah Symphony.)
As far as programming goes, there will be a wide variety of works – something festival attendees have come to expect. And since Beethoven is the festival’s namesake, there will be a number of his works played as well. “We’ll be doing three of his quartets this summer,” Harlow said. “Listening – and playing – his music always makes me happy.”
Harlow said that the Beethoven Festival is “easy to attend.” It’s one of those things you don’t need to plan long in advance. “We are a friendly festival. You can get tickets at the door, and we will once again have ‘BYOB,’ ‘Bring Your Own Beethoven.’ If you bring anything Beethoven to a concert you get $5 off the regular ticket price.”
Chamber music has the reputation of being stuffy, but the Harlows go the extra mile to make it accessible to everyone. “We do what we can to make the music fun.”
Single tickets are $20 for general admission and $15 for seniors and students. Ten-punch cards are $150 for general admission and $100 for seniors and students. Six-punch cards are also available for $90 for general admission and $66 for seniors and students. Six-punch cards are $66 for Summit County residents.
Log on to Beethoven Festival Park City for more information and to purchase tickets.
Here is a schedule of events for July:
- July 13, 11 a.m. – “Beethoven Brunch,” salon concert; concertgoers dine and relax while enjoying virtuoso performances by guest artists of the festival, private residence in Park City, $45 minimum donation per person, call 435-649-5309 or email chmusic@pcmusicfestival.com to make reservations and receive information on location.
- July 14, 3 p.m. – Temple Har Shalom (U-224 at Brookside Ct., Park City), “Sunday Afternoon Chamber Music;” Leslie Harlow, viola, Russell Harlow, clarinet, Doris Stevenson, piano, Jeffrey Solow, cello; music by Chopin, Piston, Mozart and Beethoven.
- July 15, 6:30 p.m. – City Park Bandstand (1354 Park Ave., Park City), “Monday Chamber Music Concert in the Park;” outdoor concert, featuring festival artists. (Free)
- July 18, 7:30 p.m. – Park City Community Church (U-224 at Bear Hollow Dr., Park City), “Chamber Music Showcase;” Leslie Harlow, viola, Russell Harlow, clarinet, Doris Stevenson, piano, Jeffrey Solow, cello; music by Bach, Bernstein, Beethoven and Shostakovich.
- July 20, 11 a.m. – “Beethoven Brunch,” salon concert; concertgoers dine and relax while enjoying virtuoso performances by guest artists of the festival, private residence in Park City, $45 minimum donation per person, call 435-649-5309 or email chmusic@pcmusicfestival.com to make reservations and receive information on location.
- July 21, 3 p.m. – Temple Har Shalom; “Sunday Afternoon Chamber Music,” Leslie Harlow, viola, Russell Harlow, clarinet, Doris Stevenson, piano, Jeffrey Solow, cello, Jon Yerby, classical guitar; music by Bach, Schubert, Milhaud, as well as additional works for solo classical guitar.
- July 22, 6:30 p.m. – City Park Bandstand, “Monday Chamber Music Concert in the Park;” outdoor concert, featuring festival artists. (Free)
- July 26, 8 p.m. – Park City Community Church; “Chamber Music Showcase,” Monte Belknap and Alexander Woods, violin, Julie Bevan, cello, Leslie Harlow, viola, Russell Harlow, clarinet; music by Stamitz, Glazunov and Mozart.
- July 27, 11 a.m. – “Beethoven Brunch,” salon concert; concertgoers dine and relax while enjoying virtuoso performances by guest artists of the festival, private residence in Park City, $45 minimum donation per person, call 435-649-5309 or email chmusic@pcmusicfestival.com to make reservations and receive information on location.
- July 27, 7:30 p.m. – Temple Har Shalom, “Saturday Evening Artist Showcase Concert;” Monte Belknap and Alexander Woods, violin, Leslie Harlow, viola, Russell Harlow, clarinet; music by Halvorsen, Beethoven and Brahms.
- July 28, 3 p.m. – Temple Har Shalom, “Sunday Afternoon Chamber Music;” Monte Belknap and Alexander Woods, violin, Leslie Harlow, viola, Russell Harlow, clarinet, Julie Bevan, cello, Bryan Stanley, piano; music by Martinu, Reinecke and Beethoven.
- July 29, 6:30 p.m. – City Park Bandstand, “Monday Chamber Music Concert in the Park;” outdoor concert, featuring festival artists. (Free)
