Aug 14 Thursday
Across the centuries, composers have found resonance in Nature. This playful and delightful program features leading English violinist Anthony Marwood in Schubert’s beloved “Trout” Quintet; Xhosa composer Bongani Ndodana-Breen’s Intlanzi Yase Mzantsi (The Fish from South Africa, based on Schubert’s “Trout”); and music by Nino Rota, composer of the famous film score to The Godfather. Festival Artistic Directors Aaron Wunsch and Julia Bruskin join, along with Brandon Ridenour, who “heralds the trumpet of the future” (Chicago Sun Times).
Program:NINO ROTA Trio for Clarinet, Cello, and PianoBARTÓK Romanian Folk Dances (Trumpet and Piano)BONGANI NDODANA-BREEN Intlanzi Yase Mzantsi (The Fish from South Africa)SCHUBERT Quintet in A Major, D. 667 (“Trout”)
Don’t miss this special enchanted evening of music and theater, featuring a dramatic interpretation of Stravinsky’s timeless drama, The Soldier’s Tale. Violinist Anthony Marwood (“brilliant,“ The Washington Post) also performs English master Thomas Adès’s magical, folk-inspired Dances from Fairy Tales. Robert Schumann’s Fairy Tales round out a colorful program that includes clarinet, bassoon, trumpet, trombone, bass and percussion.
Program:ADÈS Märchentänze (Dances from Fairly Tales)SCHUMANN Märchenerzählungen (Fairy Tales)STRAVINSKY The Soldier’s Tale
Aug 16 Saturday
Mark O’Connor is one of the most celebrated fiddlers of all time. His musical path has taken him from bluegrass to folk to classical, including his GRAMMY-winning collaboration with cellist Yo-Yo Ma. He performs his own music with the Skaneateles Festival Orchestra and his musical and life partner, Maggie O’Connor; the program also includes Mozart’s timeless music and new Nature- inspired music by Chickasaw composer Jerod Impichchaachaaha’ Tate.
Program:MOZART Eine Kleine NachtmusikMARK O’CONNOR Selection from American SeasonsJEROD IMPICHCHAACHAAHA’ TATE Woodland Songs World premiere arrangementMARK AND MAGGIE O’CONNOR Strings and Threads Suite
Aug 17 Sunday
Mark and Maggie invite you to an exclusive, intimate Americana and bluegrass performance at the Mandana Barn, complete with an open bar and the Macarollin’ Food Truck!
Doors open at 2:00 PM for drinks before the concert, Music will begin around 3:00 PM
$95/person, limited availability
Please note: This special one-off event is not included in Season Passes, Vineyard Passes, or Week Passes.
Aug 19 Tuesday
Since ancient times, music has been heard to reflect the resonances of the natural world. Over time, composers of many cultures have taken inspiration from Nature and found ways of expressing it through sound. Get inside the music, including several Nature-inspired works to be heard on Festival programs this season by Vivaldi, Mendelssohn, Schubert, Dvořák, Vaughan-Williams, Gabriela Lena Frank, and Chickasaw composer Jerod Impichchaachaaha’ Tate; and learn how your appreciation of Nature might aid your musical understanding. Hear exclusive live performances by Festival artists and mingle with your fellow music enthusiasts and Nature lovers afterward over a glass of wine.Four weekly sessions are led by Artistic Director, Aaron Wunsch, who teaches at The Juilliard School.
Four Tuesdays, 7/29 – 8/19, 4:00-5:00 PM
After the lecture there will be a small wine reception.
This event is free and no ticket is required.
In order to get an accurate head count we ask that you please RSVP on the form below. An RSVP is not required but is appreciated.
RSVP: https://www.surveymonkey.com/r/5WHZ7H7
Aug 20 Wednesday
2025 GRAMMY winner Nicholas Phan is “one of the world’s most remarkable singers” (Boston Globe). Don’t miss the chance to hear him in Schubert’s timeless and heartrending love story in the form of a song cycle, Die schöne Müllerin (The Beautiful Miller’s Daughter).
Aug 21 Thursday
The Jasper String Quartet (“flawless…expressively assured and beautifully balanced,” Gramophone) leads a program of music inspired by local and indigenous cultures. Gabriela Lena Frank draws upon her Peruvian roots in Leyendas, inspired by the sound of Andean folk instruments; Chickasaw composer Jerod Impichchaachaaha’ Tate gives homage to Hopi and Pueblo music in Pisachi, accompanied by projected images of the American Southwest; and Czech master Antonín Dvořák pulls out the stops in his energetic, deliberately “Slavonic” String Quartet, Op. 51.
Program:GABRIELA LENA FRANK Leyendas: An Andean WalkaboutJEROD IMPICHCHAACHAAHA’ TATE Pisachi (Reveal)DVOŘÁK String Quartet in E-flat Major, Op. 51 (“Slavonic”)
Aug 22 Friday
Tenor Nicholas Phan (“one of the world’s most remarkable singers,” Boston Globe) and the Jasper String Quartet explore the unique sound world of English music. Separated from the mainland by water, England developed its own folk, classical, and popular traditions; a sampling of each will be heard on this stirring program, including British music by Elgar, Vaughan-Williams, Britten, and Canadian composer Vivian Fung.
Program: VAUGHAN-WILLIAMS On Wenlock EdgeELGAR Salut d’Amour for Violin and PianoBRITTEN Three Divertimenti for String Quartet & Selected SongsREBECCA CLARKE Three Irish Country SongsVIVIAN FUNG “O” from Lamenting Earth
Aug 23 Saturday
Chickasaw musician Jerod Impichchaachaaha’ Tate leads his own captivating tale, Moonstrike, interweaving three American Indian legends about the moon. This evocative story is set to original and traditional music performed by the Jasper String Quartet, including the Calusa Corn Dance, sung by Southeast American Indians during the harvest moon.
GRAMMY-winning pianist Bill Charlap is a champion of classic jazz and the American Songbook. He has performed and recorded with many of the greats, from Wynton Marsalis to singers Tony Bennett and Barbra Streisand. Since 1997, he has led the Bill Charlap Trio. Performing with Bill Charlap in Skaneateles will be bassist David Wong and drummer Dennis Mackrel. Hear how “Charlap approaches a song the way a lover approaches his beloved….” (TIME Magazine)
Jazz selections to be announced from the stage.