Other great festivals
Oregon Bach Festival 26 June – 12 July
For its 50th-anniversary season, this early music-focused festival presents three of Bach’s choral masterworks – the B minor Mass, St Matthew Passion and St John Passion – led by conductors including Miguel Harth-bedoya and Julian Wachner. Tel: 541-346-5666
Web: oregonbachfestival.org
Marlboro Music Festival
11 July – 9 August
Under the co-direction of pianists Mitsuko Uchida and Jonathan Biss, this Vermont gathering spotlights intergenerational collaborations. Programmes are announced at the last moment.
Tel: 215-569-4690
Web: marlboromusic.org
Glimmerglass Festival 11 July – 25 August A new Francesca Zambello production of The Sound of Music is the featured musical at Glimmerglass, joining three mainstage operas: Mozart’s Don Giovanni, Handel’s Rinaldo and Wagner’s Die Feen.
Tel: 607-547-2255
Web: glimmerglass.org
Festival Napa Valley 17-26 July
Included in the schedule of this upscale Northern California festival are violinist Joshua Bell in concert with his wife, soprano Larisa Martinez, the Young People’s Chorus of NYC with baritone Thomas Hampson, and the premiere of Goodbye, Mr Chips by composer (and oil scion) Gordon Getty.
Tel: 888-337-6272
Web: festivalnapavalley.org
Music@menlo 17 July – 8 August
Bucking trends, this ever-inventive Silicon Valley chamber music festival focuses not on Beethoven but on his predecessor Haydn, with thematic concerts devoted to humour, folk traditions, hunting themes and other influences.
Tel: 650-330-2030
Web: musicatmenlo.org