MUSIC
Aspen plans Figaro trio
The Aspen Music Festival’s 2009 season just ended Aug. 23 and already tidbits about next summer’s lineup are emerging.
Among the most intriguing is the festival’s plan to present a trio of operas directly or indirectly based on Beaumarchais’ Figaro plays — Rossini’s “The Barber of Seville,” Mozart’s “The Marriage of Figaro” and John Corigliano’s “The Ghosts of Versailles.”
“I think it will make a really fun link as the operas follow each other,” said Alan Fletcher, the festival’s president and chief executive officer.
“Ghosts” debuted to enthusiastic reviews at New York’s Metropolitan Opera in 1991. Aspen will present a reduced version of the work that was commissioned by the Opera Theatre of St. Louis and premiered there earlier this summer.
The theme for Aspen’s 2010 edition has been tentatively titled “The Magic Years.” Festival leaders plan a season programmed around masterworks composed during the last three turns of centuries: 1790-1810, 1890-1910 and 1990-2010.
Osvaldo Golijov, a key figure from the most recent of these periods, will serve as the festival’s 2010 guest composer in residence.
Other highlights of next summer’s offerings will include a performance of Philip Glass’ Violin Concerto No. 2, “The American Four Seasons.” Aspen was one of five co-commissioners of the new work, which will receive its world premiere later this year in Toronto.
The festival typically releases its summer schedule in January. 970-925-9042 or aspenmusicfestival . Kyle MacMillan
ART
Museum’s silent partners speak out
Art-museum curators tend to remain behind the scenes, arranging exhibitions, stewarding collections and pursuing acquisitions.
But a new series at the Denver Art Museum, “Conversations with Curators,” will put these caretakers and scholars front and center, as they talk about aspects of the holdings they oversee.
The talks will begin at 4 p.m. Friday on the lower level of the museum’s original building, with Timothy Standring, curator of painting and sculpture, discussing mythology in old-master painting.
The conversations will continue at the same time on the first Friday of each month in different locations around the museum. They are free with regular admission. 720-865-5000 or . Kyle MacMillan
COMEDY
No laughs, but soulful sounds
When Comedy Works South hosted its first Gospel Brunch in January, it was a gamble. The paint had barely dried on owner Wende Curtis’ massive new venue at Landmark Place in Greenwood Village when the economy tanked. Anything to bring in extra revenue to her adjoining restaurant and ballroom was welcome.
The brunches, modeled after events at the House of Blues and BB King’s Blues Clubs around the country, featured Southern-style cooking and uplifting musical performances, and people flocked to them. So it’s no surprise that Curtis — always one to tweak the comedy-club model with 18-and-up shows, free passes for laid-off patrons and other experiments — has brought them back.
The monthly brunches continue Sept. 27 with a performance from Denver’s Hearts of Worship, followed by brunches on Oct. 18 with Colorado Ambassadors of Gospel and events Nov. 15 and Dec. 13, with acts yet to be announced. Tickets for the 11 a.m. events are $14-$28. 720-274-6800 or comedy . John Wenzel
FILM
Telluride gets Payne; Aspen honors Tucci
The heavy-hitting film festival season begins with Colorado’s own Telluride Film Festival (Sept. 4-7).
True to its tradition, the festival won’t unveil its program until opening day. But some tempting tidbits have been dished out. This year’s guest curator is Alexander Payne, director of “Sideways” and “Election.”
Also gearing up to impress, the Aspen FilmFest (Sept. 30-Oct. 4) last week announced a really big night when it gives actor Stanley Tucci its Independent by Nature Award. Currently, the actor can be seen in “Julie & Julia,” playing Julia Child’s husband, Paul. This fall, he’ll do a darkly different turn as the child-killer in Peter Jackson’s adaptation of “The Lovely Bones.” Lisa Kennedy
