Robert Spano opted for a few minor tweaks but no major changes for his first season as music director of the 63-year-old Aspen Music Festival, the state’s oldest and most prestigious summer classical series.
The eight-week lineup, which was announced today, is the first organized under the leadership of Spano, who was named music director of the festival last springand formally took over the post this month.
As in recent years, the season will showcase an array of familiar orchestral, chamber and solo masterpieces, balanced by a healthy menu of new and less-frequently performed works.
The theme for this year’s festival is “Made in America,” incorporating not just works by American composers but also surprising pieces that were written in the United States by composers from other countries.
“Made in America” selections range from Aaron Copland’s Symphony No. 3 (July 22) and Jennifer Higdon’s “Blue Cathedral” (July 1) to Igor Stravinksky’s Divertimento from “The Fairy’s Kiss” (July 25) and Sergei Rachmaninoff’s Piano Concerto No. 3 (July 1).
A special highlight is the regional premiere (July 13) of Edgar Meyer’s Concerto for Violin and Double Bass, which the festival co-commissioned. It will feature Meyer and famed violinist Joshua Bell as soloists.
Other notable soloists include cellist Alisa Weilerstein (Aug. 1 and 5), pianist Inon Barnatan (June 28 and July 19), baritone Nathan Gunn (July 14) and pop trumpeter Chris Botti (July 7), as well as up-and-comers such as 17-year-old pianist Conrad Tao (June 28).
As in recent seasons, the Aspen Opera Theater Center presents three productions — Wolfgang Amadeus Mozart’s “The Magic Flute” (July 12, 14 and 16), Stephen Sondheim’s “Sweeney Todd” (July 26, 28 and 30) and a new version of John Harbison’s “The Great Gatsby” (Aug. 16 and 18) with a smaller pit orchestra.
In all, the 2012 season, which will runs June 28 through Aug. 19, incorporates more than 300 concerts, lectures, masterclasses and other events. For ticket information, call 970-925-9042 or visit .
