(Photos by Octavio Valencia) Festival Napa Valley has concluded a historic production of “Don Pasquale.” The Donizetti classic was presented at the Robert and Margrit Mondavi Center for Performing Arts at UC Davis on Friday, Nov. 15, marking the first-ever staged opera at the venue. “We are honored to have partnered with Festival Napa Valley to present this exceptional production {…}
Festival Napa Valley has announced it is introducing a “Choose Your Price” ticket model for the 2025 Summer Season. This will be the first in the region and the new option, launching in March with single-ticket sales, advances the Festival’s Arts for All mission by allowing attendees to select ticket prices that fit their budgets. In a statement, Rick Walker, {…}
(Photo credit: J Henry Fair) Festival Napa Valley has announced the death of founding benefactor and longtime patron Jan Isaac Shrem. Sherm’s legacy will live on at Festival Napa Valley through the art programs he supported, including the Jan Shrem and Maria Manetti Shrem Vocal Art Series. “Jan was a tireless champion of the Festival, and he and his wife {…}
Festival Napa Valley presented composer Gordon Getty with the Angels of the Arts Award during a March 7, 2024 ceremony. The event included performances by such artists as sopranos Alexandra Armantrading and Lisa Delan; mezzo-soprano Frederica von Stade; tenor Nathan Granner; baritone Lester Lynch; baritone/librettist Curt Branom; clarinetist David Barnett; pianist Kevin Korth; and pianist/composer Jake Heggie. There were also {…}
(Photo credit: Ben Wolf & Gregor Hohenberg) Festival Napa Valley has released details of its upcoming season. This article only contains vocal performances. The first “Festival Live!” concert featuring the Frost School of Music’s Blackburn Music Academy kicks off the festival. Performance Dates: July 6 – 20, 2024 Soprano Pretty Yende and tenor Jonathan Tetelman perform with the Festival Orchestra. {…}
The Festival Napa Valley has announced the 2023 season. Here is a look at the vocal performances of the season. Gordon Getty’s “Goodbye, Mr. Chips” will be shown. Performance Date: July 12, 2023 Festival Live! Concert Series will feature the 2023 Manetti Shrem Summer Conservatory Fellows. Performance Date: July 14, 2023 Serena Sáenz, Francisco Fullana, Sophia Bacelar, and Pablo Sáinz-Villegas {…}
Festival Napa Valley has named Alycia Mondavi to its Board of Directors. Mondavi graduated from the University of San Diego and then worked as a marketing consultant for Napa Valley Ultra Premium wine labels and currently works with her family as a brand ambassador for C. Mondavi & Family. She and her sisters have been Auction Napa Valley’s youngest presidents. {…}
Festival Napa Valley has unveiled its 2022 festival, which is set to take place between July 9-23, 2022. For the purposes of this article, our focus will be on vocal events. Kicking things off will be the Novack Concert for Kids starring the Young People’s Chorus of New York City. Performance Date: July 14, 2022 The Young People’s Chorus of {…}
Festival Napa Valley has announced that Nia Imani Franklin is the recipient of the 2021 Darioush and Shahpar Khaledi Prize for Excellence and Innovation in Classical Music. Franklin, a composer, singer, and arts education champion is Festival Napa Valley’s 2021 Composer- in-Residence and many of her original compositions were performed throughout this year’s Festival. Among the works were “Afro-dite,” a {…}
Festival Napa Valley has announced the launch of the Manetti Shrem Opera Program. The new initiative will nurture the careers of young singers through fully staged opera productions and recitals, a summer vocal conservatory, and a $10,000 Manetti Shrem Prize. The winners of the 2021 Prize include Mario Rojas and Simone McIntosh. “The Manetti Shrem Opera Program enables Festival Napa {…}
The Festival Napa Valley has announced its 2021 season featuring a number of diverse musical offerings. For the purposes of this article, the focus will be on operatic showcases. The festival opens with Opening Night starring Lisette Oropesa in recital. The concert will be dedicated to the late Ann Getty. Performance Date: July 16, 2021 Puccini’s “Gianni Schicchi” will be {…}