Each August Staunton Music Festival welcomes over 70 acclaimed professionals from around the world to perform in 30 events. Multiple concerts daily make for an exhilarating immersion in chamber, vocal, and symphonic music. The days are given over to one-hour, free admission programs, while the evenings come alive with longer, ticketed concerts preceded by special dinners and short lectures.

Schedule

Friday, August 12, 2022

7:30pm: Handel Extravaganza: from the Rhine to Rio

Doors open at 6:30
Preconcert talk at 6:45

The 2022 Festival opens with Handel’s orchestral and vocal music, plus special Brazilian guests at intermission.

From L’Resurrezione: Sonata and Aria Disserratevi, o porte d'Averno
From Water Music Suite No. 3: Sarabande and Menuets 1 and 2
From Sosarme: Duet "Per la porte del tormento"
From Music for the Royal Fireworks: Overture and Rejouissance

Intermission

Andante form Organ Concerto Op. 7, 5
Arias from L’Allegro. il Penseroso, ed il moderato
Allemande from Suite in d, HWV 428
Coronation Anthem: Zadok the Priest

Location: Trinity Episcopal Church - 214 W Beverley St, Staunton

10:00pm: Nightcap #1: Brazil

If the Handel intermission whet your appetite, indulge in more Brazilian flair with the José Luiz Martins jazz quartet.

Location: McCracken Hall at Trinity Church

Cost : $20

Saturday, August 13, 2022

7:30pm: Love Stories

Doors open at 6:30
Preconcert talk at 6:45

Emotions run high in this program of music at its most impassioned. Chamber works by various composers culminate in the great Symphony No. 4 by Brahms.

Brahms - Intermezzo for piano, Op. 119 No. 1
Zhou Long - Words of the Sun, for vocal ensemble
Schumann - from Bilder aus dem Osten, for piano four hands
Wieck - Three Rückert Songs, from op.12
Berio - from Folk Songs, for voices and chamber ensemble
Brahms - Symphony No. 4 in E Minor

Tickets:
Section A - $32
Section B - $26

Location: Trinity Episcopal Church

12:00pm: Water Music

Doors open at 11:15 am

Few things are as evocative as the sea--from tempestuous and awesome in its power to placid and poetic in its immensity. This program features evocations of water from the Middles Ages to the 20th century.

Telemann  - Overture in C (“Water Music”)
Sibelius  - Water Drops, for violin and cello
Portuguese troubadour songs from a medieval collection
Debussy/Beamish - La Mer, arr. for piano trio

Tickets: Free Admission

Location: First Presbyterian Church

Sunday, August 14, 2022

10:30am:Summer Serenades

Doors open at 10:00 am
Program ends by 11:30 am

Telemann - Concerto in D, for 4 violins without bass
Blank - Two Holy Sonnets, for alto and chamber ensemble
Machaut - Motet: Dame, de qui toute ma joie vient
Roussel - Serenade for flute, harp and strings

This concert has no intermission and will conclude by 11:30am.

Tickets:
Section A - $20
Section B - $16

Location: Blackfriars Playhouse - 10 S Market St, Staunton

4:00pm: Children's Corner

Doors open at 3:00
Preconcert talk at 3:15

A set of short pieces by, for, and about children, selected from Bach’s harpsichord notebooks; Debussy Children’s Corner; Bartók Duos for two violins; Schumann Kinderszenen; Chen Yi Bagatelles for piano; and complete performances of:

Mahler - Kindertotenlieder, for contralto and orchestra
Tallis - “Gloria” from Missa Puer natus est, for 7 voices
Mozart - Gallimathias musicum, for orchestra

Tickets
Section A - $32
Section B - $26

Location: Trinity Episcopal Church - 214 W Beverley St, Staunton

Monday, August 15, 2022

12:00pm: Scenes From Childhood

Doors open at 11:15 am

The Monday noon concert features diverse works from Mozart, George Crumb, and a new version of The Nutcracker!

Mozart - Variations on “Ah vous dirai-je, Maman,” for fortepiano
Crumb - Ancient Voices of Children, for voices and chamber ens.
Tchaikovsky/Wadsworth - selections from The Nutcracker, arr. for chamber ensemble (world premiere)

Location: Trinity Episcopal Church- 214 W Beverley St, Staunton

Tickets: Free Admission

3:00pm: Meet the Musicians

Doors open at 2:15 p

Meet Sun Li (pipa) and Wang Guowei (erhu), members of the Music from China ensemble. These acclaimed artists will explain and demonstrate their instruments and performance techniques in traditional and modern Chinese music. They are in Staunton to help perform original works by composers-in-residence Chen Yi and Zhou Long.

Location: Central United Methodist Church - 14 N Lewis St, Staunton

Tickets: Free Admission

Tuesday, August 16, 2022

12:00pm: Contrasts

Doors open at 11:15 am

Festival musicians perform a program of chamber music by composer Chen Yi and Beethoven's Eroica Symphony.

Chen Yi - Sparkle, for chamber ensemble
Beethoven  - Symphony No. 3 in E-flat (”Eroica”), arr. for piano quartet by F. Ries

Location: Trinity Episcopal Church - 214 W Beverley St, Staunton

Tickets: Free Admission

7:30pm: Early Keyboard Extravaganza

Doors open at 6:30 | Preconcert talk at 6:45

Concertos and chamber music featuring instruments from SMF's stunning collection of early keyboards.

Bach - Concerto in C, for three harpsichords, strings and continuo
Schubert - Two Part Songs for vocal quintet and fortepiano (Ständchen D.920B, Nachthelle D.892)
Sweelinck - "Echo" Fantasia for organ
Handel - "Vo far Guerra," from Rinaldo, for countertenor, solo harpsichord, and orchestra
Reincken - Allemande for three harpsichords
Mendelssohn - Concerto No. 1 in g minor, for piano and orchestra

Tickets:
Section A - $32
Section B - $26

Location: Trinity Episcopal Church - 214 W Beverley St, Staunton

Wednesday, August 17, 2022

12:00pm: Heucke Meets Mendelssohn

Doors open at 11:15 am

Composer-in-residence Stefan Heucke, having appeared in Staunton in 2018, returns to offer additional new works. This concert brings together contrasting gems of chamber music.
Mendelssohn - “Hebrides” Overture, arranged for violin, cello, and piano four-hands
Heucke - Concerto Grosso for two orchestras - one with period instruments, one with modern (world premiere)

Tickets: Free Admission

Location: Trinity Episcopal Church - 214 W Beverley St, Staunton

3:00pm: Meet the Composer

Doors open at 2:15 pm

Award-winning composer Chen Yi discusses her music, stylistic influences, and trends in contemporary music of China and the United States. Prof. Chen will be hosted and interviewed by fellow composer Chester Biscardi.

Location: Central United Methodist Church - 14 N Lewis St, Staunton

Tickets: Free Admission

7:30pm: Take Five

Doors open at 6:30 | Preconcert talk at 6:45

HOST NIGHT - ALL MUSICIAN/STAFF HOSTS ARE INVITED AT NO CHARGE

Five is the luckiest number tonight. Music by Beethoven, Gabrieli, Brubeck and others. Enjoy works for five players or based on the number five.

Gabrieli - Canzona for brass, strings, and continuo
Zhou Long - Tales from the Cave, for huqin and percussion quartet
Schumann/Heucke - Three Songs, arr. for voice, clarinet, horn, violin, cello, and piano
Brubeck/Wadsworth - Take Five, arr. for Baroque ensemble
Beethoven - Symphony No. 5 in C Minor, Op. 67
Location: Trinity Episcopal Church -214 W Beverley St, Staunton

Tickets:
Section A - $32
Section B - $26

Thursday, August 18, 2022
12:00pm: Summer Sounds

Doors open at 11:15 am

A free noon concert featuring music by Debussy, Heucke, Wadsworth, and others.

Debussy/V.Mendelssohn - Danse Extatique and Chambre Magique
Heucke -  Andenken, for 6 voices
Biscardi - Photo - Pier - Moonlight for two violins
Wadsworth - Abendländisches Lied, for baritone and chamber ensemble
Debussy - Petite Suite

Location:First Presbyterian Church -100 E Frederick St, Staunton

Tickets: Free Admission

7:30pm: (Neo-)Baroque

Doors open at 6:30 - Preconcert talk at 6:45

Stravinsky's majestic Symphony of Psalms concludes a mixed program of works by Baroque composers and modern respondents.

Villa-Lobos - Bachiana Brasilieras No. 5, for soprano and strings
Scarlatti -  Two sonatas, transcribed for harp
Zelenka - Capriccio in F for two horns, two oboes, strings, and continuo
Chen Yi - from Fiddle Suite, for erhu and string quartet
Wadsworth - Palaces of Memories, for clarino, recorder, violin, oboe, strings, and harpsichord
Bach - Brandenburg Concerto No. 2
Stravinsky - Symphony of Psalms, for chorus and orchestra

Location: Trinity Episcopal Church - 214 W Beverley St, Staunton

Tickets:
Section A - $32
Section B - $26

Friday, August 19, 2022

12:00pm: Schubertiade

Doors open at 11:15 am

The Schubertiade tradition reaches back to the life of the composer himself. This concert features works from Schubert that ideally suit the intimate settings of chamber music.

Schubert/Liszt - Song transcriptions for solo harp
Schubert - Gesang der Geister, for male voices, two violas, two cellos, and double bass
Harbison - November 19, 1828, for piano quartet
Schubert - Adagio-Allegro, from Octet for clarinet, bassoon, horn, and string quintet

Location:First Presbyterian Church -100 E Frederick St, Staunton

Tickets:Free Admission

7:30pm:Baroque Inside/Out

Doors open at 6:30 | Preconcert talk at 6:4

Celebrate the richness and extravagance that made Venice the musical capital of Europe during the Baroque. Works include ample selections from Monteverdi's 1610 Vespers, plus chamber and orchestral works by Marini, Castello, and Gabrieli. Musical surprises of a different sort outside during an extended intermission.

Location: Trinity Episcopal Church - 214 W Beverley St, Staunton

Tickets:
Section A - $32
Section B - $26

10:00pm:Nightcap #2: Grand Tour
For those who can't get enough Baroque music, slip away for exclusive event with complimentary drinks.

Location: McCracken Hall at Trinity Church

Tickets: $20

Saturday, August 20, 2022

12:00pm: Serenades at Noon

Doors open at 11:15 am

Eclectic works by Schulhoff and Chausson make a contrasting pair, though both tie into the evening concert as well...

Schulhoff - Cloud Pump, for baritone, clarinet, bassoon, contrabassoon, trumpet, and percussion
Chausson - Concert for violin, piano, and string quartet

Location: First Presbyterian Church - 100 E Frederick St, Staunton

Tickets: Free Admission

3:00pm: Baroque Lovers' Afternoon

Doors open at 2:15 pm

Escape for one hour of intimate Baroque chamber music by Telemann and others.

Gesualdo - Moro lascio and Baci Soavi
Corelli - La folia, for recorder and harpsichord
Countertenor cantata
Telemann - Concerto in D, for horn, strings and continuo

Location: Central United Methodist Church - 14 N Lewis St, Staunton

Tickets: Free Admission

7:30pm: Memories and Roses

Doors open at 6:30
Preconcert talk at 6:45

An intriguing and intense program featuring music by Strauss, Beethoven, and others, culminating in a dramatic performance of Neikrug's Through Roses, directed by Ethan McSweeny.

Strauss/arr. Berg -Rosen aus dem Süden, for chamber ensemble
Liszt - Elegy for English horn, piano, harmonium, and harp
Schulhoff - Symphonia Germanica and Syncopated Peter
Beethoven - The Last Rose of Summer, for voice and piano trio
R.Strauss/Wadsworth - Presentation of the Rose, from Der Rosenkavalier, arr. for chamber ensemble
Neikrug - Through Roses, for actor and chamber ensemble *

"Through Roses" is a dramatic theater piece told through the eyes of a Holocaust survivor. The material may not be suitable for all/younger listeners.

Tickets:
Section A - $32
Section B - $26

Location: Trinity Episcopal Church - 214 W Beverley St, Staunton

Sunday, August 21, 2022

10:30am: Hello and Goodbye

Doors open at 10:00 am
Program ends by 11:30 am

This short, 50-minute concert pairs two works by Haydn with a new inspiration from Zachary Wadsworth. Program concludes with the captivating Symphony No. 45 in F-sharp Minor by Haydn, nicknamed the "Farewell" for reasons that become obvious when experienced in live performance.

Haydn/Wranitsky - Partita in F Major for oboes, clarinets, bassoons and horns
Wadsworth - Salutation, Valediction for narrator and two violins (world premiere)
Haydn - "Farewell" Symphony No. 45 in F-sharp Minor

This concert has no intermission and will conclude by 11:30 am.

Tickets:
Section A - $20
Section B- $16

Location: Blackfriars Playhouse- 10 S Market St, Staunton

12:30pm: Moses Memorial Lecture

Doors open for seating at 12:15. Lunch begins at 12:30, followed by lecture.

Enjoy a fully-catered meal and an extended concert talk on Haydn's oratorio The Creation. Our guest speaker is Dr. Tim Carter from UNC-Chapel Hill, a noted music historian (Mozart and Classical era) and brilliant lecturer who appeared at SMF in 2018. All food and drink are included with the admission. Limited to 90 guests.
(NOTE: lecture guests will have the opportunity to enter Trinity church and reserve seats for the Creation performance before going to the Brunch/Lecture.)

Tickets: $40

Location: Trinity Episcopal Church - 214 W Beverley St, Staunton

4:00pm: Finale: Haydn's Creation

Doors open at 3:00

Inspired by the music of Handel, which he heard while visiting the English capital during the 1790s, Franz Joseph Haydn crafted a massive oratorio on the Creation story. The libretto, rendered into German by the brilliant diplomat and music patron Baron Gottfried van Swieten, draws upon biblical sources as well as Milton’s epic poem Paradise Lost.

Considered among Haydn’s finest sacred works, The Creation features vocal soloists, chorus, and a massive (for its day) orchestra. Carsten Schmidt conducts this period instrument performance. In German with English translations.

Location: Trinity Episcopal Church - 214 W Beverley St, Staunton

Tickets:
Section A - $32
Section B - $26

Date: August 12, 2022  -August 21, 2022

Location:
Trinity Episcopal Church, 214 West Beverley Street, Staunton, VA 24401
First Presbyterian Church, 100 East Frederick Street, Staunton, VA 24401
Blackfriars Playhouse, 10 South Market Street, Staunton, VA 24401
Central United Methodist Church - 14 N Lewis St, Staunton

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