Visit in June for Sixth Annual St. Augustine Music Festival

The 2012 Sixth Annual St. Augustine Music Festival features musicians from the Jacksonville Symphony Orchestra joined by nationally renowned artists presenting a variety of classical compositions. With concerts over two  weekends, you have several opportunities to spend some time in St. Augustine enjoying free classical music concerts in the historic (and air-conditioned) Cathedral Basilica. Concert dates are June 21-23 and June 28-30, with performances starting at 7:30 p.m. under SAMF Artistic Director Jorge A. Pena.

Here is a preview of the 2012 free classical concert series at the Cathedral Basilica. Visit the Concert Calendar page of the St Augustine Music Festival’s website for details as they develop:

“Summer Music”   Thursday, June 21, 7:30 p.m. – SAMF Chamber Orchestra

• Johann Friedrich Fasch (1688-1758) Trumpet Concerto in D major, FWV L:D1 featuring Julian Kaplan, Trumpet.
• Aaron Copland (1900-1990) “Quiet City” with Claudia Minch, English Horn; Julian Kaplan Trumpet.
• Piotr Szewczyk (1977- ) Summer Music for String Quartet. Apparitions for Violin, Flute, Clarinet, Cello and Percussion, featuring the composer on violin.
• Wolfgang Amadeus Mozart (1756-1791) Serenade No. 6 in D major, K. 239 “Serenata Notturna” featuring Joe Beker, Timpani.
• Samuel Barber(1910-1981) Summer Music Op. 31.for woodwing quintet
• Julio Medaglia(1938- ) Suite Popular Brasileira for woodwing quintet
• Aaron Copland (1900-1990) Appalachian Spring.(original version for 13 instruments double quartet, bass, piano, Flute, Clarinet, Bassoon

“Piano Spectacular”  Friday, June 22,  7:30 p.m Featuring international pianists Eugenio Urrutia Borlando and Gregory Martin.

• Wolfgang Amadeus Mozart (1756-1791) Sonata in B-flat major No 17 KV. 570
• Isaac Albeniz (1860-1909) Suite Espanola
• Alberto Ginastera (1916-1983) Danzas Argentinas
• Edvard Grieg (1843-1907) From Lyric Pieces, Op. 54 Gangar (Norwegian Dance)
• Johannes Brahms (1833-1897) Piano Sonata No. 1 in C major, Op. 1

“Grace and Beauty” Saturday, June 23, 7:30 p.m.

• Featuring Stephen Robinson, Guitar; Ileana Fernandez and Eugenio Urrutia Borlando, Piano
• Mario Castelnuovo-Tedesco (1895-1968) Fantasia, Op. 145.
• Francois de Fossa (1775-1849) Guitar Trio No. 2 in G Major, Op. 18.
• Antonin Dvorak (1882-1949) Piano Quintet in A major, Op. 81.

“Musica Nocturna” Thursday, June 28, 7:30 p.m.

• Joaquin Turina (1882-1949) Scene Andalouse for solo viola, string quartet and piano, featuring SAMF Artistic Director Jorge A. Pena, viola; Tugce Tari, Piano.
• Ludwig van Beethoven (1770-1827) Piano Quintet in E flat major, Op. 16
• Luigi Boccherini (1743-1805) String Quintet in C major, Op. 30, No. 6, G. 324, “La musica notturna delle strade di Madrid”  with Antonio Rincon, Jorge Avila, Violins; Colin Kiely, Viola; Moises Molina, Jin Pena, Cellos;Johannes Brahms, Clarinet Quintet in B Minor, Op. 115.

“Sacred Music” Friday, June 29, 7:30 p.m.

In honor of Feast Day of Saints Peter and Paul. Featuring Brittnee Siemon, lyric mezzo-soprano.

• George Frideric Handel (1685-1759) Concerto Grosso in G major, Op. 6, No. 1, HWV 319
• Johann Sebastian Bach (1685-1750) Selections from Cantata BWV 35, Cantata BWV 147
• George Frideric Handel (1685-1759) Dixit Dominus, HWV 232
• Johannes Brahms (1833-1897) 2 Gesange, Op. 91: No. 2.
• George Frideric Handel (1685-1759) Selections from Oratorio Messiah, HWV 56
• Wolfgang Amadeus Mozart (1756-1791) Church Sonata No. 16 in C major, K. 329
• Wolfgang Amadeus Mozart (1756-1791) Cantata Davide penitente, K. 469

“Back to Bach”  Saturday, June 30, 7:30 p.m. – Featuring International Violinist Elissa Lee Koljonen and Violist Jorge Pena and SAMF Chamber Orchestra

• George Frideric Handel (1685-1759) Water Music: Suite No. 1 in F major, HWV 348
• Wolfgang Amadeus Mozart (1756-1791) Duo for Violin and Viola in G major, K. 423
• Wolfgang Amadeus Mozart (1756-1791) Violin Concerto No. 1 B flat major, K. 207. Elissa Lee Koljonen, Violin Soloist.
• Johann Sebastian Bach, Brandenburg Concerto No.1 in F major, BWV 1046. Jorge Avila, Violino piccolo Soloist.

Rates for accommodations are generally lower in June and many of St Augustine’s Historic Inns are offering discounted rates exclusively for guests of the St Augustine Music Festival, so book a weekend stay at your favorite St. Augustine B&B and stroll downtown for dinner with world-class summer music for dessert. Visit www.StAugustineMusicFestival.org for more details on this event.