allan pollack
artistic director & conductor
opening night
Saturday, July 12 – 8 pm
orchestra 1 concert
THE FESTIVAL ORCHESTRA
Smetana: Overture to The Bartered Bride
Dvorak: Symphony No. 8
Tchaikovsky: Piano Concerto No. 1 in Bb
Stephen Prutsman, piano
Sunday, July 13 – 8 pm
JESSE WINCHESTER, SINGER/SONGWRITER
& FOXGLOVE
1960s folk rock legend, composer of “Mississippi You’re On My Mind”, “Yankee Lady” and “Brand New Tennessee Waltz” sings with his gentle, sweet voice honest, whimsical lyrics and melodic tunes.
Foxglove is the Mendocino Coast’s hip bluegrass, R&B,
rock-n-roll-influenced band.
Monday, July 14 – 8 pm
STEPHEN PRUTSMAN
Bach and Forth
Versatile and innovative pianist, composer and arranger presents a solo piano concert of preludes and fugues mixed with jazz, world and classical music, exploring and seeking common ground in the music of all cultures.
Wednesday, July 16 – 8 pm
THE HOT CLUB OF SAN FRANCISCO
Borrowing the original instrumentation from the Hot Club de France (violin, bass and guitars) this group breathes new life into the gypsy jazz of Django Reinhardt and Stephane Grappelli with creative arrangements of classics and original compositions from lead guitarist Paul Mehling.
‘degenerate music’
Thursday, July 17 – 8 pm
SUSAN WATERFALL
& THE FESTIVAL CHAMBER PLAYERS
Erin Neff, vocalist
After World War I, Weimar Berlin was a cauldron of artistic ferment as avant-garde artists and intellectuals, most of them Jewish, struggled to create a modern German culture. Exuberant freedom and hectic experimentation masked a sense of impending doom. After 1933, Hitler denounced them all as “degenerate” and their forced exile carried Weimar modernity to the rest of the world. A re-creation of this fascinating and pivotal era with cabaret and chamber music of Weill, Schoenberg, and Eisler, photographs and film.
Drawing by Knut Honsen, Der Junggesell, 1927, courtesy Mel Gordon, The 7 Addictions and 5 Professions of Anita Berber, Weimar Berlin’s Priestess of Depravity
opera
Friday, July 18 & Sunday, July 20 – 8 pm
MOZART: MARRIAGE OF FIGARO
THE FESTIVAL ORCHESTRA & CAST
Alan Pollack, conductor
Brian Leerhuber, baritone
Nicolle Foland, soprano
Christine Brandes, soprano
Raeeka Yaghmai, soprano
Eugene Brancoveanu, bass
Donna Olson, mezzo-soprano
Mark Hernandez, tenor
Matthew Miksak, bass
A hilarious comic opera about the foibles of lovers, with the witty, rapturous music of Mozart.
big band night
Saturday, July 19 – 8 pm
ALLAN POLLACK
& THE ALL-STAR FESTIVAL BIG BAND
Fasten your seatbelts for a swingin’ rocketship ride to the Nostalgia Zone. Shimmering vocals, surprise guest artists and the hot, brassy sounds of the fabulous All-Star Big Band.
Tuesday, July 22 – 8 pm
QUINTANGO
Acclaimed quintet (strings and piano) and dancers present a sizzling, seductive and passionate interpretation of Argentine tango. “For haunting melody, rhythm that makes every part of your anatomy move and a feeling of warmth and enthusiasm, Quintango is downright wonderful.”
– Charleston Post and Courier
ballet & orchestra
Wednesday, July 23 – 8 pm
orchestra 2 concert
THE FESTIVAL ORCHESTRA
Allan Pollack, conductor
Rimsky-Korsakov: Scheherazade
Special guests:
Company C Contemporary Ballet
Ravel: Piano Concerto, Movement No. 2
Susan Waterfall, piano
Gershwin: “Who Cares”
Rossini: Overtures
Thursday, July 24 – 8 pm
FESTIVAL CHAMBER PLAYERS
Great Chamber Music of the 20th Century
Harrison: Simfony # 13 for Percussion Quartet
Shostakovich: Piano Trio No. 2 in E Minor
Carolyn Steinbuck, piano
Sergi Goldman-Hull, violin Jill Rachuy Brindel, cello
Stravinsky: L’histoire du soldat
Les Pfutzenreuter, Conductor
Friday, July 25 – 8 pm
LOS PINGUOS
Natives of Buenos Aires, these musicians combine Latin rhythms, Spanish guitars, a Cuban Tres, a Peruvian cajón and harmonizing vocals to produce a vivacious sound, part salsa, part rock, part traditional Argentine music. The band has recorded four albums and appears on three Putumayo World Music compilations.
Saturday, July 26 – 3 pm
JULIAN WATERFALL POLLACK THREE-O
& special guest artist, Grace Weber
This uncannily young and astonishingly talented pianist leads his group of exceptional musicians in re-imagined jazz standards and original musical compositions that include jazz, rock and pop genres. He has performed with Joshua Redman and Nicholas Payton and appeared at Dizzy’s Club Coca-Cola, Lincoln Center and Yoshi’s. In 2007 he was a guest on Marian McPartland’s syndicated radio show, Piano Jazz.
grand finale
Saturday, July 26 – 8 pm
orchestra 3 concert
FESTIVAL CHORUS & ORCHESTRA
WALTER GREEN MEMORIAL CONCERT
Allan Pollack, conductor
Handel: Royal Fireworks
Beethoven: Symphony No. 9
Nicolle Foland, soprano Jean McDonald, mezzo-soprano
Jeff Brich, tenor Matthew Miksak, bass
piano series
Lectures & Recitals at Preston Hall
Sunday, July 13 – 3 pm
PAUL ROBERTS
Ravel: Jeux d’eau – Selections from Miroirs Toccata
from Le Tombeau de Couperin
Debussy: selections from Préludes
Monday, July 21 & Tuesday, July 22 – 3 pm
PAUL HERSH
Bach: Well-Tempered Clavier, Book II
Selections from Book II will be performed on Monday, and different seclections onTuesday .
HELENE WICKETT
Sonatas by Beethoven & Elliot Carter
youth concerts
Festival Tent
Sunday, July 13 – 2 pm
CHILDREN’S MATINEE
Selections from the Opening Orchestra Concert followed by our “Instrument Petting Zoo” where you can meet the musicians and play some instruments.
Sunday, July 20 – 2 pm
EMERGING ARTISTS CONCERT
Young Musicians from the festival’s youth program perform in chamber ensembles with skill, emotion and depth well beyond their years.
village
chamber concerts
Tuesday, July 15 – 4 pm
SAFE SAX
Foot tapin’ Jazz that really swings
– Hill House Lounge
Friday, July 18 – 3 pm
FESTIVAL CHAMBER MUSICIANS
Ensembles from the Festival Orchestra perform chamber music
– Evergreen Methodist Church, Fort Bragg
Saturday, July 19 – 3 pm
ACAFELLAS
A cappella music of many genres
– Preston Hall
Friday, July 25 – 3 pm
FERENC TOBAK FAMILY
Authentic Hungarian Music played on traditional instruments
– Mendocino Presbyterian Church Sanctuary
special events
. Gala Opening Celebration Friday, July 11
. Meet Stephen Prutsman Saturday, July 12
. Big Band Dance Party Saturday, July 19
. The Dinner Party Monday, July 21
Program subject to change without notice
The Mendocino Music Festival is produced in cooperation with California State Parks at Mendocino Headlands State Park.