Vermont Mozart Festival
Encyclopedia
The Vermont Mozart Festival (1974–2010) was a series of indoor and outdoor concerts presented annually at sites throughout the state of Vermont
. The inaugural Festival of 1974 was conceived as a celebration of both the natural beauty of the state and the genius of the Festival's namesake, composer Wolfgang Amadeus Mozart
. The Festival's mission quickly grew, and since its third season it featured performances of a much broader range of classical and other repertoire.
, oboist and teacher at Juilliard, in collaboration with conductor William Metcalfe and the University of Vermont
. The first season featured all-Mozart performances at the UVM Show Barn, Shelburne Farms
, Royall Tyler Theatre, Robert Hull Fleming Museum
, St. Paul's Cathedral, and aboard the S.S. Champlain. Notably, the Shelburne Farms concert marked the first time that the site was opened for a public event. In all, ten concerts were held over two weeks; every concert sold out. The following season, the Festival's format was expanded to include 15 concerts and three workshops. This format remained mostly unchanged for rest of the Festivals 37 years, though in 2006 the Festival presented 19 concerts. The Festival performed more than 3,000 pieces in over 50 locations, including at least 278 of Mozart's 626 works—possibly more than any other festival or concert series in the United States
.
The Festival was incorporated as a non-profit organization in late 1976; the first full board of directors was assembled in early 1977. Following a successful fundraising campaign, the Festival achieved national recognition when CBS Sunday Morning filmed a week of concerts on location. A series of winter concerts began in 1978, and by 1979 the Festival was firmly established, drawing praise from the New York Times, Boston Globe, Los Angeles Times
, and Montreal Star
. In 1983, the complete Winter Series was recorded by National Public Radio and aired on Performance Today
. In 1984, the Festival presented its first concert on the meadow of the Trapp Family Lodge in Stowe, Vermont
, which quickly became, along with Shelburne Farms, one of the Festival's two largest and most popular concert sites. In the 2000s, all concerts on the Trapp meadow were followed by fireworks
displays.
In early 2005, the new Executive Director announced that the Festival was about $140,000 in debt—enough to put the Festival's continued existence in jeopardy. Supporters responded; and in two seasons, 65% of that debt was eliminated. The same Executive Director then resigned citing differences with the Festival's board of directors. Over the following four seasons, the deficit climbed to almost a third of the million dollar annual budget. After 37 years, the Festival closed its doors following the December 2010 winter concert.
Soloists (partial list)
Orchestras
Conductors
Ensembles (partial list)
Vermont
Vermont is a state in the New England region of the northeastern United States of America. The state ranks 43rd in land area, , and 45th in total area. Its population according to the 2010 census, 630,337, is the second smallest in the country, larger only than Wyoming. It is the only New England...
. The inaugural Festival of 1974 was conceived as a celebration of both the natural beauty of the state and the genius of the Festival's namesake, composer Wolfgang Amadeus Mozart
Wolfgang Amadeus Mozart
Wolfgang Amadeus Mozart , baptismal name Johannes Chrysostomus Wolfgangus Theophilus Mozart , was a prolific and influential composer of the Classical era. He composed over 600 works, many acknowledged as pinnacles of symphonic, concertante, chamber, piano, operatic, and choral music...
. The Festival's mission quickly grew, and since its third season it featured performances of a much broader range of classical and other repertoire.
History
The Festival was founded in 1974 by Melvin KaplanMelvin Kaplan
Melvin Kaplan is a renowned American oboist, concert manager, and formerly a teacher at the Juilliard School for 25 years. He was for many years a featured performer and lecturer at the Metropolitan Museum of Art...
, oboist and teacher at Juilliard, in collaboration with conductor William Metcalfe and the University of Vermont
University of Vermont
The University of Vermont comprises seven undergraduate schools, an honors college, a graduate college, and a college of medicine. The Honors College does not offer its own degrees; students in the Honors College concurrently enroll in one of the university's seven undergraduate colleges or...
. The first season featured all-Mozart performances at the UVM Show Barn, Shelburne Farms
Shelburne Farms
Shelburne Farms is a nonprofit environmental education center and National Historic Landmark on the shores of Lake Champlain in Shelburne, Vermont. It is also one of the principal concert sites for the Vermont Mozart Festival....
, Royall Tyler Theatre, Robert Hull Fleming Museum
Robert Hull Fleming Museum
The Robert Hull Fleming Museum is a museum of art and anthropology located at the University of Vermont in Burlington, Vermont. The museum's collection includes some 25,000 objects from a wide variety of times and places....
, St. Paul's Cathedral, and aboard the S.S. Champlain. Notably, the Shelburne Farms concert marked the first time that the site was opened for a public event. In all, ten concerts were held over two weeks; every concert sold out. The following season, the Festival's format was expanded to include 15 concerts and three workshops. This format remained mostly unchanged for rest of the Festivals 37 years, though in 2006 the Festival presented 19 concerts. The Festival performed more than 3,000 pieces in over 50 locations, including at least 278 of Mozart's 626 works—possibly more than any other festival or concert series in the United States
United States
The United States of America is a federal constitutional republic comprising fifty states and a federal district...
.
The Festival was incorporated as a non-profit organization in late 1976; the first full board of directors was assembled in early 1977. Following a successful fundraising campaign, the Festival achieved national recognition when CBS Sunday Morning filmed a week of concerts on location. A series of winter concerts began in 1978, and by 1979 the Festival was firmly established, drawing praise from the New York Times, Boston Globe, Los Angeles Times
Los Angeles Times
The Los Angeles Times is a daily newspaper published in Los Angeles, California, since 1881. It was the second-largest metropolitan newspaper in circulation in the United States in 2008 and the fourth most widely distributed newspaper in the country....
, and Montreal Star
Montreal Star
The Montreal Star was an English-language Canadian newspaper published in Montreal, Quebec, Canada. It folded in 1979 following an eight-month pressmen's strike....
. In 1983, the complete Winter Series was recorded by National Public Radio and aired on Performance Today
Performance Today
Performance Today is a Peabody Award-winning classical music radio show, currently hosted by Fred Child. It is the most listened-to daily classical music radio program in the United States, with 1.2 million listeners on 237 stations...
. In 1984, the Festival presented its first concert on the meadow of the Trapp Family Lodge in Stowe, Vermont
Stowe, Vermont
Stowe is a town in Lamoille County, Vermont, United States. The population was 4,339 at the 2000 census. Tourism is a significant industry.-Geography:...
, which quickly became, along with Shelburne Farms, one of the Festival's two largest and most popular concert sites. In the 2000s, all concerts on the Trapp meadow were followed by fireworks
Fireworks
Fireworks are a class of explosive pyrotechnic devices used for aesthetic and entertainment purposes. The most common use of a firework is as part of a fireworks display. A fireworks event is a display of the effects produced by firework devices...
displays.
Traditions
- The Grand Opening Concert of the Summer Festival was preceded by a classical dressageClassical dressageClassical dressage evolved from cavalry movements and training for the battlefield, and has since developed into the competitive dressage seen today...
exhibition. - The Summer Festival concluded with Mozart's Ave verum CorpusAve verum corpus (Mozart)Wolfgang Amadeus Mozart's Ave verum corpus in D major was written for Anton Stoll who was musical co-ordinator in the parish of Baden bei Wien, near Vienna. This setting of the Ave verum corpus text was composed to celebrate the feast of Corpus Christi and the autograph is dated 17 June 1791...
.
Financial sustainability
Despite having a volunteer staff for concert support functions (ushering, stubbing tickets, and parking facilitation), and financial support from both individuals and organizations; the Festival faced significant financial obstacles throughout its history.In early 2005, the new Executive Director announced that the Festival was about $140,000 in debt—enough to put the Festival's continued existence in jeopardy. Supporters responded; and in two seasons, 65% of that debt was eliminated. The same Executive Director then resigned citing differences with the Festival's board of directors. Over the following four seasons, the deficit climbed to almost a third of the million dollar annual budget. After 37 years, the Festival closed its doors following the December 2010 winter concert.
Performers
Over the years, the Festival featured various performers including both established musicians and up-and-coming talent.Soloists (partial list)
- Julius BakerJulius BakerJulius Baker was one of the foremost American orchestral flute players.He was well known as a teacher and served as a faculty member at the Juilliard School, Curtis Institute of Music, and Carnegie Mellon University...
, flute - Charles BresslerCharles BresslerCharles Bressler was an American tenor.He was born in Kingston, Pennsylvania and studied at Juilliard. He became a founding member of the New York Pro Musica, with which he toured from 1953-1963...
, tenor - Daniel EpsteinDaniel EpsteinDaniel Epstein is an American pianist.-Life:A graduate of the Juilliard School, Epstein was launched into international renown when the conductor, Eugene Ormandy,invited him to perform with the Philadelphia Orchestra in 1973...
, piano - Eliot FiskEliot FiskEliot Fisk is an American classical guitarist.-Biography:Fisk was the last direct pupil of Andrés Segovia and is the holder of all reproduction rights to Segovia's music, given to him by Segovia's wife, Emilia...
, guitar - Claude FrankClaude FrankClaude Frank is a German-born, American Jewish pianist whose career has included appearances with highly reputed orchestras, at major festivals, and in major recital halls around the world...
, piano - Hamao Fujiwara, violin
- Marc-André HamelinMarc-André HamelinMarc-André Hamelin, OC, CQ, is a French Canadian virtuoso pianist and composer.Born in Montreal, Quebec, Marc-André Hamelin began his piano studies at the age of five. His father, a pharmacist by trade who was also a pianist, introduced him to the works of Alkan, Godowsky, and Sorabji when he was...
, piano - Clayton Haslop, violin
- Sharon IsbinSharon IsbinSharon Isbin is a widely-recorded American classical guitarist, recording artist, concertizer, and the founder of the Guitar Department at the Juilliard School.-Early life and education:...
, guitar - Jean-François Latour, piano
- Alain Lefèvre, piano
- Louis LortieLouis LortieLouis Lortie, OC, CQ is a French-Canadian pianist. He currently lives in Berlin.He is known for his interpretation of Ravel, Chopin and Beethoven...
, piano - Robert MannRobert MannRobert Mann is a musician, composer, and conductor.He was a founding member and first violinist of the Juilliard String Quartet for 52 years, and mentor to younger generations of string musicians....
, violin - Jean-Claude Pennetier, piano
- Harvey PhillipsHarvey PhillipsHarvey Phillips was a professor emeritus of the , Indiana University, Bloomington and dedicated advocate for the tuba.-Biography:Phillips was a professional freelance musician from 1950 to 1971, winning his first professional...
, tuba - Menahem PresslerMenahem PresslerMenahem Pressler is a German-born American pianist, founding member of the Beaux Arts Trio.-Professional career:...
, piano - Harumi Rhodes, violin
- Mike SeegerMike SeegerMike Seeger was an American folk musician and folklorist. He was a distinctive singer and an accomplished musician who played autoharp, banjo, fiddle, dulcimer, guitar, mouth harp, mandolin, dobro, jaw harp, and pan pipes. Seeger, a half-brother of Pete Seeger, produced more than 30 documentary...
, folk artist - James Thompson, trumpet
- Walter TramplerWalter TramplerWalter Trampler was a German musician and teacher of the viola and viola d'amore.Born at Munich, he began to study music at the age of 6, learning from his father, a violinist. In his youth, he toured Europe performing as the violist of the Strub String Quartet...
, viola
Orchestras
- Vermont Mozart Festival Orchestra
- Concert Royal Baroque Orchestra
- Musica Aeterna Orchestra
- Orchestre Symphonique de QuébecOrchestre Symphonique de QuébecOrchestre symphonique de Québec is a Canadian symphony orchestra based in Quebec City. Founded in 1902 as the Société symphonique de Québec, the OSQ is the oldest active Canadian orchestra. Joseph Vézina was the OSQ's first music director, from 1902 to 1924...
- McGill Chamber Orchestra
- The New Orchestra of Westchester
- Orchestre Symphonique de Montréal
Conductors
- Samuel Baron
- Luis Biava
- Alexander BrottAlexander BrottAlexander Brott, , born Joël Brod, , was a Canadian conductor, composer, violinist and music teacher. His wife Lotte was an accomplished cellist...
- James Chapman
- Charles DutoitCharles DutoitCharles Édouard Dutoit, is a Swiss conductor, particularly noted for his interpretations of French and Russian 20th century music...
- Paul Lustig Dunkel
- Mark Gould
- Efrain Guigui
- Peter Leonard
- William Metcalfe
- Roland Pidoux
- Gil Shohat
- Simon Streatfeild
- Frederic Waldman
- Arthur Weisberg
- Christopher Wilkins
Ensembles (partial list)
- Amelia Piano Trio
- Aulos Ensemble
- Beaux Arts TrioBeaux Arts TrioThe Beaux Arts Trio was a noted piano trio. They made their debut on July 13, 1955 at the Berkshire Music Festival, known today as the Tanglewood Music Center. Their final American concert was held at Tanglewood on August 21, 2008. It was webcast live and archived on NPR Music...
- Borodin QuartetBorodin QuartetThe Borodin Quartet is a string quartet that was founded in 1945 in the former Soviet Union. It is one of the world's longest lasting string quartets, marking its 60th anniversary season in 2005....
- Emerson Quartet
- Festival Winds
- Guarneri QuartetGuarneri QuartetThe Guarneri Quartet was an American string quartet founded in 1964 at the Marlboro Music School and Festival. During the quartet's early years the members were in residence at Harpur College in upstate New York....
- New York Chamber Soloists
- Paris Piano Trio
- Salomon QuartetSalomon QuartetThe Salomon Quartet was formed in 1982 as one of the first string quartets playing music of the classical period on authentic instruments and informed by historical scholarship. The quartet originally comprised Simon Standage, , Micaela Comberti †, , Trevor Jones, , and Jennifer Ward Clarke,...
- Ying QuartetYing QuartetThe Ying Quartet is an American string quartet. The Ying siblings from Winnetka, Illinois, formed the quartet in 1988 while studying at the University of Rochester's Eastman School of Music. The quartet began performing in the farm town of Jesup, Iowa, as the first artists involved in the National...
In the media
- “Melvin KaplanMelvin KaplanMelvin Kaplan is a renowned American oboist, concert manager, and formerly a teacher at the Juilliard School for 25 years. He was for many years a featured performer and lecturer at the Metropolitan Museum of Art...
, the oboist who is the Festival’s artistic director, has pieced together a remarkably attractive season that in its resourcefulness, sophistication and occasional downright giddiness puts many of our better-established festivals to shame.” – Henahan, Donal. New York Times (1978)
- “One has all the ingredients necessary for a splendid musical vacation. For those with… a love of gorgeous sites and sounds, the Vermont Mozart Festival is a definite must.” – Montreal StarMontreal StarThe Montreal Star was an English-language Canadian newspaper published in Montreal, Quebec, Canada. It folded in 1979 following an eight-month pressmen's strike....
(July 1979)
- “The Vermont Mozart Festival brings the music of Mozart to life.” – CBS Sunday Morning (August 1991)
- “Mozart under the lights at Lincoln Center is an enchanting musical experience. Mozart under the stars at Shelburne FarmsShelburne FarmsShelburne Farms is a nonprofit environmental education center and National Historic Landmark on the shores of Lake Champlain in Shelburne, Vermont. It is also one of the principal concert sites for the Vermont Mozart Festival....
… is something else again. This is a perennial favorite.” – New York Times (1992)
- “On the score of settings, it’s difficult to beat the Vermont Mozart Festival.” – Boston Globe (1993)
External links
- Official site at the Internet ArchiveInternet ArchiveThe Internet Archive is a non-profit digital library with the stated mission of "universal access to all knowledge". It offers permanent storage and access to collections of digitized materials, including websites, music, moving images, and nearly 3 million public domain books. The Internet Archive...