Darknesse Visible

Jul 31, 05:29 AM

Monday was the second dark night of the festival with no scheduled evening performances, giving the Chamber Music Institute participants, coaches, artists, and staff a welcome reprise from the bustling evening activities of the past several days. Though there were no scheduled performances, the day still featured numerous events and rehearsals around the Menlo School campus. Debuting Music@Menlo artist and virtuoso harpist Bridget Kibbey took the Martin Family Hall stage along with Artistic Administrator Patrick Castillo, presenting a Café Conversation entitled The Harp Uncovered. Music@Menlo’s Café Conversation series has become a favorite event of the festival community, featuring the festival’s stellar artist roster presenting on a variety of topics related to music and the humanities. During the lunch hour, the festival community convened on the Menlo School lawn to partake in the annual barbecue lunch, followed by a visit from a local ice cream truck. In the afternoon, Patrick Castillo took the stage once again to lead the second Listening Room session of the season.

Tuesday brings another full day of institute activities, beginning with a Master Class led by the eminent violinist and pedagogue, Jorja Fleezanis. The day continues with numerous rehearsals, leading up to Wednesday evening’s Concert Program V: Motivated, exploring the correlation between music and dance. On Thursday, the festival welcomes back Michael Parloff to lead the third Encounter of the season on the topic of Music and Spirituality.