La Jolla Music Society’s SummerFest Returns To The Conrad
La Jolla Music Society (LJMS)’ SummerFest 2022 returns to The Conrad from July 29 to August 26, 2022, expanded to four glorious weeks. Music Director Inon Barnatan, returning in his fourth year, has created an ambitious program, evocatively titled “Under the Influence,” exploring the muses that seduced and inspired some of the greatest composers in musical history.
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Genre-defying and unique
Audiences will hear the magnetic influence of Wagner and Bach on their peers, take a musical trip to the salons of Paris, and experience the sins and merry pranks of Kurt Weill and Strauss.
They will spend a genre-defying and unique week with opera stars, dancers and jazz luminaries, and go further under the influence in a new Wednesday series that combines the best of San Diego’s food and wine scene with intermission-free concerts delving into the worlds of Shakespeare, Vivaldi, and more.
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Synergy Series returns
SummerFest 2022 also sees the return of the Synergy Series, a co-produced by Inon Barnatan and Clara Wu Tsai, conceiving concert events that combine different musical styles and performance elements such as dance to create a new experience that enlivens the senses and brings audiences to a new understanding and appreciation of the works.
“A festival should be a joyful celebration of music and togetherness, of all the things that bring us together,” adds Barnatan. “I imagine the concerts that I would want to go to, and the experiences that I’d want to have before, during, and after the concert.”
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Artists from around the globe
Some of the finest chamber musicians and performance artists will come from around the globe, including Garrick Ohlsson, Augustin Hadelich, Marc-André Hamelin, Anthony McGill, Caroline Shaw, James Ehnes, the Dover and Miró Quartets, The Knights, Dance Heginbotham, and many more.
“Since 1986, SummerFest has served as the crown jewel of La Jolla Music Society’s annual programming and in that time has grown in renown among musicians and chamber music lovers nationwide,” says Todd Schultz, President and CEO of La Jolla Music Society. “Nothing quite compares to hearing chamber music as it was intended—in an intimate setting, with exquisite acoustics and featuring artists who play with sensitivity, personality and exceptional skill. We’ve developed a tremendous following of local music lovers, and our goal is to introduce this amazing and inspiring music to all of San Diego.”
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The highlight
A highlight of the festival is international superstar countertenor Anthony Roth Costanzo’s debut, in an evening with Cécile McLorin Salvant celebrating the music of Kurt Weill, part of this year’s Synergy Series. Costanzo comes to SummerFest fresh from his return to the title role in Philip Glass’ Akhnaten at the Metropolitan Opera, in a production which shot him to international stardom in 2019.
“Anthony Roth Costanzo and Cécile McLorin Salvant are two of my favorite artists, who come from completely opposite sides of the vocal world,” Barnatan says. “It’s so exciting to be working with friends on this exciting Synergy Series Weill program that holds many surprises.”
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Summerfest 2022 Schedule
Friday, July 29 · 7:30PM – SummerFest Opening Night: Side by Side
Saturday, July 30 · 7:30PM – Point Counterpoint
Sunday, July 31 · 3PM – Beyond Bach – Featuring music by Falconieri, J.S. Bach, CPE Bach, Biber and Vivaldi
Wednesday, August 3 · 7PM – Under the Influence: Shakespeare’s World
Friday, August 5 · 7:30PM – A Weekend in Paris: The Salon and The Masquerade
Saturday, August 6 · 7:30PM – A Weekend in Paris: Le Conservatoire
Sunday, August 7 · 3PM – A Weekend in Paris: Beg, Borrow and Steal
Wednesday, August 10 · 7PM – Under the Influence: Vivaldi’s The Four Seasons
Friday, August 12 · 7:30PM – The New Romantics
Saturday, August 13 – SUMMERFEST GALA
Sunday, August 14 · 3PM – The Wagner Effect
Wednesday, August 17 · 7PM – Synergy Series*: Under the Influence: Cécile McLorin Salvant Quintet
Thursday, August 18 · 7:30PM – Synergy Series*: An Evening of Kurt Weill
Saturday, August 20 · 6PM & 8PM – The JAI – Synergy Series*: “The Planets,” featuring The Knights and Dance Heginbotham
Sunday, August 21 · 3PM & 5PM – The JAI – The Planets
Wednesday, August 24 · 7PM – Under the Influence: Miró Quartet
Wednesday, August 24 · 8:30PM – Takeover @ The JAI with Caroline Shaw
Thursday, August 25 · 7:30PM – New Wine, Old Bottles
Friday, August 26 · 7:30 PM – SummerFest Finale: Metamorphosis
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Subscriptions and Single Tickets
SummerFest subscriptions are available now. The Windansea Series—all 15 concerts in The Baker-Baum Concert Hall—is $1,120 or $1,289 depending on seat location. Any JAI concert can be added on to Windansea for 8 percent off the price of a single ticket. Partial subscription series and compose-your-own packages will be made available later in the spring. Single tickets will go on sale on April 29, 2022, and range from $45 to $110.
Tickets and more information are available at the La Jolla Music Society box office, by phone at (858) 459-3728, and online here.
See you there, San Diego!
