Colorado could well be America's summer mecca of classical music.
Musicians come from all directions by the hundreds. The beautiful Rocky Mountains beckon them to play, recreationally by day and musically by night. They perform as soloists, in chamber groups or in full orchestras.
Bravo! Vail Music Festival boasts four world-class orchestras once again this summer. Soprano Renee Fleming sings in Aspen. The Colorado Symphony plays Red Rocks Amphitheatre. See CPR's summer classical festival guide for a complete overview.
Colorado becomes the place of great memories for the hundreds of students who play at any number of the state's teaching festivals. Aspen Music Festival and School remains the world's most robust and elite summer program for young talent. The Colorado College Summer Music Festival and the National Repertory Orchestra boast impressive programs as well.
We made room for one more festival this summer. The Flatirons Chamber Music Festival in Boulder made its debut earlier in June.
So how do you hear music from all of these festivals? Tune into SummerFest for recordings throughout each day on CPR Classical. Catch concerts and recitals throughout the summer.
Listen for live broadcasts, including Alan Gilbert's final Colorado performance as Music Director of the New York Philharmonic. Hear musicians play in the CPR Performance Studio and share their stories.
Let another summer of music begin!
Previous SummerFest broadcasts:
Thursday, June 22 at 1 p.m. | Poulenc: Concerto for Two Pianos Dallas Symphony |
Saturday, June 24 at 10 a.m. | Bruch: String Octet in B-flat Major Recorded June 14, 2015, at Packard Hall |
Sunday, June 25 at 7 p.m. | Mahler: Symphony No. 6 Recorded July 20, 2016, at Breckenridge Riverwalk Center |
Wednesday, June 28 at 10 a.m. | Jason Eckardt: "Echoes' White Veil" Conrad Tao, piano Recorded Feb. 7, 2017 at Harris Concert Hall |
Thursday, June 29 at 10 a.m. | Benet Casablancas: Festive Overture Chamber Orchestra Recorded July 26, 2015, at Chautauqua Auditorium |
Wednesday, July 5 at 10 a.m. | Bruch: Violin Concerto No. 1 Recorded at opening night, June 22, 2017, at Ford Amphitheater |
Friday, July 7 at 4:45 p.m. | Chopin: Nocturne in F major, Opus 15, No. 1 Harmony Zhu, piano Live from Harris Concert Hall |
Tuesday, July 11 at 10 a.m. | Roberto Sierra: "Dos piezas para orquesta" Dallas Symphony Recorded June 30, 2017, at Ford Amphitheater |
Thursday, July 13 at 10 a.m. | Rameau: Les Boréades Chamber Orchestra Recorded Aug. 2, 2015, at Chautauqua Auditorium |
Saturday, July 15 at 11 a.m. | Bizet: "Carmen" Recorded July 8, 2017, at Central City Opera House |
Wednesday, July 19 at 1 p.m. | Tchaikovsky: "Francesca da Rimini" Philadelphia Orchestra Recorded July 14, 2017, at Ford Amphitheater |
Friday, July 21 at 4:45 p.m. | Chopin: Nocturne in B major, Opus 32, No. 1
Live at Harris Concert Hall |
Saturday, July 22 at 11 a.m. | Mozart: "Cosi fan Tutte" Recorded July 15, 2017, at Central City Opera House |
Tuesday, July 25 at 1 p.m. | Beethoven: "Leonore" Overture No. 3 Recorded July 19, 2015, at Breckenridge Riverwalk Center |
Friday, July 28 at 6 p.m. | Beethoven: Piano Concerto No. 2 New York Philharmonic Live at Ford Amphitheater |
Sunday, July 30 at 4 p.m. | Christopher Theofanidis: "Dreamtime Ancestors" Aspen Festival Orchestra Live at Benedict Music Tent |
Friday, Aug. 4 at 4:45 p.m. | Chopin: Nocturne in C minor, Opus 48, No. 1 Aspen faculty and students Live at Harris Hall |
Tuesday, Aug. 8 at 1 p.m. | Brahms: Symphony No. 1 Recorded July 7, 2016, at Chautauqua Auditorium |
Tuesday, Aug. 15 at 1 p.m. | Brahms: Symphony No. 3 Recorded July 8, 2016, at Chautauqua Auditorium |
Friday, Aug. 18 at 4:45 p.m. | Chopin: Nocturne in B major, Opus 62, No. 1 Aspen faculty and students Live at Harris Hall |
Sunday, Aug. 20 at 4 p.m. | Berlioz: "The Damnation of Faust" Robert Spano, conductor Live at Benedict Music Tent |
