New York, NY. (Top40 Charts/ Shore Fire Media) - Napa Valley Festival del Sole, one of the world's most distinctive summer festivals, announces its fourth season in California's beautiful wine country, July 17-25, 2009.
With performances every day, music is the centerpiece of a festival hailed by The New York Times as a 'feast for the senses,' featuring the finest cuisine, wine and hospitality the Napa Valley has to offer. The weeklong schedule includes world-class concerts, exclusive receptions, lunches and dinners, wine tastings, art exhibitions, free community concerts showcasing talented young performers, and more.
Some of the world's most renowned artists travel to Napa Valley each year to perform at Festival del Sole, and to wine, dine and celebrate the 'art of life' with Festival guests.
This year's Festival kicks off with an Opening Night Concert July 18 at the Napa Valley Opera House featuring three remarkable young artists - violinist Sarah Chang with pianist Andrew von Oeyen, and 14-year old pianist Conrad Tao. The concert is followed by a twilight dinner on the terrace overlooking Napa Valley at Palmaz Vineyards, a new Festival Partner Winery.
Chang performs again on July 19 with the Philharmonic Orchestra of the Americas under the baton of its conductor and director, Alondra de la Parra. Founded in 2004 to promote the work of talented young soloists and composers, the New York-based Philharmonic Orchestra of the Americas has since performed around the world to critical acclaim. The evening's program includes Mendelssohn's Violin Concerto and Tchaikovsky's Fifth Symphony. Historic Far Niente Winery opens its doors for a dinner following the concert, featuring a special private performance.
On July 20, Darioush winery welcomes guests for an 'Evening of Persian Fantasy,' a night of Persian cuisine and music that is fast becoming a favorite Festival del Sole tradition. Anoushirvan Rohani, one of Iran's finest composers and pianists, performs.
Festival del Sole teams up with Robert Redford for a concert benefiting the Sundance Preserve on July 21. The benefit concert takes place at Castello di Amorosa, vintner Dario Sattui's dramatic medieval-style Tuscan castle and winery. Patrons and artists will be treated to a post-concert dinner at Agustin and Valeria Huneeus' home on the grounds of Quintessa winery.
On July 22, Alondra de la Parra and the Philharmonic Orchestra of the Americas perform at Castello di Amorosa with violinist Nikolaj Znaider, followed by dinner in the caves at Rudd Vineyards & Winery.
Renowned soprano Renee Fleming makes her Festival del Sole debut on July 23, in a recital at Castello di Amorosa. Festival del Sole's star power continues throughout the evening, with pianists Leif Ove Andsnes and Antonio Pappano, cellist Nina Kotova, and violinist Nikolaj Znaider performing. Following the performance, a dinner honoring Ms. Fleming takes place at The Napa Valley Reserve.
On July 24, Festival del Sole guests will be treated to an intimate jazz performance at the Robert Mondavi Winery, along with dinner in their historic vineyards.
On July 25 Antonio Pappano, in a rare North American appearance, conducts the Philharmonic Orchestra of the Americas, pianist Leif Ove Andsnes and cellist Nina Kotova in Rachmaninov's Piano Concerto No. 4 and Tchaikovsky's Rococo Variations, and Rimsky-Korsakov's Scheherazade. The concert takes place at Lincoln Theater, followed by the Festival's closing night dinner on Signorello Vineyards' dramatic terrace overlooking Napa Valley.
'For the fourth year running, Napa Valley Festival del Sole offers an exceptional blend of world-class artistry, five-star cuisine, fine wines and exceptional hospitality,' said festival co-founder and director Richard Walker. 'Artists and audiences are coming from all over the world to participate in this one-of-a-kind summer festival.'
'We are very pleased to be presenting another stellar lineup of artists at Festival del Sole this year - and to be supporting the young and outstanding musicians of the Philharmonic Orchestra of the Americas,' said festival co-founder and director Barrett Wissman. 'Our fourth season looks to be the biggest and brightest ever.'
Gala events with the artists and other special guests are the culinary highlight and social center of Festival del Sole. Graciously hosted by leading wineries and vintners, daily luncheons and dinners following the concerts take place at some of the most spectacular venues in the region.
Additional dinners include the annual Festival Founders Dinner, on July 17. Cherise and Christian Moueix, proprietors of world-famous Dominus Estate in Napa and Chateau Petrus in Bordeaux, open their winery to host this special event.
More of the region's beautiful properties extend their hospitality for this season's daily lunches. Craig and Kathryn Hall are hosting at their HALL Napa Valley winery in St. Helena. Also welcoming guests for luncheons are Luna Vineyards, Round Pond Estate, Seven Stones Winery, Pride Mountain Vineyards, FARM at The Carneros Inn and The Orchard at The Carneros Inn. At Clos Pegase, Jan Shrem reprises his lively presentation on the history of wine in art, 'Bacchus the Rascal', followed with a brunch hosted by Shrem and his wife Mitsuko.
Napa Valley Festival del Sole also presents a visual arts exhibition focusing on California art, history and culture from the collections of The Society of California Pioneers and the Napa Valley Museum, on view at the Napa Valley Museum.
The Festival's Bouchaine Young Artist Series provides performance opportunities for emerging musicians and musicians in training, and features free performances by young artists at Jarvis Conservatory and other venues throughout Napa Valley.
The tremendous and ongoing support for Napa Valley Festival del Sole is reflected in its growing audience base and range of sponsors. For the fourth year running, Festival del Sole's Official Sponsors are Calistoga Ranch and Bouchaine Vineyards. Founding Wineries are Blackbird Vineyards, Darioush, Far Niente, PlumpJack and the Robert Mondavi Winery. Core support also comes from the Ann and Gordon Getty Foundation, Tatiana and Gerret Copeland, Athena and Timothy Blackburn, Dede Wilsey, Maria Manetti Farrow, The Orchard at The Carneros Inn and Napa/Sonoma Magazine. Automotive sponsor is Bentley San Francisco.
The Festival's network of partners across Napa Valley includes Resort Partners Calistoga Ranch, Auberge du Soleil, The Carneros Inn, and The Westin Verasa, Napa. Winery Partners include Castello di Amorosa, Cline Cellars, Clos Pegase, Dalla Valle, Dominus Estate, Flora Springs, Gargiulo, Grgich Hills, HALL Napa Valley, Jacuzzi Family Vineyards, Luna Vineyards, Martin Estate, Merryvale Vineyards, Moulds Vineyards, Mumm Napa, Palmaz Vineyards, Peju Province, Pine Ridge, Rudd Vineyards & Winery, Quintessa, Quixote, Round Pond Estate, Schrader Vineyards, Seven Stones Winery, Signorello Vineyards, St. Supery, Sterling, Sullivan Vineyards, Trefethen, and V. Sattui. Reflecting the broad base of community participation, Partner Organizations include 55 Degrees, Arts Council of Napa Valley, LS Enterprises, Lincoln Theater, Napa Valley Opera House, Napa Valley Symphony, Napa Valley Museum and Napa Valley Vintners. Media Partners include KDFC, KGO, Napa/Sonoma Magazine, Diablo Magazine, C Magazine, KVON and The Vine.
TICKETS: Tickets for Festival del Sole concerts range from $35-$125. Discounts are available for students, Festival partners, Early Bird purchases (by April 15). For tickets, please call 888-337-6272 (888-FDS-NAPA). Bouchaine Young Artist Series concerts at Jarvis Conservatory and Bouchaine Winery are FREE.
FESTIVAL PACKAGES: Passes include exclusive access to gala lunches, dinners and other VIP events, and prime seating at performances. For information and purchases, please call 888-337-6272 (888-FDS-NAPA) or write to [email protected].
