Announcing the 2013 Summer Season

Greetings from Festival Mozaic headquarters! We’ve been very busy behind the scenes. We had a fantastic WinterMezzo weekend in early March (with record ticket sales!) and we announced our 2013 summer season to our supporters.

Scott Yoo has put together an incredible array of musical events this July – from grand orchestra in the world-class Christopher Cohan Performing Arts Center to intimate chamber music concerts in venues that showcase the Central Coast to the comic stylings of Italy-based Duo Baldo. Click here to flip through the season brochure.

Congratulations to San Luis Obispo artist Drew Davis, who is this year’s winner of our resurrected poster art contest. His original work of art, “Trio” was created specifically for Festival Mozaic and will be featured on posters and other publicity materials this summer. Learn more about Drew by clicking here.

Subscription tickets go on sale April 1. Enjoy – and we’ll see you this summer.

Three Perfect Days in San Luis Obispo with FESTIVAL MOZAIC

Let’s be honest: it isn’t hard to spend three perfect days in pastoral San Luis Obispo.  Named North America’s “happiest city,” this Central Coast California college town is a pleasing mix of farm-to-fork bistros, galleries, and boutique shopping, not to mention wine tasting.  It is into this comfortable, captivating ambiance that international performer and conductor Scott Yoo and the musicians of FESTIVAL MOZAIC will bring their international-caliber artistry for three days in March for our “WinterMezzo” weekend. The music alone is worth the trip, but to make the most of this spectacular weekend, we’ve curated an itinerary of experiences in San Luis Obispo that are sure to engage you, body and soul.  Conveniently located just three hours from the Bay Area and just three hours from downtown Los Angeles, this small town offers a truly sophisticated yet laid-back feel, and is absolutely worth the scenic drive to get here.

 

Friday, March 1
Check into the cozy Apple Farm Inn and grab a cup of their house-milled hot cider before heading over to the ornate Masonic Lodge for the first event of the weekend, a “Notable Encounter Insight” at 6 o’clock.  Sit back with a complimentary glass of wine from one of the Festival’s favorite wineries and enjoy a discussion with Music Director Scott Yoo and the author of the national bestseller, Beethoven’s Hair, Russell Martin, paired with musical examples from Festival musicians. 

Afterward, meander through San Luis Obispo’s charming downtown toward Luna Red Restaurant, where you’ll enjoy a dinner of exotic-inspired small plates and specialties crafted from fresh, local, sustainably-grown ingredients.  Follow it all up with a tour of the city’s art spaces during the monthly Art After Dark program, wherein galleries, studios and local businesses keep their doors open until 9 PM.

Saturday, March 2
Wake up with a brisk walk on any one of San Luis Obispo’s famed hiking trails like Felsman Loop or Cerro San Luis, followed by fresh coffee and beignets at local favorite eatery, Big Sky Café.  Head back to the Apple Farm Inn for showers or a luxurious soak in the hot tub before making your way downtown for shopping.  Pick up your new favorite pair of Italian boots at Romp! or handcrafted home goods at Habitat – or simply enjoy a walk along the creek, capped off with a visit to the city’s pulsating historical heart, Mission San Luis Obispo de Tolosa.

For lunch, head to Sal’s Paradise Bakery, Sandwiches and Foccaceria for incredible specialty sandwiches with names like “The Ex-Girlfriend,” “The Cardiologist,” and “The Uncle Andre.”

Wine Country

Spend the afternoon wine tasting and enjoying SLO’s pastoral Edna Valley, where some of Festival Mozaic’s favorite wineries like Kynsi and Clairborne & Churchill pour award-winning wines you’ll want to bring home with you.

To complete this very full day, enjoy a Notable Encounter Dinner at the home of Festival patrons Sharon and Dennis Schneider in Varian Ranch.  Join fellow music-lovers, Scott Yoo, and Festival musicians as they explore the mystery, intrigue and power of Beethoven’s music alongside a sumptuous dinner paired with wine.

Sunday, March 3
Wake late with coffee and the newspaper in bed, then make your way downtown to Novo Restaurant for their celebrated Sunday brunch.  Indulge in a historical tour of downtown San Luis Obispo with the History Center of SLO County’s wonderful walking tour apps (available for free at iTunes), with themes like “Historic Downtown,” “The Railroad District,” and “The Darker Side of San Luis Obispo.”

At 3 PM, make your way to the Wintermezzo final event, a full concert featuring three dazzling Beethoven works performed by Scott Yoo and Festival Mozaic musicians at the United Methodist Church. 

• Beethoven – Serenade in D, op. 25
• Beethoven – Cello Sonata in A, op. 69
• Beethoven – String Quartet in E-flat, op. 127

After the concert, pack your bags and return home refreshed, fulfilled and inspired by a weekend of small-town hospitality and fantastic music!

Tradition: Why We Are Bringing Back the Festival Poster

Festival Mozaic has been a vital part of the local, statewide and national performing arts community for more than four decades. Over the years, our programs, artists and offerings have changed, but several things have remained the same: our passion for great music, our love of the San Luis Obispo community and our connections to our steadfast fans.

Earlier this week I was at Cafe Roma, celebrating California Restaurant Month. Cafe Roma is one of the oldest (and finest) restaurants in San Luis Obispo. And like many local businesses, their walls are lined with posters from the old days of the Mozart Festival. It’s something I’ve noticed ever since I arrived here two years ago; whether it’s a bank, an insurance agent, a restaurant or a law office, if it’s a community-minded business, there’s a Festival poster. Some people have complete collections in their homes. And our office walls are lined with them. For many decades, local artists competed for the honor of being a part of the festival, and this year the Festival Mozaic board decided to relaunch this old tradition.

 

The deadline for submissions for artwork is January 31, 2013.  Proposals are requested from artists and/or artist teams interested in creating an appealing, attractive original work to be included on a promotional poster and marketing materials to showcase the riches of Festival Mozaic, a classical music festival on the California Central Coast. The selected work of art will be printed on a promotional poster and will be featured on the Festival program book and other marketing materials. Click here for the complete request for proposals.

I’m excited to see what our creative artists will come up with next!

Musically yours,
Bettina Swigger
Executive Director, Festival Mozaic

 

The John Cage Carollers

Forgive the radio silence here at the Festival blog. We’ve been busy planning for next summer’s Festival and doing all the behind-the-scenes things that don’t qualify as good blog fodder.

So here’s a favorite cartoon from the New Yorker. Happy Holidays from all of us here at Festival Mozaic.

Arts Opportunities Abound!

We here at Festival Mozaic are committed to providing rich experiences for up-and-coming musicians. But we’re also excited about creating opportunities for young arts administrators, as well. We know we need talented administrators in addition to having talented musicians to keep our nonprofit arts sector thriving. We were delighted to learn that Robert Whipple, who served in a special internship as Assistant to the Director during the 2012 Festival, just started a prestigious internship at the Chamber Music Society at Lincoln Center in New York. Here’s an update from him and how he got there:

At my new job at the Chamber Music Society of Lincoln Center, I send e-mails and plan programs a few feet from three perfectly tuned Steinway grand pianos in a state-of-the art recording and performing studio.  Tomorrow, my primary work responsibility is to find a seat within a sold-out crowd and listen to the top chamber musicians in the world play Fauré’s Piano Quartet No. 2 in G minor.  Today I ate lunch with one of my best friends, a bassist from the New York Philharmonic, who rehearses across the street.  Five blocks away is Jazz at Lincoln Center, where next week I’ll be seeing Coltrane’s pianist play with Miles Davis’ bassist and drummer.  And from the tenth story window next to my desk in midtown Manhattan I can see the home of the Metropolitan Opera and the Lincoln Center Theater.  They’re next to the New York Public Library for the Performing Arts which boasts “the world’s most extensive combination of circulating, reference, and rare archival collections in its field.”

A lot of the joy that comes from working for any music non-profit is getting to be surrounded by incredible music.  It’s probably impossible to be surrounded by more music and other performing arts than by working in the Lincoln Center complex.  Immersed in the energy of NYC and all of this music I can honestly say I am thrilled every single day.

But I never would have ended up here without my experience at Festival Mozaic.  As Assistant to the Music Director (Scott Yoo) I gained vital experience working in a classical music library, providing administrative support in a concert, rehearsal and office setting, working as a production assistant, and innumerable other miscellaneous roles.  The festival is such a packed two weeks, with multiple events happening simultaneous across a county every day, I have become a pro at working in a hectic environment where I am responsible for supporting the needs of many people.

And I met people: musicians, arts administrators, friends, who helped me move my career forward.  Scott Yoo took me under his wing and showed me what an amazing conductor, violinist and music director he is, and what it takes to make a music festival happen. Executive Director Bettina Swigger wrote me recommendations at the drop of a hat and encouraged me every step of the way.  Kristin Lee, one of the many talented violinists at the festival this year, also happens to be an artist at the Chamber Music Society.  She put in a good word about me to the Education Director here.  I cannot be thankful enough to all of the other musicians, administrators, production technicians, and especially Scott, for their support and friendship throughout the festival.  I owe it to them for getting me on a path to success in this crazy world that is the music business.”

Robert Whipple is an upright bassist from Princeton, New Jersey.  Having recently earned a bachelor’s degree in biology and music, he is currently pursuing a career as a performing artist and an arts administration professional.   Steeped in a diverse musical background, he has studied and performed with a highly varied range of artists including string bass soloist François Rabbath and master jazz drummer and conguero Babatunde Lea.  He served as Assistant to the Directors for Festival Mozaic in the Summer Music Festival, July 2012.

John Adams

Things have been a bit quiet here on the Festival blog, but we’ve been busy behind the scenes planning for the next Festival adventure, which is just around the corner. Tickets just went on sale for our 2012-2013 WinterMezzo chamber music series, and we’re excited that Scott Yoo, music director and violin, and John Novacek, piano will be performing a progressive program dedicated to exploring the intricacies of rhythm this November 2-4, 2012. 

We’ll be exploring the pieces and content of these upcoming performances here on the festival blog in the coming months. Here’s the first in that series.

Scott and John will be performing a piece by American composer and Pulitzer Prize-winner John Adams, titled Road Movies. Adams is perhaps best known as the composer of the opera Nixon in China (click the link to watch the first act of the opera). A post-minimalist, Adams focuses on patterns and rhythms in his work but employs more melodic lines to give the pieces more directional qualities. Here’s what he had to say about Road Movies:

After years of studiously avoiding the chamber music format I have suddenly begun to compose for the medium in real earnest. The 1992 Chamber Symphony was followed by the string quartet, John’s Book of Alleged Dances, written for Kronos in 1994, and now comes Road Movies. For years the chamber music scenario remained a not particularly fertile bed in which to grow my musical ideas. My music of the ’70′s and 80′s was principally about massed sonorities and the physical and emotional potency of big walls of triadic harmony.

These musical gestures were not really germane to chamber music with its democratic parceling of roles, its transparency and timbral delicacy. Moreover, the challenge of writing melodically, something that chamber music demands above and beyond all else, was yet to be solved.

Fortunately, a breakthrough in melodic writing came about during the writing of The Death of Klinghoffer, an opera whose subject and mood required a whole new appraisal of my musical language.

The title “Road Movies” is total whimsy, probably suggested by the “groove” in the piano part, all of which is required to be played in a “swing” mode (second and fourth of every group of four notes are played slightly late).

Movement I is a relaxed drive down a not unfamiliar road. Material is recirculated in a sequence of recalls that suggest a rondo form.

Movement II is a simple meditation of several small motives. A solitary figure in a empty desert landscape.

Movement III is for four wheel drives only, a big perpetual motion machine called “40% Swing”. On modern MIDI sequencers the desired amount of swing can be adjusted with almost ridiculous accuracy. 40% provides a giddy, bouncy ride, somewhere between an Ives ragtime and a long rideout by the Goodman Orchestra, circa 1939. It is very difficult for violin and piano to maintain over the seven-minute stretch, especially in the tricky cross-hand style of the piano part. Relax, and leave the driving to us.

- John Adams, September 1995

To listen to a clip of Road Movies, click here. We hope to see you in November to hear this and works by Beethoven and Padre Antonio Soler the best way - in a live performance!

We knew her when: Q&A with Mezzo Soprano Karin Mushegain

If you were fortunate enough to catch the Festival’s opening night concert featuring Mezzo Soprano Karin Mushegain, you know what an outrageous talent she is.  We had the chance to catch up with Ms. Mushegain just before she hopped on a plane to her next gig in Paris…

Festival Mozaic: Where did you grow up, and how did you start singing?

Karin Mushegain: I grew up in Pasadena, CA. I’ve been singing for as long as I can remember. But I started taking voice lesson in the sixth grade. That’s a very young age to start, but I had nasty elementary school music  teacher who made fun of my voice in class one day. I was so embarrassed I stopped singing all together. So my mom put me in lessons to get me excited about singing again.

FM: Where have you studied voice? 

KM: I’ve studied voice privately in Los Angeles, did my undergraduate training at Northwestern University, and my graduate training at UCLA.

FM: Favorite roles?

As Angelina in Rossini’s La Cenerentola

KM: Angelina in Rossini’s La Cenerentola. I also love portraying Hansel in Humperdinck’s Hansel und Gretel.  It’s so fun running around as a hyperactive boy for a few hours! And Dorabella in Mozart’s Cosi fan tutte is just a joy to sing because the music is so stunning.

FM: What are your top three desert-island pieces of music?

KM: Bernstein’s West Side Story ( the movie soundtrack), Puccini’s Madame Butterfly, and the Gypsy Kings…cause if you’re stranded on a desert island there will be plenty of time for dancing!

As Hansel in Humperdinck’s Hansel und Gretel

FM: Who is a role model to you?

KM: Madeline Kahn is my idol!!!  She was an extraordinary singer and one of the greatest comedians of all time!!

FM: Dreams for the future?

KM: My dream is to keep singing the roles I love to sing in houses that nurture creativity and artistry…and also to have a family and be a mother. It’s a lot to ask for in a career that keeps you on the road 9-10 months of the year, but to have both successfully is my goal and dream.

Called “superb” by The New York Times and possessing an “ideal, dusky mezzo” by Opera Today, Mezzo Soprano Karin Mushegain is captivating audiences with her exciting, energetic portrayals. Her 2011-12 engagements include her role and company debut as Hansel in Hansel and Gretel with Virginia Opera, her New York City Opera debut as Flora in a new production of La Traviata, and her role and company debut as Stefano in Romeo et Juliette with Annapolis Opera. Engagements during the previous season included her return to New York’s Gotham Chamber Opera to sing the title role in Montsalvatge’s El Gato con Botas, her Austin Lyric Opera debut reprising the role of Minskwoman in Jonathan Dove’s Flight, and her role debut as Rosina in Il Barbiere di Siviglia with Ash Lawn Opera. She also recently performed with Los Angeles Opera in their new production of Il Trittico, Opera Memphis as Dorabella in Cosí fan tutte, Opera Idaho as Angelina in La Cenerentola, Glimmerglass Opera as Alessandro in the US premiere of Handel’s Tolomeo and Tisbe, in La Cenerentola, and numerous roles and appearances with Pittsburgh Opera, Florida Grand Opera, and the Pittsburgh Symphony.