When most people think of Lake Tahoe, their minds wander to endless powder runs and sunny days on a ski boat. What they don’t realize is that our community is also fast becoming a world-class cultural destination for music, arts, dance and stage. One of the best examples of this phenomenon is Classical Tahoe.
Formerly known as Lake Tahoe Summerfest, this three-week festival changed its name this year to make clear what it brings to the basin: top-notch classical music from some of the world’s best and brightest stars.
“It is quite magical. I hope people
can have a visceral, emotional experience
from coming to the concert.”
– Joel Revzen
The orchestra is conducted by Artistic Director Maestro Joel Revzen, who has led symphonies from New York to London, Prague and Moscow, and is best known for his work with the Saint Paul Chamber Orchestra, Aspen Music Festival, Berkshire Opera and the Metropolitan Opera.
“The orchestra is literally the best of the best,” says Revzen. “It’s an all-star orchestra. It’s handpicked. If you come and hear them, I won’t have to say anything else about it. You’ll get it within 2 minutes.”
Revzen’s approach to conducting and directing the festival is a collaborative one. He wants both the audience and the performers to feel as if there are uniquely participating in an intimate, meaningful experience, he says.
“It really is a wonderful, wonderful venue,” he says the stage at Sierra Nevada College. “It’s an acoustically designed tent that seats 450 people. It’s very intimate. From every seat, each person feels real contact with the stage. You’re right there. We even cut a big hole in the tent so a tree goes out through the roof. It is quite magical. I hope people can have a visceral, emotional experience from coming to the concert.”
Each week of concerts features different guest artists including celebrated pianist Joyce Yang, international violinist Bella Hristova, Broadway singer Davis Gaines and Cuban-American soprano Lisette Oropesa.
The festival also features solo performances by violin and viola soloists Daniel Khalikov and Anton Jivaev. Originally from Soviet satellite of Uzbekistan, this nephew/uncle duo are now stars at the Metropolitan Opera Orchestra and the Leipzig Gawandhaus Orchestra, respectively.
Growing up together in the capital city of Tashkent, they dreamed of one day performing Mozart’s “Sinfonia Concertante for Violin, Viola and Orchestra” together. Now, for the first time, they will have their chance.
“There is not much written for violin and viola as soloists,” says Khalikov. “We both dreamt of performing this piece sometime together and we learned the parts way back then. It’s an absolute masterpiece from my perspective. What strikes me is, if I could visualize it, I could see parallel lines. When you drive on highway you see lines, but sometimes they cross. It’s very simple and gorgeous.”
Ravzen and Khalikov both hope that by performing timeless scores on the highest-quality level, Tahoe will soon become a cultural destination for classical arts.
“We founded this festival with the goal of making Lake Tahoe a destination for lovers of classical music, to have positive economic impacts for the Tahoe Basin and to be on the highest level of performance,” says Revzen. “I believe that in a very short amount of time, we will become a known destination.”
And as far as the musical experience itself, Khalikov has some simple advice: “Be open-minded and let music flow through your body. Be open to get whatever effect it has on you. Just enjoy it.”
For more information or to purchase tickets, visit classicaltahoe.org.
Orchestra Performances
Aug. 5, 6, 12 & 13 | 7 p.m.
Sierra Nevada College | Incline Village, Nev.
Chamber Ensembles
Aug. 9 | 7 p.m.
Cornerstone Church | Incline Village, Nev.
Free Family Concert
Aug. 7 | 11 a.m.
Sierra Nevada College | Incline Village, Nev.
