Staff report
Paul Rosenthal
Alaska is blessed and cursed when it comes to classical music. It’s an expensive destination to travel to and perform in, without the population base of potential audience members available in larger, more-accessible venues in the Lower 48.
Yet the area’s beauty and listeners’ appreciation for live classical music can be enough to overcome logistical hurdles in convincing well-established musicians to come north to perform. That’s especially true when one of the state’s own world-renown musicians extends an invitation to come enjoy the natural beauty of Alaska and the music to be performed.
That’s the premise behind the Sitka Summer Music Festival, which, under the direction of violinist Paul Rosenthal, draws world-class musicians to Sitka each summer to perform for no other compensation than simply to enjoy the experience.
During the rest of the year, Rosenthal organizes tours of Sitka Summer Music Festival musicians, to re-create some of the magic of the Sitka festival elsewhere in the state.
This February, Soldotna will once again be visited by the sounds of summer, as Rosenthal brings musicians to perform at the invitation of the Performing Arts Society.
The roster of fellow musicians and the program to be performed changes each year, but one thing remains consistent — the rare treat of the high-quality music Rosenthal provides.
“You cannot miss the power of this great chamber music spectacular,” according to the Performing Arts Society. “Watch the musicians perform with the passion and exhilaration that only comes when great musicians come together as one.”
Sitka Summer Music Festival date and time to be determined in February 2010. For updates, visit http://www.performingartssociety.org.
