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formance schedule.
“She is one of the
most prominent singers
of her generation, as big
a star as you can be in the
operatic world,” he said.
“Come see her at the
Liberty and you can be
just 25 feet from her.”
Beethoven And
Blue Jeans
ASTORIA MUSIC TH FESTIVAL
LAUNCHES 15 SEASON
PHOTO BY DWIGHT CASWELL
Above: Award-winning cellist Sergey Antonov, lower left, performs with the Astoria Music Festival orchestra under the direction of Keith Clark, right,
in 2015.
FROM CLASSICAL TO INDIE, POP AND FOLK, THE STAR-STUDDED EXTRAVAGANZA MAKES A JOYFUL NOISE
By DAN HAAG
FOR COAST WEEKEND
T
he Astoria Music Festival will cele-
brate its 15th anniversary over three
weekends, from Sunday, June 11,
through Sunday, June 25.
Venues will be The Liberty Theatre,
Grace Episcopal Church and Clatsop
Community College Performing Arts Center.
Nearly one hundred performers will gather in
Astoria for 15 performances of symphonic,
operatic, chamber and popular music.
Widely acclaimed for performances of
opera and vocal music, the festival’s 2017
schedule brims with opportunities to savor this
musical celebration.
Keith Clark, the festival’s artistic director,
looks forward to the effect of large groups
performing with gusto on small stages.
“The loud parts raise the roof,” he said.
“This is heavy metal classical music.”
Just 25 feet
Some of the festival highlights include: a
performance by Metropolitan Opera sensa-
tion Angela Meade in her first Oregon solo
recital; a mash-up of American folk music and
Beethoven featuring the North Coast’s own
Israel Nebeker; and young American soprano
Meagan Martin as Rosina in a staging of “The
Barber of Seville,” a comedic opera that Clark
calls the funniest thing in all of classical music.
The production features baritone Deac Gui-
di, Astoria resident and music festival board
president.
The festival will also host the Oregon pre-
miere of Philip Glass’ “Icarus At The Edge Of
Time,” a multimedia extravaganza combining
large orchestra, film and narration that trans-
forms ancient myth into a sci-fi spectacular.
While the Astoria Music Festival features
some of the finest performers from the United
States, it is also a global affair, attracting
international performers: Ukrainian violinist
Solomiya Ivakhiv, Italian violinist Roberto
Cani and Mexican baritone Luis Ledesma.
In particular, Clark hopes attendees have
a chance to catch Meade’s opening night solo
performance.
Meade, one of the most prominent Amer-
ican operatic sopranos on the scene, has
performed around the world. A native of
Centralia, Wash., she has performed at the As-
toria Music Festival in years past, and her first
appearance at the festival was at the beginning
of her prestigious career.
Clark said Meade loves the idea of being
able to “come home” to the Pacific Northwest
after what can be a grueling international per-
One of the more
interesting performances
promises to be “Beetho-
ven And Blue Jeans.”
Set for the evening
of Thursday, June 22,
at the Liberty Theatre, the show is an eclectic
mash-up of classical and alt-folk featuring
Nebeker, Blind Pilot’s nationally recognized
singer-songwriter, along with festival artists
and a string quartet.
It’s a classical jam where Nebeker joins
cellist Sergey Antonov, pianist Ilya Kazantsev,
and the debut of the Young Virtuosi String
Quartet performing new arrangements of
Nebeker’s songs.
Nebeker said this type of performance comes
with challenges, but he is eager to participate.
“It’s fun to get to branch out and collaborate
out of the comfort zone I’m typically involved
in,” he said.
While it’s a chance for musicians from
different genres to experiment and meld, Clark
says it is also an opportunity for attendees to
let their hair down.
“There won’t be any tuxedos,” he said,
adding that the audience can enjoy a beer, sit
back and watch a variety of musicians mix
things up a bit.
This is Nebeker’s second time performing
at the festival. He said classical programs and
festivals around the country have been branch-
ing out and trying to incorporate other musical
elements such as indie, pop and folk.
The hope is to bring in different audiences
who may not otherwise go to an all-classical
music festival.
“You don’t have to be in a stuffy tie to
come and enjoy a show,” he said.
Fertile ground
The festival doubles as a reunion of sorts.
Clark says that many of the performers
return each year, not only to perform but to
rekindle friendships with one another and
residents of the community.
Continued on Pg. 7