The lush vineyards of Northern California are set to transform into a world class stage as Festival Napa Valley marks its 20th anniversary this coming July. This landmark season brings an incredible array of international stars and fresh talent to various private estates and luxury resorts for a two week celebration of the arts. One of the most anticipated moments is the world premiere of ‘The Judgment of Paris’ which is a brand new opera by Jake Heggie and Gene Scheer commissioned specifically for this historic milestone.
Legendary soprano Renée Fleming returns to the valley in a dual role as she serves as the keynote speaker for the Music and Wellness Summit and headlines the “Voice of Nature: The Anthropocene” concert. The lineup continues to impress with a Grand Cru performance featuring the brilliant violinist Ray Chen alongside pianist Jean-Yves Thibaudet. Music lovers can also look forward to “From Beethoven to Getty to Dylan” where the ensemble Time for Three joins the Young People’s Chorus of New York City under the direction of Steve Hackman for a truly unique symphonic experience.
Dance enthusiasts have something special to circle on their calendars with “A Night at the Ballet: From Swan Lake to The Stones” which is directed by Melanie Hamrick of Live Arts Global. The schedule also includes a touching tribute to Luciano Pavarotti and a swinging evening with the LMR Jazz Orchestra. Families will find plenty to enjoy as well with an outdoor screening of “The Wizard of Oz” accompanied by a live orchestra and the popular daily admission free Festival Live! concerts that showcase emerging artists from the Blackburn Music Academy.
Passes for the Patron Experience are available now and offer exclusive access to Vintner’s Luncheons and the Arts for All Gala at Nickel & Nickel. These events support the nonprofit mission of the festival to provide affordable arts education and wellness programming to the community. Single tickets become available on March 11 which allows everyone a chance to secure a seat for the Symphonic Finale honoring the 250th anniversary of America.