Laina Barakat, executive director of Monadnock Music: “This year we’ve doubled some audiences.” Michael Moore photograph
By Keith Powers
Dublin. Wilton. Francestown. Nelson. Harrisville. Westmoreland. Jaffrey. Hancock. Peterborough. Milford. Keene. Rindge. These towns are just part of a rotating group of two dozen communities that host Monadnock Music concerts each summer during July and August.
With venues scattered throughout southern New Hampshire, and programs running for more than six weeks, Monadnock Music should be a good barometer for audience enthusiasm—which might be finally returning to normal.
“People are hungry to come out,” executive director Laina Barakat says. “We’ve regained our attendance, and this year we’ve doubled some audiences.
“Having variety is meaningful,” she says, emphasizing Monadnock Music’s mission to make music accessible in rural areas, and its use of historic sites and spaces for performances.
“We like to say the village concerts are not just for the villagers. Some people just show up for the concert in their own town, but a lot of people say, ‘Lets see Hancock for a day.’ ”
Audience members at a 2021 Monadnock Music program: “A lot of people say, ‘Let’s see Hancock for a day.’ ”
Most concerts are free. “The support comes from a number of places—grants, foundations, memberships,” Barakat says. Programming relies on cellist Rafael Popper-Keizer, in his third full season as artistic director after replacing Gil Rose in 2019. “It’s never a question of expertise,” Barakat says about the repertory and the artists. “There’s something new and interesting every week.”
Barakat has her own film production company, Wayward Ark Productions, and has served with numerous different nonprofits in the Monadnock region. Her “outside the music box” background helps.
“It’s the same skill set,” she says, “and it lets me think about audience members who may not be fluent in classical music.
“We’re sitting on 58 years of history,” she says of the festival that was founded in 1966, and has hosted an astonishing number of contemporary composers. “We have to maintain the same vision, and continuously try to top the caliber of what we’ve already produced.”
Monadnock Music runs through the end of August, culminating in a gala featuring aerialists Duo Shadow. Artistic director and cellist Rafael Popper-Keizer sits in on many of the programs, and guests include Boston favorites like violinists Gabriela Díaz and Charles Dimmick, flutist Rachel Braude, mezzo Carrie Chéron and tenor Frank Kelly. Programs all look inviting: composer Kaija Saariaho’s recent passing gets recognized July 27, with a performance of a pair of her string works (“Aure,” “Nocturne for solo violin”).
Violinist Eldbjørg Hemsing performs July 14 in the Breakers, part of Newport Classical’s starry summer season. Gregor Hohenberg photograph
AROUND NEW ENGLAND: Newport, Tanglewood, Yellow Barn, Marlboro
Tanglewood opens its summer season this weekend—but more about that later this month. Newport Classical starts this weekend, and runs through the 23rd. This festival has been around for decades, with concerts mostly in the oceanside mansions. It’s marvelous to experience at least once, and the new generation of leadership under executive director Gillian Friedman Fox has invigorated the roster of performers.
Simone Dinnerstein performs opening night July 6, in the Breakers. Her program fascinates: Couperin, Satie, Glass, R. Schumann. Over the next three weeks, Aizuri Quartet joins in, along with violinist Eldbjørg Hemsing, flutist Anthony Trionfo, and clarinetist Anthony McGill. Cellist Amit Peled performs an American program, and Zlatomir Fung plays the complete Bach cello suites. Pianists Hélène Grimaux and Charlie Albright make appearances, along with Cantus, Philharmonia Baroque, Hermitage Trio and the Knights. It’s enough to stay in Newport the entire month.
But don’t do that.
Venerable destination Yellow Barn opens July 7, with music of Saariaho and others; composer Hilda Paredes has lots of music later in the month. Marlboro Music Festival opens July 15, with programs as usual announced at the last minute. North Country Chamber Players begins its pay-as-you-wish season July 15/16, with five weekends of concerts in Franconia. Sebago-Long Lake Music Festival starts five Tuesdays of music July 11. The starry Bowdoin International Music Festival runs through Aug 4, with tons of music and musical presentations.
Opening later this month and spilling into August: the Cape Cod Chamber Music Festival starts July 25, through Aug. 18. Music at Land’s End in Wareham runs July 29 through Aug. 13. Kingston Chamber Music Festival, always fun, has concerts July 26 through Aug. 6
Cellist Amit Peled performs at Cape Cod’s Meeting House Chamber Music Festival (July 10) and at Rhode Island’s Newport Classical (July 11). Lisa-Marie Mazzucco photograph
GET THERE BEFORE IT’S OVER
Meeting House Chamber Music Festival performs mostly Mondays through July 24 at the Church of the Holy Spirit, Episcopal in Orleans. This weekend marks the end of the Rockport Chamber Music Festival, except for two “annex” concerts later this summer. RCMF brings Chanticleer (July 25) and the remarkable Latvian violinist Gidon Kremer (Aug. 12) to the Shalin Liu Performance Center. Music Mountain in Connecticut continues through mid-July. Green Mountain Chamber Music has both faculty and student recitals through July 23, if you’re near Burlington. Landmarks Orchestra begins its summer series June 17. Now much broader than just Wednesday picnics at the Hatch Shell, concerts run through Aug. 23.