2023 Summer Festival
Sunriver Music Festival fills Central Oregon with music! In August 2023, Artistic Director & Conductor Brett Mitchell led world-class orchestra musicians and acclaimed soloists in a remarkable 46th season of the landmark Summer Festival.
The August 2023 concert series opened August 5 at the iconic Tower Theatre in downtown Bend and closed August 17 at Sunriver Resort’s historic Great Hall. Four classical concerts, one pops concert, a brilliant solo piano concert, and the fun “Discover the Symphony” concert were presented.
2023 Summer Festival Concert Schedule
led by Artistic Director & Conductor Brett Mitchell
Classical Concert I
Saturday, August 5, 2023 – 7:30 PM
Tower Theatre, Bend
Central Oregon Mastersingers
The Summer Festival opens with a full stage featuring Maestro Mitchell, the orchestra of professional musicians from throughout the country, and the region’s first-class choral ensemble – the Central Oregon Mastersingers.
MOZART Ave verum corpus
MOZART Regina coeli
MOZART Symphony No. 38, “Prague”
STRAUSS Suite from Le Bourgeois Gentilhomme
6:30-7 PM – Pre-Concert Talk: Brett Mitchell with Christian Clark, director of Central Oregon Mastersingers and member of Sunriver Music Festival Board of Trustees
Pops Concert
Monday, August 7, 2023 – 7:30 PM
Tower Theatre, Bend
Sarah Mattox, mezzo-soprano
Enjoy the Festival Orchestra and mezzo-soprano Sarah Mattox in a lively pops concert of Grammy, Oscar and Tony award-winning themes from your favorite movies and musicals, including Star Wars, Lord of the Rings, Schindler’s List, Wicked and more!
Classical Concert II
Friday, August 11, 2023 – 7:30 PM
Tower Theatre, Bend
William Hagen, violin
The return of violinist William Hagen! Last season, Hagen brought down the house with his performance of the Brahms Violin Concerto, and this season’s performance of the Bruch Violin Concerto is expected to be even better. Also on this concert: Milhaud’s La creation du monde and Brahms’ Third Symphony with an expanded orchestra.
MILHAUD La création du monde
BRUCH Violin Concerto No. 1
BRAHMS Symphony No. 3
6:30-7 PM – Pre-Concert Talk: Brett Mitchell with Rhett Bender, featured alto sax in the Milhaud and member of Sunriver Music Festival Board of Trustees
Classical Concert III
Monday, August 14, 2023 – 7:30 PM
Sunriver Resort Great Hall
Kathryn Mueller, soprano
Soprano Kathryn Mueller’s crystal clear, pristine voice will sparkle in a beautiful pairing of works by Barber and Mahler. The concert opens with Copland’s lively Three Latin American Sketches.
COPLAND Three Latin American Sketches
BARBER Knoxville: Summer of 1915
MAHLER (arr. Lee) Symphony No. 4
6:30-7 PM – Pre-Concert Talk: Brett Mitchell with Yi Zhao, concertmaster
Discover the Symphony
Tuesday, August 15, 2023 – 3 PM
Sunriver Resort Great Hall
Instrument petting zoo starts at 1:30 PM
This entertaining matinee presents orchestral music in a fun and informal setting. Bring the whole family and enjoy a one-hour concert in the Great Hall with virtuosic young soloists and the full orchestra. The program includes Ravel’s Mother Goose Suite, accompanied by illustrations by Kellie Schneider, plus music by Brahms, Haydn, Copland and more.
This concert also includes a performance by Young Artists Scholarship recipient John Fawcett, violin, in Saint-Saëns’ Havanaise with the Festival Orchestra.
Free for kids 18 and under, fun for all ages!
Solo Piano Concert
Tuesday, August 15, 2023 – 7:30 PM
Sunriver Resort Great Hall
Andrew von Oeyen, piano
The iconic Great Hall sets the scene for a solo performance from Andrew von Oeyen, one of the most captivating pianists of this generation.
“Brilliant technique can be taken for granted among today’s concert pianists, but von Oeyen’s playing goes a step further. He leaves you convinced that he can do absolutely anything he likes with a keyboard.” – Chicago Tribune
Classical Concert IV – SOLD OUT
Thursday, August 17, 2023 – 7:30 PM
Sunriver Resort Great Hall
Andrew von Oeyen, piano
Following his solo piano concert, return to the Great Hall to experience Andrew von Oeyen with the full orchestra in Beethoven’s epic “Emperor” Piano Concerto. Also on this concert: Haydn’s landmark “London” Symphony.
LIGETI Concert Românesc
HAYDN Symphony No. 104, “London”
BEETHOVEN Piano Concerto No. 5, “Emperor”
6:30-7 PM – Pre-Concert Talk: Brett Mitchell with Anthony Georgeson, principal bassoon
2023 Summer Festival Highlights
Click to enlarge images