LAGUNA BEACH — The 22nd annual Laguna Beach Music Festival, a co-presentation of Laguna Beach Live! and the Philharmonic Society of Orange County, is being held through Feb. 18.
The artistic director is violinist Anne Akiko Meyers, who has been described as “a musical wizard, with astonishing access to every kind of expressive color” by The San Diego Union-Tribune.
Founded in 2002, the Laguna Beach Music Festival is a multi-day series of classical and contemporary concerts, community engagement programs, and dynamic special events. The LBMF Board is made up of outstanding local community members who support and develop the festival from selection of musicians, theme, development of special events, educational and outreach programs, partnerships with other organizations and marketing activities.
The festival’s commitment to lifelong learning makes possible meet-the-artist events, salons, open rehearsals, and lively discussions, while local schoolchildren encounter live music in the schools during festival week. These programs capture the spirit of the festival, blurring the lines between artist and audience.
Highlights include:
• Friday, Feb. 16, 8 p.m. at Laguna Playhouse, 606 Laguna Canyon Rd. LBMF Opening Night: Metamorphoses, featuring new premieres of arrangements for violin-harp as well as violin-electronics.
Featured performers: Anne Akiko Meyers, violin; Emmanuel Ceysson, harp; Megan Goldstein, dancer; Davon Rashawn, dancer; Jodie Gates, choreographer
Program:
Michio Miyagi: Haru no Umi (The Sea in Spring)
Jakub Ciupiński: Wreck of the Umbria
Smetana: Má vlast: The Moldau, Op. 43
Philip Glass: Metamorphosis II
Arvo Pärt: Spiegel im Spiegel
Saint-Saëns: The Swan (choreography by Jodie Gates in collaboration with dancers)
Villa-Lobos: Song of the Black Swan
Philip Glass: New Chaconne (world premiere)
Pre-concert lecture at 7 p.m. with KUSC’s Brian Lauritzen
• Saturday, Feb. 17, 9 a.m. to 12 p.m. at Heisler Park, 375 Cliff Dr. LBMF: Plein Air Art and Music. Laguna Plein Air Painters Association painters, Laguna Beach Music Festival artists, and local musicians gather along the iconic Laguna Beach cliffs for a morning of art, music, and ocean views. Free and open to the public.
• Saturday, Feb. 17, 8 p.m. at Laguna Playhouse. LBMF: Doubles, which features the fiery interplay of two violins.
Featured performers: Anne Akiko Meyers, violin; Aubree Oliverson, violin; Colburn Academy Virtuosi
Program:
Kevin Puts: Arches
Bach: Double Concerto in D minor
Philip Glass: Echorus
Fanny Mendelssohn: String Quartet (arr. for strings)
• Sunday, Feb. 18, 3 p.m. at Laguna Playhouse. LBMF: Carnaval! (sold out)
Featured performers: Anne Akiko Meyers, violin; Bogang Hwang, piano; Matthew Howard, drums, marimba; Nathan Farrington, double bass
Program:
Alkan: Le festin d’Ésope (Aesop’s Feast), Op. 39, No. 12
Saint-Saëns: The Swan
Villa-Lobos: The Song of the Black Swan
Saint-Saëns (reimagined by Gene Pritsker): Animals Carnaval based on Carnival of the Animals
This event is currently sold out. If you would like to be added to our waitlist, fill out this form. In the event seats become available, you will be contacted in the order of your submission.
Box Office: (949) 553-2422
For ticket information and to support the festival, go to: https://www.philharmonicsociety.org/concerts-tickets/laguna-beach-music-festival/concerts-events