The Philadelphia Orchestra reunited with audiences at the Bravo! Vail Music Festival for its 14th visit to this idyllic spot in the Rocky Mountains. After a cancelled 2020 season due to the pandemic, the musicians were eager to return to a place that feels like home to many of them.
Principal Guest Conductor Designate Nathalie Stutzmann opened the residency, and made her Bravo! Vail debut, leading the Orchestra in a selection of Slavonic Dances by Dvořák and Beethoven’s Symphony No. 7, and was joined by violinist Gil Shaham in Joseph Bologne de Saint-Georges’s Violin Concerto No. 9. The second evening she conducted Principal Clarinet Ricardo Morales in Mozart’s Concerto, along with Missy Mazzoli’s Sinfonia (for Orbiting Spheres) and Mendelssohn’s “Italian” Symphony.
Many of the musicians take the opportunity to venture out of Vail to do a little sightseeing or hiking. And one presented Bravo! Vail Piano Technician Michael Jackson with a very special memento.
The Gerald R. Ford Amphitheater in Vail.
Photo: Tomas Cohen
Violinist Gil Shaham and Principal Guest Conductor Designate Nathalie Stutzmann following the first rehearsal.
Horn player Jeffry Kirschen is also an accomplished painter. Here he presents Bravo! Vail Piano Technician Michael Jackson with a portrait he painted of him.
Jeff Kirschen isn’t the only Orchestra member who is multi-talented. Violinist Paul Arnold is a gifted photographer. Here is his portrait of Michael Jackson. Photo: Paul Arnold
Former Principal Guest Conductor Stéphane Denève is scheduled to lead two performances during this year’s residency. Here he chats with Nathalie Stutzmann following her second rehearsal.
Paul Arnold took a few side trips around Vail and captured some of the local beauty, including this arch in Carbondale. Photo: Paul Arnold
This photograph of a flower, along with the following one, were also taken in Carbondale. Photo by Paul Arnold
Photo: Paul Arnold
Winnie’s Barn in Carbondale. Photo: Paul Arnold
This chair was photographed in Leadville. Photo: Paul Arnold
A very old truck in Georgetown. Photo: Paul Arnold
Nathalie Stutzmann and the Orchestra open the second performance with Missy Mazzoli’s Sinfonia (for Orbiting Spheres). Photo: Tomas Cohen
Principal Clarinet Ricardo Morales performs Mozart’s Concerto, his last completed major work. Photo: Tomas Cohen
Nathalie Stutzmann and Ricardo Morales following the performance.
Mendelssohn’s Symphony No. 4 (“Italian”) closed out the concert. Photo: Tomas Cohen
Principal Tuba Carol Jantsch and Co-Principal Trombone Matthew Vaughn got up at 3:30 AM to undertake an 11-hour hike with a 1.25 mile elevation gain to Mt. Powell via Piney Lake.
Matt takes a rest and cools down on a patch of snow during the hike.
Carol is a frequent hiker and is well-conditioned for such an outing.