For three decades, Music in the Mountains has been a key part of what summer means to Southwest Colorado. With the musical event into its 2016 season, this year should be all it is reputed to be and more. If you have not yet, plan now to enjoy its offerings.
Music in the Mountains came about in the mid-1980s with the help of arts fans, musicians and lovers of Durango. A complete history is a who’s who of the last half century of life in Durango, with familiar names too numerous to recount.
The result is there for all to see – and better yet, to hear! It is a yearly celebration of talent, artistry and some of the most sublime music imaginable. We are all better for it.
That Music in the Mountains enriches the community in a more literal sense is bad either. The business brought by the music festival is something for which the entire community should be grateful, particularly in that it does not simply try to pile more people onto rafts or the train. It is a different crowd with more electric tastes, which helps broaden the area’s base cuturally and economically.
Music in the Mountains offers something for almost everyone:
Friday, the tent at Purgatory will feature “Celebration!,” a family-friendly production including such familiar fun as the “William Tell Overature,” Copland’s “Fanfare for the Common Man,” and Tchaikovsky’s “1812 Overature.”
“Voices of Destiny,” July 24, highlights the talents of violinist Vadim Gluzman, a vituoso who – at least musically speaking – pracitically grew up at Music in the Mountains. With him will be notable vocalists, including Durangoans such as Gemma Kavanagh and Linda Mack Berven.
A true kid-friendly show will be “The Composer is Dead.” With text by Lemony Snicket, it begins with a picnic dinner.
On July 30, hear the full Festival Orchestra perform space-related numbers from “Star Wars” and other popular movies. And on July 31, wind it all up with “Viva L’Italia!” a lively collection of short pieces starting with Rossini’s “Barber of Seville.”
Thirty years on, the music is still great!
