It’s “take your daughter to work day” for Music in the Mountains’ Conductor Richard Kaufman. Kaufman has been a regular on the musical podium at Durango’s annual classical and then some music festival for the last number of years, conducting the pops orchestra on the evenings when the festival features familiar film scores, which remains a fan favorite.
If you go
WHAT: Music in the Mountains Presents a Special Tribute to the Music of Walt Disney and Other Hollywood Fantasies.
WHEN: 7 p.m. July 26.
WHERE: Community Concert Hall at Fort Lewis College, 1000 Rim Drive.
TICKETS: $60-$85. Available at https://tinyurl.com/37ft2ktb.
MORE INFORMATION: Visit www.musicinthemountains.com.
This year, Kaufman will be guest conductor for two performances that feature film scores; on July 26, the festival will present “A Special Tribute to the Music of Walt Disney & Other Hollywood Fantasies,” and on Aug. 2, the festival’s benefit dinner, and concert is titled “Hollywood Rodeo,” featuring scores from classic Westerns.
Joining the orchestra and conductor at both events will be Kaufman’s daughter, Whitney Claire Kaufman, lending her voice to pops orchestra.
Performing with her father is something the younger Kaufman has done since she was a teen.
“We’ve had kind of a long career together where I’ve been able to grow up as a performer and learn from him” the younger Kaufman said. “We’ve had such a good time, we really are such great friends as well as family. So to be able to make music together is just such a treat. I feel very blessed and very lucky.”
She’s no stranger to this material, touring regularly with the show “Disney in Concert.” Joining Music in the Mountains on the 26th will also be vocalist Jacob Haren, with the two dipping into some of the Disney duets. The set list will also move outside the Disney realm into other fantasy film scores, pieces of music that are internationally recognized.
“It’s a concert for all ages. We all grew up with ‘Pinocchio,’ ‘Cinderella,’ ‘Sleeping Beauty.’ But then of course there’s ‘Frozen’ and ‘Beauty and the Beast’ and ‘The Little Mermaid.’ So, we put it together consulting the singers: What would you like to sing,” Richard said. “Then, because we wanted to do fantasy as well, we’re doing music from John Williams. ‘E.T.,’ ‘Back to the Future,’ and then some orchestral pieces. ‘Pirates of the Caribbean,’ ‘Mary Poppins.’ So, it’s going to be pretty exciting.”
Music in the Mountains is a festival that educates the ticket buyer and challenges the musicians. Bringing in nonclassical events like fringe bluegrass outfit Damn Tall Buildings bridges a gap between classical and other genres of music, while the selection of just about anything from the classical world is something that keeps the musicians on their musical toes.
“This is an extraordinary festival because it presents all kinds of music. What makes it possible is the great vision that Angie (Beach, executive director) has for that the festival needs to be. And then you have an orchestra of musicians from some of the great symphonies in the U.S. who can play anything. They’re used to playing the music of John Williams, and then two days later the music of Brahms. It’s amazing,” Richard said. “As a conductor, I benefit from being able to program anything. Then you throw in singers, and an orchestra needs to be able to accompany them in a certain way, it’s just got all sorts of elements, and they all come together in a very short amount of time.”
Both Kaufmans are knee deep in the music business. Their take on Music in the Mountains as a festival is one of great admiration, as their view of it remains quite high.
“I will tell you without hesitation that this festival is right up there with the great festivals of the country, offering great music and great musicianship in a beautiful place” Richard said. “Yeah, this is great.”
Bryant Liggett is a freelance writer and KDUR station manager. Reach him at liggett_b@fortlewis.edu.
