Each summer since its beginnings in 1971, Festival Mozaic has transformed the Central Coast of California into a hotbed of classical music culture.
From July 19-30, 2017, music director Scott Yoo will lead a group of more than 50 visiting artists, gathered from top orchestras and chamber ensembles from around the world, in performances at scenic venues throughout picturesque San Luis Obispo County – or SLO, as the locals call it – combining music with classic California architecture, food and wine.
Halfway between Los Angeles and San Francisco on historic Highway 1 is San Luis Obispo. SLO was named the Happiest City in North America by National Geographic and Oprah Winfrey. Wine Enthusiast Magazine named neighboring Paso Robles the 2013 Wine Region of the Year. Award-winning wine and farm-to-fork cuisine are both fueled by SLO’s close proximity to California’s agricultural epicenter, which plays a big part in the Festival’s events.
At Festival Mozaic’s Notable Encounters, attendees will learn more about the music in during interactive performances at one-of-a-kind places. Hear Messiaen’s transformative Quartet for the End of Time at sun-drenched Tolosa winery.
Experience Beethoven in a beautiful barn in-the-middle-of an avocado, lavender and olive oil estate. And explore the music of Ravel with brunch at the gorgeous grounds of Dallidet Adobe, a California State Historical Landmark.
As part of the Orchestra Series, attendees have the opportunity to head to wine country’s hill-top Serra Chapel, and sit outside the chapel’s back doors as Vivaldi’s timeless Four Seasons wafts over the vines. Arrive early for picknicking and enjoy the views!
The Festival Orchestra also returns to the historic Mission San Luis Obispo, built in 1772 and still used as a working parish. Explore evolutions of classical music by Vivaldi, Piazzolla, Mozart and Beethoven here at the root of SLO’s history. Don’t miss the inspiration for this summer’s theme, Strauss’ Metamorphosen, as 23 string players each play a unique part in this personal lament for the devolution of German culture during the Nazi regime. This moving piece tops off the festival’s concerts and events at the Cuesta College Culture and Performing Arts Center, including a picnic in the courtyard.
These classic California and music experiences are just a few of the Festival’s concerts in the Orchestra and Chamber Series, as well as Notable Encounters, which are all designed to be equal parts interactive-performance and education. All events take place July 19-30 and tickets went on sale April 1 on the Festival’s web site.
With 28 events in 16 different venues, Festival Mozaic offers something for every kind of music lover and provides a welcoming and authentic SLO experience offering the best in culinary, coastal and cultural life. SLO boasts year-round sun, a warm Mediterranean marine climate, a world-class wine region and thousands of acres of protected open space. Its award-winning downtown is filled with charming shops, restaurants and hotels tucked into turn-of-the-century mercantile buildings, and a burgeoning art and cultural scene.
Visitors can head out along the gorgeous country roads to sip their way through the vineyards, and then return to town to savor everything from Santa Maria barbecue to Italian fritti. The welcoming paradise of Avila Beach is a breath of fresh salt-air, with amenity-laden hotels, charming oceanfront restaurants, magnificent local wines, and shopping and activities for all. There’s also plentiful hiking on the rolling hills, where you can view sweeping vistas from vineyard to ocean.
At Festival Mozaic, the music of Mozart, Bach and Beethoven will be played alongside Vivaldi, Mendelssohn, Richard Strauss, and many more. Listeners can also enjoy Britten, Harbison, Piazzolla, and a host of other musical masters and crossover artists in charismatic venues such as: Mission San Luis Obispo de Tolosa, Serra Chapel in wine country, and the state-of-the-art Cuesta College Cultural and Performing Arts Center.
Festival Mozaic also features laid-back midday mini-concerts and a Fringe Series with distinctly different kinds of crossover classical music acts, including: the wildly popular string trio Simply Three, folk and classical duo Fire & Grace, and Stephen Prutsman in an evening of music and silent films from the jazz age at the historic art deco Fremont Theatre.
Festival Mozaic embraces the power of the world-class music to bring people together; classical music lovers and novices come together to enjoy the music and be inspired. The Festival aims to build a relationship between audiences and art form. It enriches concert presentations with events that provide an in-depth look at the social and cultural context from the music, as well as behind-the-scenes glimpses into what it takes to make truly great music
From Bach and beyond to Mozart and more, Festival Mozaic presents nationally and internationally renowned musicians in beautiful venues all over San Luis Obispo County. Founded in 1971 as the San Luis Obispo Mozart Festival, Festival Mozaic is one of the oldest and most respected classical music festivals in the West. Taking place in July, with additional concerts throughout the year, the Festival offers more than 30 events in San Luis Obispo County’s most charismatic spaces. www.FestivalMozaic.com