Oregon’s summer heat wave may not be abating, but summer festival season is, with two of the final classical music festivals ending, leaving a few scattered but worthwhile concerts available to help escape the August swelter. If you know of others, be sure to tell our readers in the comments section below, and check All Classical radio’s calendar for more.
XXDigitus Duo performs at Classical Revolution PDX’s Holocene show in Portland.
Sunriver Music Festival
August 19
Great Hall, Sunriver Resort.
The festival’s final orchestral concert includes a Mendelssohn piano concerto starring Sean Chen, a Schumann Symphony, and the world premiere of Granted Passage by New Mexico-based composer CF Kip Winger, a former bassist for Alice Cooper who’s played with rockers like Alan Parsons and Bob Dylan, composed for the San Francisco Ballet, studied classical composition with Richard Danielpour and others, and leads his own ’80s-style hard rock band, Winger.
Dolphin Midwives
August 19
Turn Turn Turn, 8 NE Killingsworth, Portland.
In this Creative Music Guild showcase, Sage Fisher applies electronics to harp, microtonal zither, odd percussion, and vocals to create ambient and other dreamscapes — “new age but with howl.”
“Summer on the Green”
August 19-30
Lajos Balogh Performing Shell, Marylhurst University, 17600 Pacific Highway (Hwy 43), Marylhurst.
Read my Willamette Week preview of these free outdoor music and theater performances.
Darin Qualls and Janet Craswell
August 20
The Old Church, 1422 S.W. 11th Avenue, Portland.
The violinist and pianist play music by Fritz Kreisler in a benefit for the Pancreatic Cancer Action Network.
“Debussy Revolutionized”
August 22
Classical Revolution PDX, Holocene, 1001 SE Morrison St. Portland.
Read my Willamette Week preview of CRPDX’s celebration of Debussy’s music, which includes new sounds, dance, and visual art the French composer inspired in Oregon composers and other artists, with performances by singer Valery Saul, XX Digitus Duo, and more.
William Byrd Festival
August 22-23
St. Stephen’s Church, Portland.
Cantores in Ecclesia performs the great English Renaissance composer’s Mass for Four Voices on Saturday, while the festival culminates the following day in Cantores’ August 23 choral concert, featuring magnificent choral music by great English composers of the period, including John Taverner, Byrd’s colleague Thomas Tallis, and of course the festival’s namesake himself.
Cascadia Loud Band
August 22-23
Private homes in Oregon City and Hillsboro.
The Portland early music ensemble performs French and German music about wine on shawms, dulcians,
bagpipes, recorders, and voices at intimate air conditioned house concerts. For info, email brandon.labadie@gmail.com.
Charlotte Engler
August 22
Trinity Episcopal Cathedral, Portland.
The young soprano’s debut recital features veteran early music players Hideki Yamaya and Tim Scott and music by Dowland, Monteverdi, Buxtehude and more.
Battles
August 22
Waterfront Park, Portland.
The classical/instrumental rock band may have lost star Tyondai Braxton, but continues its pounding, minimalist-inflected music at MusicFest NW.
Members of PHAME Academy rehearse for “Up the Fall.”
“Up the Fall”
August 22-29
PHAME Academy, Artists Repertory Theatre, 1515 SW Morrison, Portland.
Read my ArtsWatch preview of the premiere of a new musical, written by Oregon playwright Debbie Lamedman with music by Portland singer Laura Gibson.
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