It’s not hyperbole to say that Colorado is the country’s classical music hotspot in the summer. Each year, many of the best-known performers, composers and conductors descend upon the state (and down into northern New Mexico), bringing regional audiences world-class music, much of it in the form of global premieres.
Classical fans have their favorite works, and their preferred guest soloists, as well as their most comfortable mountain towns in which to gather for concerts. The challenge is sorting it all out, and making crucial decisions when it comes to getting tickets.
Here is a brief look at the major players, and some of the highlights from their 2025 seasons.
Central City Opera, June 28-Aug. 3
Central City Opera is back for 2025 with the same audience-friendly formula that has served it well, both commercially and artistically, in recent seasons. There will be one classical warhorse, one nearly-new title and one Broadway-style show.
The season opens with Rossini’s “The Barber of Seville,” a popular comedy that will likely be the preferred choice for regulars seeking out a night of quality music and big laughs in the mountains. The show tunes come from “Once Upon a Mattress,” the 1959 hit that has been a hot revival lately.
The more recent offering is “The Knock,” and there is an interesting story behind it. The opera, about the fortitude of war widows when they get informed of the deaths of loved ones, was originally slated to have its world premiere at New York’s Glimmerglass Opera in a 2021 production directed by Alison Moritz — who, coincidentally, was appointed Central City’s artistic director last year. But the live production was canceled due to restrictions during the pandemic. Instead, Mortiz created a video adaption that was shared via the web.
This new production is a chance for a re-do, bringing the work to an actual theater for a fresh listen.
Where: Central City Opera House, in Central City. Info: 303-292-6700 or centralcityopera.org.
Bravo! Vail Music Festival, June 19-July 31
The Bravo! Vail Music Festival is pushing a season of “firsts” this year, and it looks promising. In the mix will be short residencies by five orchestras from three different continents, along with a long list of well-known guest conductors featured on the podium.
Some good news: Mexico’s Sinfónica de Minería, helmed by artistic director Carlos Miguel Prieto, will return after last season’s successful debut. The ensemble will be part of a summer that includes long-time fest regulars: the Dallas Symphony Orchestra, The Philadelphia Orchestra, the New York Philharmonic and, a recent addition, the Chamber Orchestra of Europe.
Among the conductors to look out for are local favorite Marin Alsop, Matthias Pintscher and Santtu-Matias Rouvali. In a surprise move, Colorado Symphony conductor Peter Oundjian will make his Vail debut with a performance of composer Amy Beach’s Piano Concerto, which will feature soloist Anne-Marie McDermott.
The one concert to get tickets early for: Brahms’ Piano Concertos, performed by Yefim Bronfman, which is scheduled for June 19.
Where: Various locations in Vail. Info: 877-812-5700 or bravovail.org.
Colorado Music Festival, July 3-Aug. 3
The Colorado Music Festival is packing a lot in to its monthlong season this year, with 12 major guest artists appearing throughout 19 performances, all curated by artistic director Oundjian.
The audience-pleaser is pianist Hélène Grimaud, who opens the season with two performances on July 3 and 6 that feature Gershwin’s Piano Concerto in F, and celebrate the 150th anniversary of Ravel’s birth. (The combination of Ravel and Grimaud is something you might not want to miss.)
There is also more challenging fare on the roster. That includes a new saxophone concerto by the legendary composer Joan Tower; an appearance by guitarist Xuefei Yang, who will perform Rodrigo’s “Concierto de Aranjuez”; and a presentation of composer Michael Abels’ “Amplify,” which was co-commissioned by the festival.
Other familiar names on the schedule include violinists Anne Akiko Meyers, and Benjamin Beilman and the Brentano String Quartet.
The season showstopper: a presentation of Beethoven’s larger-than-life Ninth Symphony, featuring the iconic “Ode to Joy,” which Oundjian will conduct himself July 31 and Aug. 1. That show is likely to show off the Colorado Music Fest at its best.
Where: Chautauqua Auditorium, Boulder. Info: 303-440-7666
Aspen Music Festival, July 2-Aug. 24
It’s always difficult to find the gems at the Aspen Music Festival, but only because there are so many of them among the nearly 200 public events that happen each summer. But there are some definite highlights in a season that is going under the title “Concerning the Spiritual in Art.”
Fitting into that is the new musical drama “Siddhartha, She,” a co-commission from composer Christopher Theofanidis and librettist Melissa Studdard, which premieres Aug. 2 with music director Robert Spano conducting.
Another first: the directorial debut of soprano superstar Renée Fleming, who will helm a new production of “Così fan tutte” at the Wheeler Opera House July 21-26.
Other commissions sure to lure Aspen’s sophisticated audiences include “The Origin of the Harp,” a tone poem by Thomas Adès; “KINSFOLKNEM,” by Jasmine Barnes; and “ATLAS,” a piano concerto by Anna Clyne, which will feature the very popular Jeremy Denk.
Want more stars? Look for appearances by Edgar Meyer, Lang Lang, Conrad Tao, Gil Shaham and Alisa Weilerstein.
Where: Various locations in Aspen. Info: 970-925-9042 or aspenmusicfestival.com.
Santa Fe Opera, June 27-Aug. 23
This summer, the Santa Fe Opera is opting out of presenting any of the world premieres that have made it a global force over the decades. Still — and as expected — the season is full of big ambition, including three brand-new, fully staged productions of familiar titles.
Among the fresh takes: “La Boheme,” directed by James Robinson; “Rigoletto,” a co-production with Irish National Opera and Opera Zuid; and “Die Walküre,” which will be only the third Wagner opera presented in the company’s long history.
The most-anticipated moment this season looks to be a staging of “The Turn of the Screw,” the Benjamin Britten work that was returned to life in 2022 by director Louisa Muller at England’s Garsington Opera — receiving some of the best critical reviews of the year. Muller will tour it to Santa Fe with a cast that includes Jacquelyn Stucke, Christine Rice, Wendy Bryn Harmer and Brenton Ryan.
Get tickets early for that one, and keep an eye on show start times this season because they will fluctuate to accommodate run times.
Where: Santa Fe Opera, Santa Fe, N.M. Info: 800-280-4654 or santafeopera.org.
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