BY KAREN BOSSICK
Jean Yves-Thibaudet and Gautier Capucon found themselves competing for air time Thursday night as the heavens opened, sending raindrops splashing down on the Sun Valley Pavilion canopy.
But they played through the chatter and were rewarded by multiple standing ovations from the near-full audience in the Pavilion, and the many more who weathered the brief but torrential storm on the Pavilion lawn.
The two are back this week—this time in separate concerts.
Thibaudet will perform George Gershwin’s “Concerto in F,” which came on the heels of his instant hit “Rhapsody in Blue,” tonight—Sunday, Aug. 4—with the full Sun Valley Music Festival Orchestra taking the stage for the first time in the 2019 season.
And Capucon will perform Saint Saen’s Cello Concerto on Monday, Aug. 5.
- Tonight—In addition to the Gershwin number, the orchestra will perform Bernstein’s “Overture to Candide” and Respighi’s “The Pines of Rome,” which necessitates several rarely used instruments, including a glockenspiel.
Associate Conductor Sameer Patel will offer a pre-concert chat on “Thibaudet plays Gershwin” at 5:45 p.m. next to the Paver Bar on the lawn.
- Monday, Aug. 5—Cellist Guatier Capucon, who began playing cello at age 5 in his hometown ofChambery, France, will perform Saint-Saens Concerto No. 1 in A Minor for Cello and Orchestra, which is said to be full of attractive and memorable melodies.
The orchestra will also perform Maurice Ravel’s “Minuet from Sontaine for Piano,” which features an unpredictable child-like patter. And Ravel’s “La Valse,” which draws its inspiration from the decadent balls of 19th century Vienna.
Sameer Patel will lead the pre-concert chat at 5:45 p.m.
- Wednesday, Aug. 7—The Festival will perform Beethoven’s Seventh, which Beethoven considered one of his best works. It will also perform Beethoven’s “Overture to Egmont,” a musical depiction of good winning over evil.
Peter Henderson will lead the pre-concert chat at 5:45 p.m.
- Thursday, Aug. 8—The Edgar M. Bronfman String Quartet will perform Beethoven’s String Quartet, Op. 133, Grosse Fuge, which was considered ahead of its time. Also, Shostakovich’s String Quartet No. 14, which features the cello.
NOTE!!!! This concert will be at the Presbyterian Church of the Big Wood at Warm Springs and Saddle roads.
- Friday, Aug. 9 The Summer Music Institute Students perform an Afternoon Concert featuring intermediate and beginning students and ensembles, including the Philharmonia Orchestra at 3 p.m. in the Sun Valley Pavilion. The advanced students and ensembles will perform at 6:30 p.m.
The evening concert shouldn’t be dismissed lightly. The Chamber Singers, Advanced Chamber Orchestra and Sun Valley Youth Orchestra have brought the house down in previous years. Their concert finale this year will be Verdi’s Grand March from “Aida.”
- Saturday, Aug. 10—The Family Concert, performed by the Festival Orchestra, will feature songs that made various orchestra musicians love classical music.
Among them: Grieg’s “In the Hall of the Mountain King,” Tchaikovsky’s “Dance of the Sugar Plum Fairy” and Williams” “The imperial March” from “Star Wars.”
The Instrument Petting Zoo will be held on the terraces following the concert.
Peters Henderson will lead the pre-Concert chat at 5:45 p.m.
All the concerts are free and all start at 6:30 p.m., with the exception of the Friday Afternoon Concert at 3 p.m. All are in the Sun Valley Pavilion, except for Thursday’s concert at the Church of the Big Wood.