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August 01 - August 04, 2024
Menu
August 01 - August 04, 2024
The Festival
The story of Festival del Sole, as its name suggests, starts in Italy in the 1990’s, where, arts entrepreneur and pianist Barrett Wissman and wife, cellist Nina Kotova, had often discussed organizing an event somewhere in the world where friends could make music together in a warm welcoming atmosphere.
In 2003, the Festival del Sole was born in Cortona in Tuscany, and incorporated a vast array of events including concerts, fine art exhibitions, culinary events, wine tastings, and literary events. In 2006, Barrett Wissman brought the Festival Del Sole to Napa Valley, which has now become Festival Napa Valley.
Over the years, the Festivals have attracted a stunning lineup of some of the world’s greatest musicians, artists, actors, chefs and personalities including Robert Redford, Placido Domingo, Renee Fleming, Sting, Thomas Keller, Antonio Pappano, Sophia Loren, Pinchas Zukerman, John Malkovich, Midori, Teodor Currentzis, Maxim Vengerov, Lang Lang, Bobby McFerrin, Anthony Hopkins, Joshua Bell, Sarah Chang, Jeremy Irons, Jean Yves Thibaudet, Cecilia Bartoli, Hélène Grimaud, Jaap Van Zweden, Tony Bennett, Angela Gheorghiu, Vittorio Grigolo, Martha Argerich, David Foster, Whoopi Goldberg, Michael Keaton, Al Jarreau, Elvis Costello, Frances Mayes, Anna Netrebko, Sir James Galway, Vladimir Jurowski, Stephane Deneve, Nikolaj Znaider, Mikhail Baryshnikov, Dmitri Sitkovetsky, Salvatore Accardo, Jonas Kaufmann, Nigel Kennedy, and many, many more.
Barrett Wissman has decided to bring back the style, artistic level, tradition and excitement of the Festival del Sole back to the wine country of Northern California in 2024, in partnership with the stunning acoustic and architectural gem, the Green Music Center at Sonoma State University and its Executive Director Jacob Yarrow.
The Program
August 01, 7:30pm
Green Music Center, Weill Hall
Olga Kern, Piano
Nina Kotova, Cello
Viktoria Mullova, Violin
Experience the brilliance of three of today’s top international instrumentalists performing a program of solo and chamber music.
With a vivid onstage presence, dazzling technique, and keen musicianship, pianist Olga Kern is widely recognized as one of the great artists of her generation, captivating audiences and critics alike.
Nina Kotova is internationally recognized as one of the outstanding instrumentalists of her generation and has performed in recital and as a soloist with symphony orchestras across the globe throughout the UK, Europe, Asia and the US.
One of the world’s greatest violin virtuosos, Viktoria Mullova’s musical horizons continue to expand, journeying into jazz and world music, working with period ensembles as well as appearing each season with international orchestras and conductors.
August 02, 7:30pm
Green Music Center, Weill Hall
Pinchas Zukerman
and the Zukerman Trio
With a career spanning five decades, Pinchas Zukerman is one of today’s most sought-after and versatile musicians: solo violinist and violist, conductor and chamber musician. He is renowned as a virtuoso, admired for the expressive lyricism of his playing, the singular beauty of his timbre and impeccable musicianship, which can be heard in his discography of over 100 albums for which he has earned two Grammy awards and 21 nominations. He was awarded the Medal of the Arts, the Isaac Stern Award for Artistic Excellence and was named the first instrumentalist mentor of the Rolex Mentor and Protégé Arts Initiative.
As the Zukerman Trio, Pinchas will be joined by cellist Amanda Forsyth, and pianist Michael Brown.
August 03, 7:30pm
Green Music Center, Weill Hall
Joseph Calleja
Tenor, in Recital
With Nino Sanikidze, Pianist
With a nostalgic, golden-age voice that routinely inspires comparisons to “legendary singers from earlier eras” Maltese-born Joseph Calleja is one of the world’s most acclaimed tenors. Calleja’s extensive discography and appearances on the world’s leading opera, concert, and television stages have marked him as one of today’s most sought-after artists.
Joseph will be joined by Nino Sanikidze. Dr. Sanikidze is the recipient of numerous honors, including the Marilyn Horne Foundation Award for Excellence in Vocal Accompanying.
August 04, 6pm
Green Music Center, Weill Hall
The Way of the Rain: Hope for Earth
Screening of the filmed performance of Sibylle Szaggars Redford’s multidisciplinary work featuring a narration by Robert Redford.
This screening of Sibylle Szaggars Redford’s multidisciplinary staged music, art and film performance at the Dallas Texas Morton H. Meyerson Symphony Hall, with a spoken word narration by Robert Redford, tells the artistic story about the formation of the Universe, the evolution of all galaxies and the eventual birth of the unique and beautiful Planet Earth with all its elements. Join us, along with the Founder, President and Artistic Director of The Way of the Rain Sibylle Szaggars Redford and invited guest Robert Redford, for this special event.
Wine and Culinary Experiences Curated by Vinous
Vinous is one of the world’s most influential wine publications. Founder Antonio Galloni leads a team of renowned wine writers that includes Neal Martin, Eric Guido, Rebecca Gibb MW, Joaquín Hidalgo, Angus Hughson, Anne Krebiehl MW and Nicolas Greinacher, whose insight is trusted by wine buyers in over 100 countries.
Innovation lies at the heart of Vinous with its pioneering efforts to map the vineyards of California with renowned cartographer Alessandro Masnaghetti, its leading wine social media platform Delectable, and its exciting events program. Upcoming Vinous Events include Vinous Icons in Miami (November 2024) and New York (February/March 2025), and La Festa del Barolo NYC (January/February 2025).
August 01, 12:30pm
Three Sticks Wines
Three Sticks Wines owns, farms, and produces every grape and drop of wine that we make from our vineyards.
“We are autonomous. Having the freedom to grow as we design, and desire is precious. We have learned that growing into our collection of vineyards has given us the ability to shift and flex proactively with a dynamic environment and not just in response to it. A position that has led to many winemaking and farming triumphs that we are committed to expanding on.”
Vinous and the Festival Del Sole are presenting a private lunch and tasting hosted by Three Sticks at its gorgeous winery taking us through their stunning offerings. Tickets for this tasting and lunch are $190. If you are interested in attending, please contact us by following the button below.
August 02, 12:30pm
Freeman Vineyard & Winery
Since 2001, Freeman has been one of the great pioneers of cool-climate Pinot Noir and Chardonnay, charting a course to the western edges of California winegrowing, where the influence of the Pacific Ocean shapes the character of the wines. In doing so, the winery has helped to define a more balanced, sophisticated and thoughtful style of winemaking—a style that has been embraced by connoisseurs and collectors around the world.
Join us for this exclusive private tasting and lunch hosted by Akiko Freeman. Tickets for this tasting and lunch are $190. If you are interested in attending, please contact us by following the button below.
August 04, approx. 8:30pm
Gala Dinner
Buena Vista Winery & Jean Charles Boisset
We invite you to join the Festival Del Sole, Sibylle Szaggars Redford and Robert Redford for a Gala dinner, auction and celebration on August 4th hosted by Buena Vista Winery and Jean Charles Boisset to benefit The Way of the Rain, the non-profit founded Sibylle Szaggars Redford dedicated to the mission of developing, producing and performing educational and artistic performances to promote public awareness and support for the protection of the Earth.
Before there were vineyards in every valley north of San Francisco, before Napa and Sonoma were household names before there was a California wine world at all, there was Buena Vista. Founded in 1857, and spanning from Sonoma and into Napa, Buena Vista is California’s first premium winery, and its history is as colorful as it is proud. Today, the legend has been re-born under the vision of Jean-Charles Boisset.
The gala dinner will feature Buena Vista’s wines as well as a Bordeaux wine crafted by enologist Michel Rolland especially for The Way of the Rain. Those interested in purchasing tickets to the Gala should contact us using the button below:
August 01 and August 02, 9:45pm
Post-Concert Dinner Celebration
NewTree Ranch
We are pleased to announce that Festival del Sole and NewTree Ranch are partnering to host two after-concert dinner celebrations.
August 1st
Chef Michael Degen will create a rustic Italian-themed dinner with wood-fired oven pizza, tomahawk prime steaks, garden salad, and a farm fresh dessert. Three Sticks Winery is generously providing the wines for the evening, which will be the 2021 One Sky vineyard Chardonnay and the 2021 Durell Vineyard Pinot noir.
August 2nd
Chef Jamil Peden will prepare a family style seed-to-table dinner with fresh fish, pasta, veggies from the garden, garden salad, and farm fresh dessert. Freeman Winery is generously providing the wines for the evening, which will be the 2022 Chardonnay “Ryo-Fu” and the 2020 Pinot Noir “Gloria Estate”.
NewTree Ranch is where luxury and heartfelt hospitality meet. Spanning 120 acres of rolling hills, this private ranch offers everything you need to rejuvenate your mind, body, and soul with wellness activities and serene outdoor spaces. Whether it’s for family, a group of friends, corporate gatherings, weddings, intimate celebrations, or a couple’s vacation, your itinerary will be tailored just for you. NewTree Ranch integrates permaculture principles and sustainable living practices, providing an immersive experience that connects guests with nature. The property is designed to be a serene escape that promotes physical, mental, and spiritual well-being through its thoughtfully curated environment and services.
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