Summer of the Artist Starts Strong

The Music Academy’s 76th annual festival Summer of the Artist got off to a glorious start with two major sold-out concerts at Hahn Hall on the Miraflores campus.

Kicking off the eight-week event, which ends on August 5, was the ever-popular Takacs Quartet with violinists Edward Dusinberre and Harumi Rhodes, cellist András Fejér, and violist Richard O’Neill, formerly with Camerata Pacifica.

Fanny Mendelssohn’s “String Quartet in E-flat major” and Schubert’s “String Quartet in G major” made for a heady performance in the packed venue.

Just 48 hours later mezzo soprano Isabel Leonard, an academy alumna who won a Grammy for best opera recording, showed off her impeccable vocal skills, accompanied by pianist John Arida, with works from Bizet, Montsalvatge, Velázquez, Bernstein, and Sondheim.

A cracking launch to what promises to be a highly entertaining season…