This summer, people from around the world will gather in Paris, France, to celebrate the heroic potential of humanity at the Olympic Games. In those same weeks, Central Minnesota will be its own hub for world-class talent as the Lakes Area Music Festival presents its 16th annual season: HEROIC JOURNEYS.
Our exceptional roster of more than 250 professional, classical musicians come from the nation's top ensembles to makes the Lakes Area of central Minnesota their musical home. Together they perform chamber music, orchestra, and opera– as well as various community outreach activities extending their impact throughout the local community.
This season, we light the torch and embark together on the HEROIC JOURNEYS to come. Join us this summer in Brainerd!
2024 PROGRAM AT A GLANCE
GALA: SUMMON THE HEROES
Friday, July 26, 8 p.m.
Christian Reif, conductor
Andrea Ross, voice
VocalEssence Ensemble Singers
- JOHN WILLIAMS: Summon the Heroes
- JOHN WILLIAMS: Bugler's Dream
- JOHN WILLIAMS: Mission Theme
- JOHN WILLIAMS: Call of the Champions
- JOHN WILLIAMS: Olympic Spirit
- LEONARD BERNSTEIN: Olympic Hymn
- CARL ORFF: ‘O Fortuna' from Carmina Burana
- VENGELIS: Theme from Chariots of Fire
BEETHOVEN’S NINTH
Sunday, July 28 3 p.m.
Christian Reif, conductor
VocalEssence Ensemble Singers
Legacy Chorale of Greater Minnesota
Brainerd High School A Cappella Choir
- JIMMY LÓPEZ BELLIDO: Rise!
- LUDWIG VAN BEETHOVEN: Symphony No. 9
STORMS, SHIPWRECKS & SORCERY
Wednesday, July 31, 7:30 p.m.
Chloe Fedor, artistic advisor, and violin
Nola Richardson, soprano
- JOHANN HEINRICH SCHMELZER: Die Fechtschule (The Fencing School)
- GEORGE FRIDERIC HANDEL: Armida Abbandonata (Abandoned Armada)
- JOHANN HEINRICH SCHMELZER: Lamento sopra la morte di Ferdinando III (Lament over the death of Ferdinand III)
- ANTONIO VIVALDI: Violin Concerto Op. 8, No. 5, La Tempesta di Mare (The Tempest of the Sea)
- GIOVANNI BATTISTA BUONAMENTE: Sonata a tre violini (Sonata for 3 Violins)
- MATTHEW LOCKE: Curtain Tune from The Tempest
- LOUIS-NICOLAS CLÉRAMBAULT: Médée
- HENRY PURCELL: Chaconne from The Fairy Queen
A NIGHT AT THE OPERA
Friday, August 2, 7:30 p.m.
Christian Reif, conductor
LAMF Opera Resident Artists
- Variety of familiar arias and ensembles from the opera repertoire
LAMF COMPOSER FELLOWSHIP EXPERIENCE
Saturday, August 3, 11 a.m. & 2 p.m.
Thalea String Quartet performance of three world premieres by composer fellows. 11 a.m. at Tornstrom Auditorium
Orchestral reading of fellows' works with Christian Reif and the LAMF Symphony, 2-4 p.m. at Gichi-ziibi Center
FAMILY CONCERT: THRILLS & SUPERHEROES
Sunday, August 4, 3 p.m.
Christian Reif, conductor
Jeff Andrews, narrator
- RUSSELL PECK: The Thrill of the Orchestra
- MICHAEL GIACCHINO: “Incredits” from The Incredibles
- JOHN WILLIAMS: Superman March
DOWNTOWN BRAINERD BLOCK PARTY
Wednesday, August 7, 7:30 p.m.
New Location: Mississippi Landing Amphitheater at Lyman P. White Park
JULIA BULLOCK SOLO RECITAL
Friday, August 9, 7:30 p.m.
Julia Bullock, voice
Bretton Brown, piano
This winter, at the 66th annual awards ceremony, Julia Bullock was awarded a GRAMMY® in the category of ‘Best Classical Solo Vocal Album’ for her 2022 Nonesuch Records album, Walking in the Dark, “an album that shines, introducing us to an artist curating a career on her own distinctive terms,” (NPR). A regular guest artist of the Lakes Area Music Festival, Julia returns this summer to perform a solo recital in collaboration with pianist and LAMF Vocal Fellowship leader, Bretton Brown.
THE RAKE’S PROGRESS
Saturday, August 10, 7:30 p.m.
Sunday, August 11, 3 p.m.
Christian Reif, conductor
Omer Ben Seadia, director
Miles Mykkanen, Tom Rakewell
Kearstin Piper Brown, Anne Truelove
John Taylor Ward, Nick Shadow
Sara Couden, Baba the Turk
- IGOR STRAVINSKY: The Rake’s Progress
JACKIW PLAYS DVOŘÁK
Wednesday, August 14, 7:30 p.m.
Christian Reif, conductor
Stefan Jackiw, violin
- LEANNA PRIMIANI: Neither men nor money validate my worth
- ANTONÍN DVOŘÁK: Violin Concerto in A Minor
- W. A. MOZART: Symphony No. 38, “Prague”
A HERO’S LIFE
Saturday, August 17, 7:30 p.m.
Sunday, August 18, 3 p.m.
Christian Reif, conductor
Thomas Reif, concertmaster
- GUSTAV HOLST: “Jupiter” from The Planets
- LIL LACY: Aurora – U.S. Premiere
- RICHARD STRAUSS: Ein Heldenleben (A Hero’s Life)