The Sound of (Monadnock) Music

Must-see festival Monadnock Music continues through August 13

In our July issue, we told you about a trio of classical music festivals that are making New Hampshire's hills come alive this month with the sound of music.

A fourth such festival gets its start this weekend, and, with the rich schedule of performances it offers over the next four weeks, you won't want to miss it.

Founded in 1966, Monadnock Music has dedicated itself to enriching the lives of Monadnock region residents with its five decades of diverse classical performances. Under the direction of new general manager (and noted musician and filmmaker) Laina Barakat, the series is better than ever this year. This 51st running of the festival offers nine Village Concerts in towns throughout the region and four performances as part of its main event, the Peterborough Town House Concerts.

The first Town House Concert is "Music for Martha," an exploration of the music written for groundbreaking 20th-century choreographer Martha Graham. The festival's artistic director, Gil Rose, directs the Boston Modern Orchestra Project in Gian Carlo Menotti's "Errand Into the Maze," Carlos Surinach's "Embattled Garden" and William Schuman's "The Witch of Endor." The concert is scheduled for Saturday, July 16, at 8 p.m. in — of course — the Peterborough Town House.

The remaining Town House Concerts are a tribute to the late soprano Phyllis Curtin, an exploration of New England psalm singing traditions and, to close the series, the second year of Monadnock Music's five-year effort to perform the Complete Beethoven Symphonies. (This year's symphonies are numbers 4 and 7.)

Can't make it to Peterborough? The free Village Concert series will bring the tunes to you. Keene, Deering, Milford, Francestown, Jaffrey, Sullivan, Harrisville, Temple and Nelson each get their own performance, given by musicians as diverse as the Monadnock Music Sinfonietta and Renaissance vocal ensemble Exsultemus.

Whether you opt for a Peterborough Town House performance or a Village Concert, odds are you'll find something in this festival to enjoy. The festival runs from July 16-August 13, and tickets and more information can be found at monadnockmusic.org.

New Hampshire Magazine is a proud sponsor of this event.