Summer classical music is renowned in Colorado! For more than half a century, some of the most famous international soloists and orchestras have trekked to gorgeous Colorado destinations to perform at the state’s world-renowned classical music festivals. But you don’t need to travel to mountainous concert halls to hear great music, because CPR Classical brings summer music to you! This summer, revel in live broadcasts from the summer music festivals, festival concert recordings, livestreams, and events for you to meet your favorite CPR Classical hosts! Summerfest 2024 on CPR Classical begins June 10 and runs through August 18.
And there’s more to come this summer! Check back throughout the summer.
What’s in store:
Summerfest on-air
Summerfest Spotlight takes over Colorado Spotlight every day this summer! Weekdays at 9 a.m. and 7 p.m., you’ll hear top-notch performances from Bravo! Vail, the Aspen Music Festival and School, the Colorado Music Festival and more. Summerfest Spotlight will also be heard on Saturdays at 5 p.m. and Sundays at noon. Throughout each day, listen for the Summerfest Concert Calendar. Host Jean Inaba will keep you up to date on the latest concert happenings for the week.
Special Broadcasts:
Mon., June 10, 7:00 p.m.
Join Patty Painter-Wakefield for a walk down memory lane with the Colorado College Summer Music Festival Orchestra and conductor Scott Yoo in Colorado Springs.
Fri, June 28, 5:30pm
LIVE broadcast: Pianist Daniil Trifonov joins the Aspen Chamber Orchestra for
Mozart's Piano Concerto No. 9 “Jeunehomme”, on a program with Schumann's Symphony No. 4 and a co-commission by Joel Thomson from AMFS.
Fri., July 5, 7:00 p.m.
A special broadcast of a sold-out 2023 performance of the New York Philharmonic at Bravo! Vail. Hear Beethoven’s Symphony No. 5 and Rossini’s "William Tell Overture."
Fri., Aug 2, 5:30 p.m.
LIVE broadcast: Violinist Gil Shaham plays Mozart’s Violin Concerto No. 5. Plus, Mahler’s 4th Symphony with the Aspen Chamber Symphony, conducted by James Conlon.
Live webstreams
Experience the Aspen Music Festival live from CPRClassical.org! Browse the full schedule of all 10 events. Highlights include:
- June 30: Respighi’s "Pines of Rome" plus a premiere with soprano Renee Fleming
- July 15: Pianist Conrad Tao plays Gershwin’s "Rhapsody in Blue"
- August 18: Act III of Wagner's "Die Walküre" and Liszt’s Second Piano Concerto
Meet the hosts!
CPR Classical wants to meet you! Join us for concerts throughout the state and meet some of your favorite hosts.
Sat., June 22: Bravo! Vail
Hear Bravo! Vail’s debut of Sinfonia de Mineria from Mexico City, with a concert of music by Ravel, Rodrigo and Falla, plus special appearances from flamenco singers and dancers. Hosts Karla Walker and Jessie Jacobs will be on-site and would love to say hello.
Sun., July 14: Aspen Live in Denver, at the Denver Art Museum
CPR Classical and DAM are joining forces to bring ASMF to the big screen via Medici TV. Meet Host Monika Vischer and hear Beethoven's Triple Concerto featuring Joshua Bell, Steven Isserlis and Jeremy Denk.
Thurs. and Fri., July 18-19: Colorado Music Festival and School
The Colorado Music Festival presents Rachmaninoff’s Piano Concerto No. 2 with pianist Olga Kern, and Grieg’s "Peer Gynt" narrated by CPR Classical’s Kabin Thomas.
Sat., July 20: National Repertory Orchestra in Denver
A special event from the National Repertory Orchestra in Denver! Beethoven’s Symphony No. 6 “Pastoral” is paired with Gershwin’s "Rhapsody in Blue" featuring pianist Jon Kimura Parker. Be sure to say hi to host Karla Walker.
Fri., Aug 2: Aspen Music Festival
It’s a CPR Classical takeover at Aspen! Meet hosts Matt Weesner, Kabin Thomas, Patty Painter-Wakefield and Monika Vischer for a concert of Mozart’s Violin Concerto No. 5 and Mahler’s Symphony No. 4, featuring the Aspen Chamber Symphony, conductor James Conlon and violinist Gil Shaham.
Summerfest 2024 is made possible by:
Additional support for Summerfest 2024 is provided by:
There are a variety of ways to hear great performances by today’s top artists as well as legendary singers from the Metropolitan Opera’s history. Download the Colorado Public Radio app, tune in at radio signals around Colorado, or you can tell your smart speaker to “Play CPR Classical."
