GRAMOPHONE TO PRODUCE SPECIAL EDITION ABOUT MUSIC FEST

June 10th, 2008 at 07:31pm Aspen Music Festival 355

The Aspen Music Festival and School is the first U.S. partner with the world’s most prestigious classical music magazine

The Aspen Festival has a great energy and a deep love of music-making. In this sense Gramophone is something of a kindred spirit. By bringing together the virtues of both, we aim to create something really special that should enrich the Aspen experience for all its patrons and supporters. ― James Inverne, Gramophone editor

ASPEN, COLORADO—In a great leap across The Pond, the world’s leading classical music magazine Gramophone, based in London , is producing a special edition devoted entirely to the 2008 season of the Aspen Music Festival and School. The 104-page guide was overseen directly by Gramophone editor James Inverne and Gramophone North American section editor Anastasia Tsioulcas and illuminates this premier American music festival’s 2008 season with articles on the festival’s programming, artists and history. The relationship is expected to lead to further editions in 2009 and 2010. The inaugural issue is due out on June 17.

The publication, called “Music in the Mountains,” will be mailed to all AMFS patrons and will be distributed in the concert halls and box offices of the festival throughout the 9-week season (June 19 through August 17).

Alan Fletcher, the president and CEO of the AMFS says, “Gramophone is a perfect partner for the festival as we both are organizations dedicated to classical music at its highest levels of quality and sophistication.” Fletcher also writes a blog on the Gramophone web site (view it at http://www.gramophone.co.uk/interviews_detail.asp?id=2969).

Simon Temlett, publisher of Gramophone adds, “Our partnership with the Aspen Music Festival and School is a great opportunity for us to further extend the reach of the Gramophone brand in North America and allows us to communicate directly with an audience who shares our passion for classical music. We are proud to be associated with the Aspen Music Festival and School and look forward to delivering a publication that celebrates America ’s premier music festival in all its glory.”

Since its first issue in April 1923, Gramophone has been at the forefront of reporting the latest developments in classical music, and it is acknowledged for its peerless, and fearless, reviews and penetrating interviews with the world’s leading classical music artists. It has grown up alongside the classical record industry. It has followed the latest technical developments--which today, of course, includes downloads--greeted the greatest talents and watched the repertoire expand to embrace music that its founding editor would not have dreamed possible. The magazine has drawn on the talents of some of the finest writers on music for more than 80 years, and continues to do so. Its worldwide distribution is approximately 80,000.

The Aspen Music Festival and School was founded in 1949 by Walter and Elizabeth Paepcke and is now the United States ’ premier classical music festival. It is led by world-renowned music director David Zinman and presents more than 350 musical events during its nine-week summer season. The institution draws top classical musicians from around the world for an unparalleled combination of performances and musical education. More than 25 percent of events are free and seating on the David Karetsky Music Lawn and in the Music Garden is always free.

The AMFS has five orchestras composed of top professionals and music students, many already beginning their professional careers. Hailing from 40 states and 40 countries, the 750 students begin vying for a spot as early as October of the previous year. Renowned alumni include violinists Joshua Bell, Sarah Chang, Cho-Liang Lin, Robert McDuffie, Midori, Nadja Salerno-Sonnenberg and Gil Shaham; pianists Ingrid Fliter, Orli Shaham and Joyce Yang; conductors Marin Alsop, James Conlon, James Levine and Leonard Slatkin; composers William Bolcom, Philip Glass, Bright Sheng and Joan Tower; vocalists Renée Fleming and Dawn Upshaw; cellists Lynn Harrell and Alisa Weilerstein; performer Peter Schickele; and bassist Edgar Meyer.

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Entry Filed under: Classical Music, Media, Aspen, Colorado, Aspen Music Festival, United Post