List of classical music festivals
The following is an incomplete list of classical music festivals – music festivals focused on classical music. Classical music is art music produced or rooted in the traditions of Western music (both liturgical and secular), and has long been played at festival-like settings. It encompasses a broad span of time from roughly the 11th century to the present day.[1] The major time divisions of classical music are as follows: the early music period, which includes the Medieval (500–1400) and the Renaissance (1400–1600) era, played at early music festivals; the common practice period, which includes the Baroque (1600–1750), Classical (1750–1830), and Romantic eras (1804–1910), which included opera festivals and choral festivals; and the 20th century (1901–2000) which includes the modern (1890–1930) that overlaps from the late 19th-century, the high modern (mid 20th-century), and contemporary classical music festivals or postmodern (1975–2000) eras, the last of which overlaps into the 21st-century. The term "classical music" did not appear until the early 19th century, in an attempt to distinctly canonize the period from Johann Sebastian Bach to Beethoven as a golden age.[2]
Related lists, categories, and media
List | Category | Media |
---|---|---|
List of classical music festivals | ||
List of music festivals | ||
List of early music festivals | ||
List of chamber music festivals | ||
List of choral festivals | ||
List of Indian classical music festivals | ||
List of opera festivals | ||
List of Bach festivals | ||
List of Christian music festivals | ||
List of experimental music festivals | ||
Festivals
Africa
Festival name | Location | Years | Notes |
---|---|---|---|
Festival international de musique symphonique d'El Jem | Tunisia; El Djem | 1985–present | Held every summer |
Greyton Genadendal Classics for All[3] | South Africa | 2003–present | Held third weekend in May each year |
Nosy Be Symphonies – Festival de Musique Classique de l'Océan Indien[4] | Madagascar | 2014–present | Held end of August each year |
Klein Karoo Klassique[5] | South Africa | 2009–present | Held beginning of August each year |
Asia
Festival name | Location | Years | Notes |
---|---|---|---|
Kuthiramalika Festival | India; Thiruvananthapuram | ?–present | At shrine built by Swathi Thirunal Rama Varma |
Sarvani Sangeetha Sabha | India; Chennai | 1986–present | Encouraging young talents |
Parampara Series – Andhri | India; Hyderabad | 1997–present | Asian classical music |
Swathi Sangeethotsavam | India; Trivandrum | 2000–present | Asian classical music |
The Hindu Friday Review Music Festival | India; Chennai | 2005–present | Asian classical music |
All Pakistan Music Conference | Pakistan; Lahore | 1959–present | Qawaali, classical, pop, rock, hamd, ghazel |
Israel Festival | Israel; Jerusalem | 1961–present | Arts festival with classical focus |
Istanbul International Music Festival | Turkey; Istanbul | 1973–present | Classical music, ballet, opera, traditional music |
Mersin International Music Festival | Turkey; Mersin | 2002–present | Classical, jazz, pop |
Gümüşlük International Classical Music Festival | Turkey; Gümüşlük | 2004–present | And Eklisia summer school |
Tokyo Summer Festival | Japan; Tokyo | 1985–present | Mixed genres |
Pacific Music Festival | Japan; Sapporo | 1990–present | Performers from major orchestras serve as faculty. |
Seiji Ozawa Matsumoto Festival | Japan; Matsumoto | 1992–present | Held in August and September |
Beijing Music Festival | China; Beijing | 1998–present | Founded by the Chinese government |
Great Wall International Music Academy | China; Beijing | 2005–present | Month-long classical music institute |
Tongyeong International Music Festival | South Korea; Tongyeong | 2002–present | Large event with multiple genres |
Isang Yun Competition | South Korea; Tongyeong | 2003–present | Classical competition |
Daegu International Opera Festival | South Korea; Daegu | 2003–present | Multiple features beyond main opera |
Music in PyeongChang | South Korea; PyeongChang | 2004–present | Chamber music festival |
Beigang International Music Festival | Taiwan; Beigang | 2006–present | Beigang Philharmonic Association |
Bengal Classical Music Festival | Bangladesh; Dhaka | 2012–present | South Asian classical music |
Europe
North America
Festival name | Location | Years | Notes |
---|---|---|---|
Brott Music Festival | Canada | 1988–present | Multiple genres |
Bach Music Festival of Canada | Canada | 2011–present | Bach festival |
Domaine Forget | Canada | –present | |
Festival 500 | Canada | –present | |
Festival of the Sound | Canada | –present | |
Kiwanis Music Festival | Canada | –present | |
Mondial Choral | Canada | –present | |
Montreal Festivals | Canada, Montreal | –present | |
Music and Beyond | Canada | –present | |
New Brunswick Summer Music Festival | Canada, New Brunswick | –present | |
Ottawa Chamberfest | Canada, Ottawa | –present | |
Quebec City Summer Festival | Canada, Quebec | –present | |
Quebec Contemporary Music Society | Canada, Quebec | –present | |
Stratford Summer Music Festival | Canada | –present | |
Toronto Summer Music Festival | Canada, Toronto | –present | |
Tuckamore Festival | Canada | –present | |
American Festival for the Arts | United States | ||
Annual Avant Garde Festival of New York | United States | ||
Aspen Music Festival and School | United States | ||
Atlantic Music Festival | United States | ||
Bard Music Festival | United States | ||
Bellingham Festival of Music | United States | ||
Blossom Festival | United States | ||
Bowdoin International Music Festival | United States | ||
Bravo! Vail | United States | ||
Brevard Music Center | United States | ||
Bridgehampton Chamber Music Festival | United States | ||
Caramoor Summer Music Festival | United States | ||
Carmel Bach Festival | United States | ||
Chamber Music Northwest | United States | ||
Chestnut Hill Concerts | United States | ||
Cincinnati May Festival | United States | ||
Colorado MahlerFest | United States | ||
Colorado Music Festival | United States | ||
Festival Mozaic, San Luis Obispo[9] | United States, California | 1971–present | Multiple genres |
Festival Napa Valley | United States | ||
Festival of Neglected Romantic Music | United States | ||
Festival of New Trumpet Music | United States | ||
Fine Arts Summer Academy (FASA)[10] | United States | ||
Grand Teton Music Festival | United States | ||
Grant Park Music Festival | United States | ||
Hot Springs Music Festival | United States | ||
Kneisel Hall | United States | ||
La Musica | United States | ||
Laguna Beach Chamber Music Society | United States | ||
Los Angeles Philharmonic Institute | United States | ||
Mainly Mozart Festival | United States | ||
MasterWorks Festival | United States | ||
Mendocino Music Festival | United States | ||
Midsummer Mozart Festival | United States | ||
Mineral Point Chamber Music Festival[11] | United States | 2017–present | This annual June festival features advanced university-level ensembles |
Missouri Chamber Music Festival | United States | ||
Mostly Modern Festival[12] | United States | 2018– | The focus of the festival is "mostly modern": music by living composers from around the world, with occasional works from the standard repertoire. |
Mostly Mozart Festival | United States | ||
Music Academy of the West | United States | ||
Music@Menlo | United States | ||
Music from Angel Fire[13] | United States | 1984–present | Music from Angel Fire celebrates extraordinary chamber music in the Northern New Mexico communities of Angel Fire, Taos, Raton and Las Vegas. |
Music House International[14] | United States | 1997–present | Study with members of the Philadelphia Orchestra |
Music in the Mountains | United States, Colorado | ||
Music Mountain | United States | 1930–present | June through September annually; devoted to the string quartet and other chamber music; Twilight series of jazz, swing, etc. Education programs, master classes, etc. |
National Music Festival[15] | United States, Chestertown, Maryland | 2010–present | First two weeks of June annually |
Newport Music Festival | United States | ||
Norfolk Chamber Music Festival | United States | ||
Northern Lights Music Festival[16] | United States | 2003–present | The Northern Lights Music Festival is a three week classical music performance program and music school which is held each summer on the Minnesota Iron Range. |
Ojai Music Festival | United States | ||
OK Mozart Festival | United States | ||
Olympic Music Festival | United States | ||
Oregon Bach Festival | United States | ||
Park City International Music Festival | United States | ||
Philadelphia International Music Camp & Festival[17] | United States | 1997–present | Study with members of the Philadelphia Orchestra |
Piano Summer | United States | ||
Portland Chamber Music Festival | United States | ||
Rockport Music | United States | ||
Santa Fe Chamber Music Festival | United States | ||
Sarasota Music Festival | United States | ||
Sitka Summer Music Festival | United States | ||
Strings Music Festival | United States | ||
Worcester Music Festival, Massachusetts | United States, Massachusetts | –present | |
West Side Orchestral Concerts | United States | –present | |
Vermont Mozart Festival | United States, Vermont | –present | |
Tanglewood Music Center | United States | –present | |
Classical/Pops Festival | Barbados | 2014–present | Held yearly in December |
Oceania
Festival name | Location | Years | Notes |
---|---|---|---|
Intervarsity Choral Festival | Australia | 1950–present | Choral festival |
Melbourne International Arts Festival | Australia | 1986–present | Held for 17 days each October |
Canberra International Music Festival | Australia | 1994–present | Held at the end of April annually |
G-TARanaki Guitar Festival | New Zealand | 2008–present | Guitar focus |
South America
Festival name | Location | Years | Notes |
---|---|---|---|
Semana Musical Llao Llao | Argentina | 1993–present | Held yearly in October |
Septiembre Musical | Argentina | 1960–present | Arts festival |
Ilumina Festival | Brazil | 2015–present | Chamber music festival |
Festival Amazonas de Ópera | Brazil | 1997–present | Opera festival |
Festival de Música Coral Renascentista | Brazil | 2017–present | Reinassance music festival for 3 days |
Natal Luz | Brazil | 1986–present | Classical Christmas concert |
Frutillar Musical Weeks | Chile | 1968–present | Between January and February, 10 days |
Boyacá International Cultural Festival | Colombia | 1973–present | Cultural and arts festival with classical music |
International Festival of Lyric Singing | Peru | 1996–present | International vocalists |
References
- "Classical", The Oxford Concise Dictionary of Music, ed. Michael Kennedy, (Oxford, 2007), Oxford Reference Online. Retrieved July 23, 2007.
- Rushton, Julian, Classical Music, (London, 1994), 10
- Greyton Genadendal Classics for All
- Nosy Be Symphonies
- Klein Karoo Klassique
- Investec International Music Festival
- Settimane Musicali al Teatro Olimpico di Vicenza
- http://www.cistermusica.com/
- Festival Mozaic, San Luis Obispo
- Fine Arts Summer Academy (FASA)
- Mineral Point Chamber Music Festival
- Mostly Modern Festival
- Music from Angel Fire
- Music House International
- National Music Festival, Chestertown, Maryland
- Northern Lights Music Festival
- Philadelphia International Music Camp & Festival
External links
Media related to Classical music festivals at Wikimedia Commons