QUILCENE –– The fourth decade of summer concerts inside an old dairy barn kicks off this weekend, as the Olympic Music Festival begins its 2014 season.
Started as a summer home for the Philadelphia String Quartet, the farm at 7360 Center Road in rural Jefferson County has become renown for its chamber-style concerts.
“Chamber music originally was meant to be performed in small, informal and intimate settings,” founder and resident violist, Alan Iglitzin, explains.
“Concerts in the Barn emulate that original focus. We just do it in a distinctly unique Northwest setting.”
With hay-bale seating and a jeans-and-T-shirt dress code, the 55-acre festival grounds will fill the air with the talents of musicians from across the continent at 2 p.m. every Saturday and Sunday through September.
The season’s “Opening Celebration” features Tien-Hsin Cindy Wu on violin, festival founder Alan Iglitzin on viola, festival newcomer Dimitri Atapine on cello and co-artistic director Julio Elizalde on piano.
The four will play a mix of centuries-old compositions, including Mozart’s Sonata in A major for Violin and Piano, K. 526, Rachmaninov’s Sonata in G minor for Cello and Piano, Op. 19 and the Piano Quartet No. 1 in G minor, Op. 25 by Brahms.
In coming weekends, Concerts in the Barn will bring players from across the West.
Festival grounds open at 11 a.m. for early birds to wander the farm and have a leisurely picnic before the barn doors open at 1 p.m.
Ticket prices range from $18 to $33 and may be purchased by phone at 360-732-4800 or online at www.olympicmusicfestival.org.
For program listings and complete details about the festival, visit www.olympicmusicfestival.org.
