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La Jolla Music Society’s annual SummerFest returns to The Conrad from July 26 to August 24, 2024, bringing world-class musicians to La Jolla for four weeks of thrilling concerts. Music Director Inon Barnatan, returning for his sixth consecutive year, has created an exciting program titled “Inside Stories.”
“This year, the festival becomes an incredible and colorful canvas, bringing to life the stories, emotions, and experiences that make us human, all through the power of music,” said Barnatan. “With an incredible lineup of artists from around the world, we dive into stories covering all that life has to offer—resilience, heartbreak, love, scandal, and triumph.”
La Jolla will host some of the world’s best musicians and artists, including the much-anticipated premieres of the sensational vocal group VOCES8, guitarist Sean Shibe, and conductor Ludovic Morlot. The festival will also feature the return of beloved artists such as Augustin Hadelich, Tessa Lark, Alisa Weilerstein, Anthony McGill, Paul Watkins, and James Ehnes, among others.
Following his acclaimed debut at SummerFest last year, British composer Thomas Adès returns as resident composer. He will premiere new works, showcase his talents as a pianist and conductor, and curate a special evening at the Baker-Baum Concert Hall.
SummerFest 2024 also marks the return of the Synergy Initiative, co-produced by Inon Barnatan and philanthropist Clara Wu Tsai, which invites top creators in music, dance, spoken word, and visual arts to collaborate in their respective art forms and produce performances that inspire audiences in unexpected and powerful ways. The festival and Synergy series will open with a reimagined production of Stravinsky’s *The Soldier’s Tale*, directed by Thomas Adès and featuring impressive visuals created by The Paper Cinema, a British puppet company that will present live manipulation of specially created paper figures in front of a camera, projected in real-time, along with live illustrations and shadow puppets.
The Synergy Initiative also includes jazz pianist Dan Tepfer performing a fascinating blend of jazz improvisation with algorithmic composition, where the piano interacts with visualizations and automated responses, creating a unique live conversation between the musician and technology. Finally, building on the success of his “Counterpoint” program, the Synergy series will pair pianist Conrad Tao with dancer Caleb Teicher for a newly commissioned evening celebrating the dialogue between tap dance and classical music.
The SummerFest will kick off with “A Pact with the Devil,” an electrifying reimagining of Stravinsky’s *The Soldier’s Tale*. This production, directed by Thomas Adès, will feature hand-drawn animation, live puppetry, and a powerful narrative by The Paper Cinema. The event will take place on Friday, July 26, at 7:30 p.m. and promises a magical evening with performances of works by Liszt, Tartini, Paganini, and Stravinsky, featuring a distinguished cast including James Miller, Augustin Hadelich, and Eleni Katz.
The festival’s programming continues with impressive concerts, including “Danse Macabre” on Saturday, July 27, at 7:30 p.m., and “Passions and Storms” on Sunday, July 28, at 3 p.m. The series will also feature “Weekday Masterworks: Amadeus” on Wednesday, July 31, and “Baroque Fantasy” on Friday, August 2. With performances of works by Saint-Saëns, Schubert, Beethoven, and more, the festival promises an unforgettable musical experience through August 24.
SummerFest subscriptions are now available. A full subscription for all 17 concerts at The Baker-Baum Concert Hall costs $1,249 or $1,413 depending on seat location. Partial subscription series and custom packages will be available later in the spring. Individual tickets are now on sale, ranging from $30 to $115.
Tickets and more information are available at the La Jolla Music Society box office at 858.459.3728 and online at TheConrad.org.
As a leading presenter of top-tier performing arts in Southern California, the La Jolla Music Society contributes to San Diego’s cultural vibrancy year-round through a rich variety of performances, including classical music, jazz, global roots, contemporary music, and dance. For more information, visit TheConrad.org or call 858.459.3728.
