Concerts in the Barn moves concerts online

The performances have moved online, but the Concerts in the Barn performances are back in 2020.

The series, which runs each weekend from July 4-5 through July 25-26, musicians will be recording their performances and making them available to the public on Saturday and Sunday afternoons on the Concerts in the Barn website at www.concertsinthebarn.org and Facebook pages at and www.facebook.com/concertsinthebarnquilcene.

This year, three members of the world-renowned Carpe Diem String Quartet return to the farm: first violinist Charles Wetherbee, violist and composer Korine Fujiwara and cellist Greg Sauer. To round out the quartet, Elisa Barston — Principal Second Violin at the Seattle Symphony Orchestra and a guest artist for many years when the Olympic Music Festival made its home at the barn — joins the group.

The final weekend, July 25-26, the musicians will be joined by cellist Walter Grey, founding member of the Kronos Quartet, and violist Rachel Swerdlow, both currently members of the Seattle Symphony Orchestra, as well as Ariana Nelson, cellist for the Houston Grand Opera Orchestra. (Nelson is the granddaughter Alan Iglitzin, the founder of both the Olympic Music Festival and Concerts in the Barn.)

Concerts in the Barn musicians will record one concert per week, available for viewing online at the traditional concert time of 2 p.m. as well as the added 8 p.m. time each Saturday and Sunday.

“Too many people told us if they couldn’t be at the farm, they might be out hiking or gardening and would prefer to hear the concert in the evening … so we’ve made that possible,” series organizer Leigh Hearon said.

The musicians will look to mirror the barn experience, presenting onstage performances that include the usual pre-performance comments by the artists.

Festival coverage throughout the summer also will include short videos of the festival grounds and interviews with musicians. The podcasts and videos will be available for viewing on the Concerts in the Barn website and Facebook page, and updated weekly.

Opening weekend (July 4-5) is themed “Coming to America,” celebrating composers who made America their home and found rich sources of inspiration during their tenures here.

The second weekend (July 11-12) celebrates the 250th anniversary of Beethoven’s birth with two works from his “middle” and “late” period of quartet-writing.

On the third weekend of concerts (July 18-19), musicians will perform works that display creative inspiration, and the concluding concert (July 25-26) is a tribute to romanticism, with the cello quintet by Franz Schubert and string sextet in G by Johannes Brahms.

“We look forward to opening our farm again in future summers,” said Alan Iglitzin, founder and board member of Concerts in the Barn.

“Despite the social limitations COVID-19 requires, we hope to bring the essence of the barn experience to all our audience. Patrons are assured that we will open our barn doors to the public as soon as it is safe to do so.”

Concerts in the Barn encourages patrons to continue to watch its website and social media for updates and sign up on its mailing list to stay connected with the concert season.

In order to ensure the safety of our volunteers, musicians and staff, no one will be allowed on the farm property except those invited by prior arrangement and for the sole purpose of helping with property maintenance.

2020 Summer Program

• July 4-5 (2 p.m., 8 p.m.), “Coming to America”

“Voodoo Dolls” — Jessie Montgomerie

String Quartet No. 3 — Ernö Dohnanyi

String Quartet in F major, Op. 96 (“American”) — Antonin Dvorak

Featuring: Chas Wetherbee, violin; Elisa Barston, violin; Korine Fujiwara, viola; Greg Sauer, cello

• July 11-12 (2 p.m., 8 p.m.), “Beethoven in the Barn”

String Quartet in C# minor, Op. 131

String Quartet, Op. 59, No. 3

Featuring: Chas Wetherbee, violin; Elisa Barston, violin; Korine Fujiwara, viola; Greg Sauer, cello

• July 18-19 (2 p.m., 8 p.m.), “Creation”

String Quartet No. 19, K. 465 (“Dissonance”) — W.A. Mozart