Celebrate 40 years of beauty, creativity Music From Angel Fire

TARA O’CONNOR AND DANIEL Phillips are a team, so it came as no surprise that this married duo took the reins four years ago as Music From Angel Fire’s Artistic Directors (as so many events were that year, the 2020 festival was cancelled). It should also be no surprise that, rather than one-on-one interviews, they collaborated to answer several questions about the 2023 season, the 40th Anniversary of this amazing chamber music festival.

Asked what they are most excited about this season, O’Connor/Phillips replied, “That we are celebrating the 40th anniversary of Music from Angel Fire! We managed to convince our friend and Metropolitan Opera star, (mezzo soprano) Jennifer Johnson Cano, to be with us for the whole season. Many classical music lovers don’t really know the vocal chamber music repertoire. They will be in for something special when they hear and see her interact with the instrumentalists just as our gang does all the time.”

“Gang” is an appropriate description here, as so many performers have been with the festival for decades. When renowned violinist Ida Kavafian stepped into the role as artistic director in 1984, she brought husband Steven Tenenbom, Teddy Arm, and Toby Appel with her and, through the years, created a “family” of worldclass musicians.

“Ida made a tradition of having a certain continuity of many of the musicians, making it feel like a family reunion each year” Phillips said. “Tara and I haven’t missed a season for the last 20-some years, since before we were married.”

Along with all the familiar faces returning this year, O’Connor/Phillips effused, “Besides Jennifer, the young, brilliant pianist Michael Stephen Brown will be joining. We have worked with Michael often over the last several years, and always find him a source of natural musical insight and stunning ability. We have loaded him up with plenty to do, since he will be our only pianist. There will be a completely new group of Young Artists: two string quartets, ‘The Dolphins’ from Juilliard, and The Shumsky Quartet from Curtis.”

As with every season, this year’s season will feature works from great composers of the past, while also embracing an exciting future. This year’s Composer-in-Residence (a program that began in 1988) is one of the most-sought-after composers and musicians, Grammy nominated, steel pannist Andy Akiho, who will again be joined by his musical collaborator, Ian Rosenbaum on marimba. Both played during O’Connor/Phillips’ first season as Artistic Directors in 2021.

Music From Angel Fire Board President Lillian Aldridge commented the festival was fortunate to secure Akiho’s commitment before his fame exploded. “I don’t think that when he committed to us two years ago, he had any idea. He’s famous now.”

O’Connor/Phillips added, “Andy is an original. It is pretty unheard of the steel pan being used in classical music, let alone the complex rhythmic world he lives in. The rhythm in his music is fascinating, brimming with life. He has an imagination for atmosphere and can hypnotize his audiences as they marvel at the skill and the beauty of his playing.”

On a sadder note, O’Connor/ Phillips noted, "The theme of the festival this year is ‘Voices from the Heart’ and is dedicated to the beloved memory of Robyn Atkinson who passed away on June 20, 2022. Robyn had a long and close association with Music from Angel Fire right from the first year, discovering the rich experience of the immersion in the glorious music, and serving as volunteer and various positions as an officer on the board of directors.” — EllenMiller-Goins