For the first time in its 29-season history, Durango-based classical music festival and conservatory, Music in the Mountains, is venturing into Cortez on July 14 with a performance from the acclaimed Los Angeles Cello Quartet at the Sunflower Theatre.
To expand its reach into nearby communities, Music in the Mountains is branching out into nearby towns of Pagosa Springs and Bayfield, in addition to Cortez.
“Our goal is to bring music to the entire region, beyond Purgatory and Durango,” said to Angie Beach, executive director of Music in the Mountains in a press release. “We hope this collaboration can continue with the Sunflower Theatre in years to come.”
A fan of classical music himself, Sunflower Theatre executive director Jeff Pope says this latest show aligns perfectly with the new venue’s mission to provide a local space for high-caliber performances.
“We’re really, really excited about this. We worked over a year on this partnership with Music in the Mountains. When else are you going to be able to see world-class musicians without having to go to Albuquerque or Durango?” said Pope.
Since opening in late January, the Sunflower has charged ahead with diversifying its programming, featuring everything from singer-songwriters to film screenings to comedy shows.
Since touring schedules and high price tags of national acts make them harder to net for small venues like the Sunflower, Pope says the key is securing partnerships like that with Music in the Mountains.
“People have really diverse tastes and our goal is to bring in high-quality entertainment that enhances the quality of life where we live,” said Pope. “Just because you live in a small town doesn’t mean you can’t have what other communities have, there are a lot of people in our community that care about classical music.”
The critically-acclaimed Los Angeles Cello Quartet is led by Ruslyn Biryukov, supported by Michael Kaufman, Hans Christian Goldstein and Hope Easton and will perform Fitzhagen’s Concert-Walzer, Popper’s Suite for 4 Celli; Komitas’ Five Medieval Armenian Chants; and Zemchuznikov’s Correspondence of John Lee Hooker and Joseph Hayden.
