Inaugural Castleton Festival led by Founder and Artistic Director Lorin Maazel

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Held at Castleton Farms, Virginia July 3-19

Four fully-staged Britten chamber operas and two symphonic concerts to be presented

Four fully-staged chamber operas by Benjamin Britten will be the focus of the first annual Castleton Festival to be held at Castleton Farms, Lorin Maazel’s 550-acre property in Rappahannock County , Virginia , over three weeks in July. The festival will also include master classes taught by Maestro Maazel, two symphonic concerts and an open day at the property.

The Castleton Festival is an extension of the Castleton Residency program established by The Châteauville Foundation founded in 1997 by Maestro Maazel and his wife Dietlinde Turban-Maazel to train and mentor young musicians.

“This Festival has, for us, defined itself, little by little, as we have seen in the course of presenting three Britten productions with young people, the effect that living and working together so closely and collaboratively can have. We realized we had a festival in the making and are now looking forward to bringing the work of our Residency program into greater focus, in an even broader frame.” -Maestro Maazel

Around 200 professional and student artists will participate in the festival with performances taking place in the 130-seat Theatre House and a specially erected 250-seat air-conditioned tent in Castleton Meadows. Fourth of July celebrations will include a free open house, with tours of the Castleton Farms property and fine art exhibitions, and a free country dance held in the Festival tent.

Tickets to festival events range from $50 to $80 and are available from castletonfestival.org or by phone 540... or toll-free 866-974-0767.

The Castleton Festival is the only American festival devoted to chamber opera. The four Britten operas to be performed include the premiere of a new production of The Turn of the Screw (July 3, 4, 5) as well as productions of The Beggar’s Opera (July 5, 12, 16, 18), The Rape of Lucretia (July 10, 11, 12) and Albert Herring (July 17, 18, 19) developed during past Castleton Residencies. All productions are directed by William Kerley. The first performance of each opera, and the performance on Saturday, July 4, will be conducted by Maestro Maazel. Other performances will be conducted by three Castleton Fellows selected by Maestro Maazel, Timothy Myers (US), Jordi Bernàcer (Spain) and Andreas Weiser (Germany), who will also take part in the master classes.

Two symphonic concerts will be presented by the Castleton Festival Orchestra on Saturday, July 11 and Sunday, July 19. The concerts will follow two weeks of symphonic activities for the participants with coaching by principal players of the New York Philharmonic including concertmaster Glenn Dicterow.

The Castleton Festival will also see the first annual series of master classes for 10 young conductors taught by Maestro Maazel and the Castleton Fellows. Two of these conducting classes will be open to the public on Wednesday, July 8 and Thursday, July 16 providing the first ever opportunity for people to observe Maestro Maazel teach.

Directions
The Castleton Farms Theatre House is located at 663 Castleton View Road, Castleton, VA 22716, about 60 miles southwest of Washington, DC (approx 80 minutes drive); approx two hours drive from Richmond and Baltimore; and approx five hours drive from New York City.

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