The classics come to Wimberley

When the fourth of July is over, and so are fireworks, the last strains of the John Phillips Sousa marches are finally forgotten, the Wimberley mystique draws in a little more sophisticated type of music, classical that is. Cactus Pear will once again present a free Community Concert this year titled Baying at the Moon. It will take place on Thursday, July 18 at 7 p.m. at the Chapel in the Hills. Best of all, it’s free.

This year’s edition of the Cactus Pear Festival will tour in the cities of San Antonio, Boerne, New Braunfels and Wimberley.

Thirteen world-class artists join founder and Artistic Director Stephanie Sant’Ambrogio in Wimberley on July 18 at the Chapel in the Hills at 7 p.m. They will be performing masterpieces by the “Rock Stars” of classical music such as Beethoven, Schubert, Mozart and Brahms, alongside newer works by 20th & 21st century composers including Ravel, Francaix, Shostakovich and Clarke. All with world class musicians performing. Artistic Director Stephanie Sant’Ambrogio chose the works and with good reason.

“I was inspired by the astronauts landing on the moon 50 years ago and it got me thinking about Beethoven’s “Moonlight Sonata.” That made me connect it to a 20th century piece inspired by Beethoven’s sonata, Shostakovich’s Viola Sonata: it musically quotes “Moonlight Sonata” bridging the centuries for our “Baying at the Moon: Beethoven & Beyond” program. She continued.

“Two great pieces. Anticipating the 250th anniversary of Beethoven’s birth next year, I decided to program his Sextet for two horns and strings for the first time in CPMF’s 23 years. And with two horns on stage, I wanted to feature them in Verne Reynold’s evocative “Antiphonal Calls” for two horns. I’m sure the Wimberley audience will love this program.”

Audiences in bigger cities love the program but Wimberley does too.

Of course, the audience is smaller but also very intimate, which is how chamber music—in its ideal setting—is really meant to be heard. The Chapel in the Hills sanctuary is a beautiful space with wonderful acoustics,”

Wimberley does draw a lot of musicians to the valley, so it seems only natural the Cactus Pear Music Festival would return bringing classical music, artists and composers .

“We are always glad to see the Wimberley audience, so attentive and appreciative of the performances and music we bring them. I’m looking forward to being back,” Sant’Ambrogi said.

For more information, call (210) 838-2218, or check the Cactus Pear website at cpmf.us.