PORT TOWNSEND — The Olympic Music Festival will open its summer season with concerts at 2 p.m. Saturday and Sunday.
The concerts will be in the Wheeler Theater at Fort Worden State Park, 200 Battery Way, Port Townsend.
Tickets are $20 to $60 per person at www.olympic musicfestival.org/2025-concerts.
Season passes for all eight concerts in the month-long classical music series also are available.
All vehicles must display a Discover Pass in parking areas at Fort Worden. Passes may be purchased on site.
This weekend’s program will feature pianist Julio Elizalde, the festival’s artistic director.
Elizalde will open the festival on Saturday with Beethoven’s Piano Sonata No. 27 in E minor, Op. 90; Schumann’s “Davidsbündlertänze,” Op. 6; “Pavane pour une infante défunte” by Ravel and selected works by Chopin.
On Sunday, Elizalde will present “The History of Music,” a lecture-recital exploring the history of Western classical music.
On Aug. 16-17, violinst Ray Chen will join with the festival’s mentoring artists Dimitri Murrath, viola; Matthew Zalkind, cello; and Elizalde, piano, for two chamber concerts.
Joining them will be Olympic Music Festival fellows Ria Honda, violin; Jeremy Klein, viola; K.J. McDonald, violin; Annie Hyung, cello; and Andrew Chen, piano.
The Saturday program, “Romantic Reflections,” will include works by Halvorsen, Brahms and Dvorak.
On Sunday, the festival will present “Voyage From Paris to St. Petersburg,” featuring works by Chausson, Faure and Tchaikovsky.
Concerts on Aug. 23-24 will see the Olympic Music Festival’s fellows mentored by Alexander Fiterstein, clarinet; Jessica Lee, violin; Matthew Zalkind, cello; and Elizalde.
The concert on Saturday, “Beethoven the Visionary,” will feature music by Beethoven, Brahms and Schubert.
On Sunday, “Revolutionary Titans” will include works by Stravinsky, Shostakovich, Prokofiev and Ravel.
On Aug. 30-31, the festival will close with “Chamber Music Masters,” featuring violinists Steven Copes and Sandy Yamamoto, violist Jonathan Vinocour, cellist Efe Baltacıgil and pianists Elizalde and Robert McDonald.
Saturday’s concert, “Dark Passions,” will include works by Ades, Rachmaninoff and Franck.
The season finale, “Tempest and Triumph,” on Aug. 31, will feature works by Schubert, Brahms and Dvorak.
For more information, visit www.olympicmusicfestival.org.
