The Castleton Festival is yet another reason why the Piedmont is a very special place to live. On July 3, in the foothills of the Blue Ridge Mountains, nestled on 550 acres of rolling hills and beautiful lakes, the first annual Castleton festival opens. The Castleton Festival will feature the crème de le crème of young artists from around the world, performing in symphonic concerts and four of Benjamin Britten’s famous chamber operas. The Opera’s include The Turn of the Screw, The Beggar’s Opera, Albert Herring and The Rape of Lucretia. As part of the concert series performances will include Mozart Symphony No. 29, Bruch Violin Concerto and Beethoven Symphony No. 7. The second concert includes Verdi: Overture to a La forza del destino; Barber: Adagio for Strings; Britten: Young Person’s Guide to the Orchestra; Brahms: Varians on a Theme by Haydn; Bartok: Concerto for Orchestra.

This new festival is the cornerstone project of the Chateauville Foundation, founded

by Maestro Lorin Maazel and his wife, Dietlinde Turban-Maazel, to train and mentor young musicians. The Castleton Festival is the only festival in the U.S. devoted to chamber operas and is built on the success of the Castleton Residency program. This festival represents a major commitment from Maestro Lorin Maazel, who has stepped down as music director of the New York Philharmonic in June 2009. During the festival there will also be master classes taught by Maestro Maazel, an open house with tours of the Maazels’ property and even a traditional, country dance on Saturday, July 4. Ticket prices range from $50 – $80. For a schedule of the Castleton Festival, please click here: chateauville.org/festival.html