Castleton Festival at the Hylton presents "An Italian Extravaganza" and "Mostly Mahler" concerts in Manassas

This summer brings another exciting opportunity to see the best and brightest up-and-coming artists and seasoned veterans of the classical music and opera worlds right in our own backyard. The Hylton Performing Arts Center in Manassas partners with the Castleton Festival to present two Castleton Festival at the Hylton performances in the Hylton Center’s Merchant Hall for the third consecutive year: "An Italian Extravaganza" in June and "Mostly Mahler" in July.

These performances feature world-renowned conductor and Castleton Festival founder Lorin Maazel conducting the Castleton Festival Orchestra, featuring 80 returning artists and newcomers, as well as a collection of talented young vocalists and opera luminaries. Assistant conductors Antonio Méndez and Rafael Payare will also conduct several works during each evening. These two Castleton Festival at the Hylton performances are unique to the Hylton Center and complement the 2013 Castleton Festival events that take place at the Castleton Farms estate this summer from July 3 – 28, 2013. 

“Lorin Maazel's appearances at the Hylton Center are always a highlight of the artistic year,” said the Hylton Center's Executive Director Rick Davis. “The Castleton Festival Orchestra plays with that ‘Maazel touch’ of energy, enthusiasm and expressive precision, and the soloists are world-class. We are proud to continue this partnership with one of America’s elite musical organizations, which happens to have sprung from the fertile soil of Rappahannock County.”  

The Castleton Festival, which is held every summer at the Maazels’ bucolic farm estate in Rappahannock County, Va., has received international acclaim for its enormously successful residency program that fosters young artists, advanced students and emerging professionals. The Castleton Festival celebrates its fifth anniversary season this summer.

For more than five decades, Lorin Maazel has been one of the world’s most esteemed and sought-after conductors. Formerly the music director of the New York Philharmonic, he is currently the music director of the Palau de les Arts “Reina Sofia” in Valencia, Spain, and recently became the music director of the Munich Philharmonic at the start of the 2012-2013 season. He also guest conducts with many of the world’s leading orchestras. Maestro Maazel and his wife, actress Dietlinde Turban Maazel, established the Chateauville Foundation in 1997 and the Castleton Festival in 2009.

On Sunday, June 30, 2013 at 7 p.m., the Castleton Festival Orchestra and singers present “An Italian Extravaganza” at the Hylton Center. In this breathtaking performance, distinguished soloists and Castleton alums, including tenor Jonathan Burton and baritone Corey Crider, join the orchestra for a program featuring glorious highlights from the world’s most beloved Italian operas.

Prior to the "An Italian Extravaganza" performance, the Hylton Center partners with chef Louis Patierno, of Panino Ristorante in Manassas and Girasole Ristorante in The Plains, to present a special dinner featuring a seasonal menu of award-winning Italian cuisine with Italian wine pairings.

On Thursday, July 18, 2013 at 8 p.m., the Castleton Festival brings a concert in its “Mostly Mahler” series to the Hylton Center. This elegant performance, showcasing works by Gustav Mahler and other celebrated composers, features a program that includes Mahler’s lyrical Symphony No. 4 and Mendelssohn’s Symphony No. 5 (“The Reformation”). Lyric soprano Jennifer Black – who the Denver Post praised as “a strong all-round singer with a big, lustrous sound and stage presence to match” – will be the soloist for this enchanting evening of music.

The guest artists and faculty members from the Castleton Festival will also present free public lectures (RSVP required) several days prior to the performance. The “An Italian Extravaganza” lecture will be held on Thursday, June 27, 2013 at 1:30 p.m. and the “Mostly Mahler” lecture will be held on Tuesday, July 16, 2013 at 3:00 p.m. Please email hylton@gmu.edu to RSVP.

For more information about the Castleton Festival at the Hylton and the “An Italian Extravaganza” dinner, please visit http://hyltoncenter.org/castleton/castletonfestival.html. For more information about the Castleton Festival, please visit http://castletonfestival.org/. 

The Cecil & Irene Hylton Foundation is the Presenting Sponsor of the Castleton Festival at the Hylton.

Tickets for each CASTLETON FESTIVAL AT THE HYLTON performance are $30, $45 and $60. Buy tickets to both concerts for $48, $72 and $96 and save 20%. Special discount packages are also available for subscribers to the Hylton Center’s Hylton Presents season. “An Italian Extravaganza” dinner is $75/person. Visit the box office (open Tuesday through Saturday, 10 a.m. to 6 p.m. and Thursday, 10 a.m. to 8 p.m.) or charge by phone at 888-945-2468 or visit HyltonCenter.org.

The Hylton Performing Arts Center is located on George Mason University’s Prince William Campus at 10960 George Mason Circle, Manassas, Va., 20110. Free parking is available in the lot next to the Hylton Center. For more information, please visit HyltonCenter.org. Like us on Facebook at Facebook.com/HyltonCenter and follow us on Twitter at @Hylton_PAC.