Huntington Highlight: Summer Concerts

There's something enchanting about live music in the open air on a summer evening—especially at a venue like The Huntington. Aside from their hugely popular Members' Summer Evenings concerts that are exclusively for members and their guests, The Huntington offers a full season's calendar of music performances and events (some outdoors, some in) that everyone is invited to enjoy. 

First on the list is the Summer Festival with the two-time Grammy® Award-winning Southwest Chamber Music ensemble.

"Southwest Chamber Music has been presenting their summer concert series here for more than 15 years, and it's truly one of the highlights of the summer season," the Huntington's Communications Coordinator, Lisa Blackburn, said. "Listening to chamber music on the loggia of the former Huntington mansion is a magical experience—the intimacy and elegance of the setting is perfect for this kind of music."

This summer, the group presents the complete cycle of Mozart's string quintets over four weekends, with programs that also include more contemporary works alongside those of the great composer.

Concert-goers may also want to consider taking advantage of the opportunity to enjoy an exclusive pre-concert dinner in The Huntington Tea Room, featuring a tantalizing and specially prepared menu each performance weekend. For an additional $55 (which includes tax and tip), you can savor such dishes as ginger salmon with coconut rice, southwestern crusted beef tenderloin, or corn souffle with wilted greens and honey butter sauce, followed by a decadent dessert like citron lemon tart or banana chocolate creme brulee.

Southwest Chamber Music's first set of performances took place on Saturday and Sunday this past weekend. For a schedule of the rest of the series and to purchase tickets, visit the ensemble's Summer Festival page online. Tickets for individual performances start at $28 per person; subscriptions are also available. For more information, call (800) 726-7147.

Then there's "An Evening with L.A. Opera: Music of the Regency" on July 21 at 7 p.m. This event, which will also take place on the loggia, complements the current "" exhibition in the West Hall of the Library. Enjoy performances by L.A. Opera singers and a commentary on the Regency period by Mary Robertson, curator of the exhibition. To register, call (626) 405-2128 (members: $45; non-members: $55).

You can also experience opera of the Orient at "Chinese Kun Opera: In Conversation with Peter Sellars and Hua Wenyi" on July 26 at 7:30 p.m. in Friends' Hall. The evening will include musical performances and a discussion featuring impresario Peter Sellars and Kun opera star Hua Wenyi. This one's free, but since space is limited, advanced reservations are required—call (800) 838-3006 or register online at www.brownpapertickets.com. 

Finally, there's a free Youth Orchestra Concert coming up on August 14 at 2 p.m. in Friends' Hall. Music Director and Conductor Fung Ho will lead the Virtuoso International Flute Ensemble and California State University Los Angeles Symphony Orchestra/Olympia Youth Orchestra in a selection of pieces drawn from both Eastern and Western classical music traditions. Ho explained that the afternoon's performance would be a relaxing "mix-and-match" experience, featuring solos along with larger-ensemble selections from both Eastern and Western traditions. This year, a special guest will also be making an appearance—renowned pipa player Celia Liu. No reservations required.

For these and other summer events, make sure to check out The Huntington's online calendar.