The Well-Tempered Ear

Classical music: Marlboro Festival and Music School turns 60. What makes it work and what is it like?

By Jacob Stockinger

The summer is fast coming to its end. And schools are fast approaching their opening.

So that means another season of summer camp is just about done.

Besides the famed Interlochen summer program in Michigan, the Marlboro Festival in Vermont  (below top) – co-directed by pianists Richard Goode (below middle) and Mitsuko Uchida (below bottom) — might be the most famous summer camp for young chamber musicians?

But what is it like to be a camper there as it marks its 60^th anniversary?

Here are two stories that will give you a good idea:

http://www.nytimes.com/2011/08/09/arts/music/marlboro-music-school-and-festival-in-vermont.html

http://www.npr.org/blogs/deceptivecadence/2011/08/03/138934222/why-rehearsals-matter-at-marlboro

Performances are why rehearsals matters. See and listen:

http://www.npr.org/blogs/deceptivecadence/2011/08/03/138924240/from-the-marlboro-music-festival-beguiling-b