Why you should hear some classical music this week

The Palm Beach Chamber Music Festival is one reward for sweating out summer here.

For decades, the Palm Beach Chamber Music Festival enlivened four of the dullest weekends of summer with masterful performances of classical works.

Why it’s important: The festival is winding down this month.

• The COVID-19 pandemic and the associated loss of revenue, as well as the grind of producing four July weekends of concerts, drove the decision, Palm Beach ArtsPaper’s Greg Stepanich reported this month. 

What makes the festival special: It’s run by the musicians. They choose the works, and the players rehearse and perform without a conductor.

What they’re saying: “It worked to the degree it worked because the emphasis was on the music,” clarinetist Michael Forte told Stet News. He founded the festival in 1992 with flutist Karen Fuller and bassoonist Michael Ellert. “It was a nice opportunity to do everything in a democratic way.”

“As Greg wrote, ‘It’s not just another gig.’”

The final programs will be Friday at Lakeside Presbyterian Church in West Palm Beach; Saturday at First Presbyterian Church in North Palm Beach; and Sunday at St. Paul’s Episcopal Church in Delray Beach.

Ticket information is here.

Read The ArtsPaper’s interview with the co-founders here.