There’s music in the air

A sampling of some of the prominent music festivals in California this summer:

Cabrillo Festival of Contemporary Music

July 28 through Aug. 10.

Now in its 41st season, America’s longest-running festival devoted to new music will include world and West Coast premieres by John Adams, Thomas Ades, Augusta Read Thomas, Emily Wong, Kevin Puts, Michael Hersch and Richard Danielpour. Directed by Marin Alsop, the Santa Cruz festival will also feature Christopher O’Riley playing piano transcriptions of the rock band Radiohead and a memorial concert for composer Lou Harrison, who died in February.

(831) 426-6966

www.cabrillomusic.org.

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Carmel Bach Festival

Saturday through Aug. 10.

Returning to its renovated summer home at the Sunset Theater after a two-year absence, the renowned Carmel Bach Festival marks its 66th season with Bach’s “Magnificat,” “St. John Passion” and a slew of concertos. Festival director Bruno Weil also will conduct music by Locatelli, Handel, Mozart, Haydn and others.

(831) 624-2046

www.bachfestival.org

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Music at Menlo

Aug. 3 through 18.

A new festival of chamber music on the San Francisco Peninsula, Music at Menlo is directed by Emerson String Quartet cellist David Finckel and pianist Wu Han, former directors of SummerFest La Jolla. They will appear in the inaugural season, along with cellist Carter Brey, the St. Lawrence String Quartet, members of the San Francisco Symphony and other musicians in concerts ranging from the Baroque to the contemporary.

(650) 725-2787

www.musicatmenlo.org

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San Luis Obispo Mozart Festival

Friday through Aug. 3.

The 33rd annual Mozart festival will range far beyond the Salzburg master, although he will be at its heart. Featured artists will include pianist Mari Kodama, the Quadre Horn Quartet, flutist Steven Shultz, violinists Ralph Morrison and Kathleen Lenski, guitarist Adam del Monte and flamenco dancer Laila del Monte. Clifton Swanson will conduct two of the three orchestra programs -- which are only part of the festival -- except for the closing concert, when Jeffrey Kahane takes over and plays piano as well.

(805) 781-3009

www.mozartfestival.com

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Southwest Chamber Music Summer Festival

Through Aug. 24.

The Pasadena-based chamber music ensemble celebrates its 10th season at the Huntington Library with string quartets by Haydn, Mozart, Dvorak and Chavez; quintets by Mozart and Schumann; and concertos by Handel and Vivaldi, among other works. That’s not all. Music by William Grant Still, James Newton and Schoenberg also fill the bill. Optional dinners (at extra cost) are available for Saturday evening concerts.

(800) 726-7147

www.swmusic.org

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SummerFest La Jolla

July 30 through Aug. 18.

With the theme of “East Meets West,” the 18th annual SummerFest La Jolla series will pair music by composers from China, Cambodia and Azerbaijan with Western composers such as Glass, Chausson, Mendelssohn and Falla. Festival director Cho-Liang Lin, now in his third year, hasn’t forgotten Beethoven, however, or Brahms or Bach, whose music will be played by Leon Fleisher as he and other eminent artists celebrate his 75th birthday.

(858) 459-3728

www.LJCMS.org

-- Chris Pasles