Festival Napa Valley brings music and more to wine country

Since its founding in 2006 (under the name Festival del Sole), the Festival Napa Valley has provided an annual celebration of music, wine and food, as well as the inimitable scenery of Napa Valley. Events are spread out across the wineries and concert halls of the region, with musical events of various kinds keeping company with meals and tastings. Top-ticket items are pricey, but there is a smattering of free events as well between July 12-21.

Baritone Lucas Meachem is one of three operatic stars performing a concert at Festival Napa Valley, with conductor Christian Reif and the Festival Napa Valley Blackburn Music Academy Orchestra. Photo: Natasha Sadakin

Opera Under the Stars

The festival’s starriest event brings together three international celebrities of the operatic world — soprano Joyce El-Khoury, tenor Francesco Demuro and baritone (and new father) Lucas Meachem — to sing a program of operatic favorites. Conductor Christian Reif accompanies, leading the Festival Napa Valley Blackburn Music Academy Orchestra.

6:30 p.m. Friday, July 12. $1,000. Meadowood Napa Valley, 900 Meadowood Lane, St. Helena. 888-337-6272. www.festivalnapavalley.org

British cellist Sheku Kanneh-Mason, who performed at the wedding of Prince Harry and Meghan Markle, will play a chamber program with his pianist sister. Photo: Lars Borges

Sheku Kanneh-Mason and Isata Kanneh-Mason

The gifted young British cellist Sheku Kanneh-Mason won the BBC Young Musician of the Year award in 2016, and two years later came to even greater prominence after performing at the wedding of Prince Harry and Meghan Markle. He performs a chamber program with his sister, pianist Isata Kanneh-Mason.

7 p.m. Friday, July 12. Free. Napa Valley College Performing Arts Center, 2277 Napa Vallejo Highway, Napa. 888-337-6272. www.festivalnapavalley.org

Grammy-winning artist Seal will headline a gala for Festival Napa Valley, accompanied by the Festival Napa Valley Blackburn Music Academy Orchestra. Photo: Courtesy Festival Napa Valley

Arts for All Gala

At the heart of the festival’s scheduling is a gala concert to raise money for expanding access to the arts through education programs and scholarships for emerging musicians. Grammy-winning recording artist Seal is the headliner, accompanied by the Festival Napa Valley Blackburn Music Academy Orchestra.

5:30 p.m. Sunday, July 14. $1,000. Hall Napa Valley, 401 St. Helena Highway, St. Helena. 888-337-6272. www.festivalnapavalley.org

Grand Cru Concertos

Three international up-and-comers in the classical music world join conductor Joel Revzen and the Festival Napa Valley Blackburn Music Academy Orchestra for a program of concertos. The rotating soloists are Cuban-Chinese-American cellist Sophia Bacelar, British violinist Charlie Siem and percussionist Mitya Nilov from Belarus.

6:30 p.m. Wednesday, July 17. Tickets from $49. Castello di Amorosa, 4045 St.  Helena Highway, Calistoga. 888-337-6272. www.festivalnapavalley.org

Sunday at the Symphony

The festival closes with one final concert by the Festival Napa Valley Blackburn Music Academy Orchestra. After providing accompaniment for a roster of vocal and instrumental soloists, the young ensemble will finally have the spotlight to itself.

3 p.m. July 21. Free. Napa Valley College Performing Arts Center, 2277 Napa Vallejo Highway, Napa. 888-337-6272. www.festivalnapavalley.org

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  • Joshua Kosman
    Joshua Kosman Joshua Kosman is The San Francisco Chronicle’s music critic. Email: jkosman@sfchronicle.com Twitter: @JoshuaKosman