performers
Festival Orchestra Napa
Festival Orchestra Napa is an all-star ensemble that brings together principal players from major international orchestras and faculty from renowned colleges and conservatories, together with participants from the Frost School at Festival Napa Valley Blackburn Music Academy.
Centered around a core of Frost School of Music faculty, the orchestra also includes hand-picked musicians from ensembles, such as the San Francisco Symphony, MET Opera Orchestra, Dallas Symphony, Houston Symphony, and Atlanta Symphony, among others.
Festival Orchestra Napa’s appearance is made possible through a generous gift from Tatiana and Gerret Copeland, proprietors of Bouchaine Vineyards.
Performances
Manetti Shrem Opera Fellows
Admission-free. Reservations are recommended.
The 2026 Manetti Shrem Opera Fellows take the stage for a joy-filled evening of beloved opera scenes with Festival Orchestra Napa and the Young People’s Chorus of New York City.
Festival Napa Valley kicks off its 20th Anniversary Season with a festive Opening Night led by conductor Stephanie Childress, celebrating classical masterworks, world premieres, and iconic songs by American composers.
La Dolce Vita!
honoring Luciano Pavarotti
Experience the enchantment of La Dolce Vita at this special evening dedicated to the artistic legacy of Luciano Pavarotti, one of the world’s most celebrated tenors and cultural ambassadors.
with Live Orchestra
Rediscover the 1939 Technicolor classic The Wizard of Oz as it returns to the big screen in a spectacular live-to-picture performance with Festival Orchestra Napa, conducted by Ming Luke. Follow Dorothy and her companions on their journey from Kansas to the Emerald City along the Yellow Brick Road, as Herbert Stothart’s iconic score is performed live alongside the film.
Melanie Hamrick, Joanna DeFelice, and Christine Shevchenko bring their exhilarating production, A Night at the Ballet, to Napa for the annual Dance Gala. The program features highlights from some of the world's most beloved classical ballets, including Don Quixote, Swan Lake, Les Sylphides, and Carmen. The evening also includes a special appearance by guest artist Nicholas Palmquist, performing in the West Coast premiere of Can't You Hear Me Knocking, set to the music of The Rolling Stones.
The Judgment of Paris
Commissioned for Festival Napa Valley’s 20th Anniversary Season, The Judgment of Paris is a one-act opera by composer Jake Heggie and librettist Gene Scheer, inspired by the legendary 1976 blind tasting that transformed the world of wine.
with Festival Orchestra Napa
The Summer Season concludes with a grand finale honoring the United States Semiquincentennial and celebrating the breadth, brilliance, and legacy of American music and its composers.