In La Jolla, where the sea breeze meets artistic brilliance, the third week of SummerFest 2025 invites audiences into a world of emotional depth and sensory delight. Presented by La Jolla Music Society, SummerFest is more than a seasonal chamber music series. It is a celebration of life’s turning points and creative evolution aptly captured in this year’s theme Milestones.
Week Three begins with unforgettable concerts, a sophisticated gala, and an innovative evening that blends world-class music with masterful cuisine. Whether you are a seasoned concert attendee or a hungry newcomer, the next week at The Conrad will leave an indelible mark in your heart and senses.
A Weekend Where Strings Do the Talking
Friday evening commences with Strung Together, a concert offering a conversation between instruments, composers, and centuries. The diverse repertoire on the agenda includes Jessie Montgomery's energetic Concerto Grosso and the poignant lyricism of Dvořák's Piano Quintet in A Major. The concert features celebrated soloists, violinist Stefan Jackiw, cellist Alisa Weilerstein, and Music Director Inon Barnatan at the piano.
Both works share a common tale of unity. Whether you're attracted to Montgomery's robust textures or the wistful loveliness of Dvořák, this concert is a reminder that music and life is richest when voices blend in harmony.
And this single concert will resound far beyond the concert hall. Strung Together will be live recorded for Medici.tv, placing La Jolla's artistry in front of a global audience.
A Gala Night Under the Sunset
Saturday night will see fans and supporters at the stunning Jacobs Residence for the SummerFest Gala. There, elegance meets its finest.
They will toast with Champagne and caviar as the sun dips over the Pacific, accompanied by an intimate musical interlude hand-picked by Barnatan himself. Candlelit dinner on the pool patio, followed by wines, dessert bars, and dancing under the stars.
In addition to being lovely, the evening has a greater good. Proceeds benefit La Jolla Music Society's Learning and Engagement programs, which touch over 11,000 students and adults annually through outreach, mentorship, and education. It's a night of glamour with a lasting benefit.
Sunday’s Concert Pays Tribute to Musical Inspiration
Titled Homage, the concert on Sunday afternoon is a tribute to the musical legacy. With Purcell, Britten, Tchaikovsky, and Arensky's compositions, the concert is a moving exploration of the ways in which one composer's imagination can speak across the ages.
The concert brings internationally celebrated artists together in carefully curated combinations. Blake Pouliot and Stephen Waarts conduct the group in Britten's String Quartet No. 2, and Barnatan accompanies Pouliot in Tchaikovsky's beautiful Souvenir d'un Lieu Cher. The afternoon concludes with Arensky's intensely dramatic String Quartet No. 2, with a special double cello configuration.
Homage, as well, and Friday night's concert will be streamed for Medici.tv, further expanding SummerFest's global constituency.
Reflecting on the Past and Future in Midweek Masterworks Wednesday evening, Looking Back performs. This Midweek Masterworks concert explores how music of the past continues to shape music composed today. It is something to think about that innovation and tradition are best achieved together.
The concert begins with Brahms's Cello Sonata No. 1, a cornerstone of Romanticism, then moves on to Koechlin's lighthearted Quatre Petites Pièces, and ends with Glazunov's sumptuous and vibrant String Quintet in A Major. Each piece transcends eras and emotions, asking the listener to see music as a living dialogue throughout the centuries.
It is also encouraged that guests linger on after the concert with a complimentary sparkling wine toast, a fitting end to an evening of lasting beauty.
A Culinary and Musical Experience like No Other
Thursday night's Tasting Notes transforms the concert experience. Half-concert, half-culinary theater, and all unforgettable, this Synergy Series concert is presented by renowned chef and food writer J. Kenji López-Alt.
While a chamber ensemble performs Dvorak's Piano Quartet in E-flat Major, four international chefs López-Alt, Claudette Zepeda, Sean Sherman, and Kelly Van Arsdale will be live cooking onstage. Their kitchen technique will be live-projectioned, giving a glimpse into the creative process that is otherwise out of sight.
Between movements, musicians and chefs will discuss inspiration, improvisation, and the beautiful tension between freedom and discipline.
The evening ends with Summer Night Bites, a post-concert gathering that features tacos from Café Coyote, ice cream from Killer Whale Creamery, and a chef meet-and-greet. For the reasonable price of thirty dollars, the add-on turns the evening into an all-sensory experience.
Learning and Engagement Events Give Depth
During the week, complimentary Learning and Engagement activities augment the audience's educational foundation regarding the music and artists of SummerFest. These include lectures by distinguished scholars Tiffany Kuo and Michael Gerdes, to intimate coaching workshops and artist discussions.
Whether you attend a Musical Prelude concert, join a livestreamed Encounter, or witness a coaching session, guests can learn the festival themes in fresh and meaningful ways.
For those who want something beyond a hall seat, these concerts offer a back-stage pass into the universe of chamber music.
A Week that Captures the Spirit of SummerFest
From spirited performances to considerate pairings of food and music, Week Three of SummerFest honors the essence of the Milestones theme. It is a week of celebration and reminiscence, when each note and each bite bears the imprint of artistic maturation. Whether you're sitting in the concert hall, partying at the Gala, or being inspired on a plate by a world-renowned chef, SummerFest is a testament that beauty resides at the intersection where tradition and transformation converge.
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