FESTIVALFOCUS YOUR WEEKLY CLASSICAL MUSIC GUIDE
SUPPLEMENT TO THE ASPEN TIMES
MONDAY, JULY 6, 2026
VOL. 36, NO. 2
Broadway Stars Descend on Aspen for Guys and Dolls upstanding missionary wooed by highroller Sky Masterson. “The jokes are funny, “At a time when there is the music and lyrics are fantastic, and the Often heralded as the perfect Broadway character I play is so much fun.” so much uncertainty in musical, the Damon Runyon–inspired Guys In fact, Benko appeared as Sarah in a and Dolls has charmed audiences since its the world, dropping an Shakespeare Theatre Company produc1950 debut, turning a colorful New York tion of Guys and Dolls in Washington, D.C., City underworld of glib con men, highanchor where we can last December (before temporarily joinstakes gamblers, and dancers into high ing the cast of Ragtime, which just won a celebrate these largercomedy. But the show, which comes to Tony for best Broadway revival, earlier this Aspen as “Guys and Dolls in Concert” July than-life characters year). The role allows Benko to employ her 13 and 14 at the Klein Music Tent, also goes impressive vocal range, from traditional deeper, following its leads through a jourseemed like a fun and soprano and the jazzy “If I Were a Bell” to ney of self-discovery and transformation. “I’ve Never Been in Love Before,” which engaging choice.” “It’s a beautifully constructed story,” combines elements of both of these styles says Theatre Aspen Producing Director as Sarah integrates a new way of being. Jed Bernstein of the musical, which will Jed Bernstein One of the show’s messages, says Benko, Theatre Aspen Producing Director be directed by two-time Tony nominee is that people are more likely to change Jeff Calhoun. “At a time when there is so through love than fear—a key realization for much uncertainty in the Sarah. “I love that I get to exworld,” he adds, “dropping plore that vocally,” she says, an anchor where we can “expressing it through the celebrate these larger-thandifferent colors of my voice life characters seemed like and the different colors of a fun and engaging choice.” the music.” The concert marks the sevBroadway standout Ryan enth annual collaboration Vasquez (who recently between the Aspen Music starred in the national touring Festival and School and company of Moulin Rouge) Theatre Aspen, which exwill appear as Sky, a role to pands this year to include which he, too, returns. When acclaimed local company the California native was 11, Dance Aspen. he played Sky in a produc“It’s perfectly structured,” tion of Guys and Dolls at echoes Broadway star Julie the prestigious Children’s BLAKE NELSON Benko (Eliza Doolittle in Musical Theater San Jose. Julie Benko, shown above as Eliza Doolittle in last year’s production of My Fair last year’s My Fair Lady), Lady, returns this summer as Sarah Brown in the AMFS/Theatre Aspen co-proNow in his 30s, Vasquez say he’s pleased to have who plays Sarah Brown, the duction of Guys and Dolls in Concert on July 13 and 14. BY CINDY HIRSCHFELD
Festival Focus Writer
Aspen Public Radio to Broadcast Sunday Concerts for the 2026 Season Aspen Public Radio (APR) will once again partner with the AMFS to present live broadcasts of the Aspen Festival Orchestra’s Sunday concerts, beginning July 5. Now in its fourth year, the collaboration offers listeners access to these iconic Aspen performances via 91.5 FM in Aspen, 88.9 FM throughout the Roaring Fork and Colorado River valleys, and online at aspenpublicradio.org, and through the APR app. Longtime classical host Chris Mohr will lead the broadcasts and provide daily updates through “Festival Notes,” airing each morning. Weekly “High Notes” discussions will be available for streaming on APR’s website.
See Guys and Dolls, Festival Focus page 3
‘Ferocious Talent’ Alisa Weilerstein Performs July 9, 12 BY DAVID HOYT Festival Focus Writer
It is a treat to see Alisa Weilerstein, one of the leading cellists of her generation, perform anywhere. Having graced many of the world’s greatest stages, music critics simply rave about her “ferocious talent.” But there is something special about seeing her on an Aspen stage. Weilerstein, more than almost any other musician, grew up at the Aspen Music Festival and School (AMFS), so to see her perform in Aspen represents a homecoming of sorts. “The first summer of my life was spent in Aspen. I was literally a three-month-old baby,” says Weilerstein, whose parents, violinist Donald Weilerstein and pianist Vivian Hornik Weilerstein, were AMFS artist-faculty members. “Then I became a student when I was 13, for about five summers in a row. I came back as a guest artist when I was 26, and I’ve gone every year or every other year since then.”
CARLIN MA
Cellist Alisa Weilerstein and pianist Inon Barnatan are good friends and frequent collaborators at the AMFS and elsewhere. See them in recital in Harris Concert Hall on July 9.
“Coming back to Aspen is very nostalgic . . . I’ve gained so much repertoire and so many projects there,” she continues. “Aspen has always been a haven for great music-making, for education, for making lifelong friendships and musical relationships, and it’s also just one of the most fun places in the world. So why wouldn’t I want to keep going back?” This summer, audiences will have the opportunity to appreciate Weilerstein’s prodigious talents in two very different programs: in a July 9 recital with pianist Inon Barnatan in Harris Concert Hall and performing Dvořák’s much-loved Cello Concerto on July 12 in the Klein Music Tent. Of her productive musical partnership with Barnatan, Weilerstein says: “I think Inon and I have now gone through basically the entire cello-and-piano repertoire; we’ve been playing together for 18 or 19 years already. We’ve also become very close personal friends, so it’s always a great See Weilerstein, Festival Focus page 3
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