Whidbey musical festival expands to 6 performances

This year's Whidbey Island Music Festival will capture the passion of 17th century Italy, the lovely sounds of Handel, the wit and elegance of Joseph Haydn and will include a dash of Mozart's masterful string quartets.

Last year's series was so successful there's even more to listen to this year as the festival has expanded to four different programs on two weekends for a total of six performances beginning at 7:30 tonight.

Week One embodies the passion, drama and innovation of 17th century Italian music. The growth of opera brought a theatrical dimension to the stage. Add quirky love songs to the mix and you've got the emotional expression of the early Baroque.

The first week also comes with a dose of Handel, whose first trip abroad brought him to the flourishing musical scene of Italy where he discovered the virtuoso violin music of Corelli and the lavish theater music of Scarlatti.

During the second week of the concert series, audiences will be treated to Mozart and Haydn under the title of "Brothers in Music." Among the offerings is a stirring Gypsy violin rhapsody.

Performers for the series are: soprano Phoebe Jevtovic Alexander, organist Avi Stein, violinist and violist Tekla Cunningham, violinist Susan Feldman, violinist Cynthia Miller Freivogel, lute player John Lenti, viola player Anthony Martin, cellist Elisabeth Reed and viola player William Skeen.

Besides the music, the festival has a children's offering: a workshop at Greenbank Farm where kids can explore life in the courtyards of the 18th century. Stories will be told that will bring that century to life. Kids can undertake projects from making portraits to creating costumes.