This year’s lineup includes performances by dancer Tiler Peck, Grammy winner Jon Batiste, and the American debut of the Versailles Royal Opera Orchestra
Words by CATHERINE BIGELOW
The artistic temperature is heating up as Festival Napa Valley trumpets its 19th season of sybaritic summer delights. This 14-day celebration (July 5–20) is a feast for the senses as more than 200 musicians from around the world — joining forces with top toques and storied vintners — alight at a variety of venues, five-star resorts, and exquisite vineyard estates that dot this verdant valley.
Star turns include performances by renowned mezzo-soprano Joyce DiDonato, baritone Lester Lynch, ballet dancer Tiler Peck, conductor Stéphane Denève, violinist Tessa Lark, and seven-time Grammy winner Jon Batiste, who headlines the Arts for All Gala. This fundraising fete (July 13) — benefiting FNV’s arts education, music scholarships, and tuition-free academies — at Nickel & Nickel Winery pairs primo Far Niente vino with a masterful menu by chef Rogelio Garcia of Michelin-starred Auro at the Four Seasons Resort in Calistoga.
In recent years, FNV has leaned into the visual arts with LED video projections that complement live concerts, as well as big-screen cinematic celebrations. Opening-night (July 11) honors the late philanthropist Richard Kramlich, in a concert accompanied by new media artwork from the preeminent Kramlich Collection. Also on the roster: a Q&A and screening of Flicka, a new documentary on beloved opera star Frederica von Stade (July 12). Clips and musical excerpts from Fantasia, the crown jewel of Disney animation, are performed by Festival Napa Orchestra (July 17). And classic films with soaring scores by the late Italian maestro Ennio Morricone are screened throughout the festival and heralded in a special Maria Manetti Celebrates La Dolce Vita! concert tribute (July 15).
With a year-round concert calendar, FNV is also growing globally, with established music partnerships in Italy, Japan, and now China. And fans will revel in festival debuts by pianist Tianxu An and the Versailles Royal Opera Orchestra on its inaugural American tour.
“Music and wine are powerful unifiers,” said Rick Walker, president and CEO of Festival Napa Valley. “They transcend borders and languages to reflect our shared humanity.” festivalnapavalley.org.
Feature image: A Patrons Dinner and performance at Castello di Amorosa. PHOTO: Drew Altizer Photography.
May 9, 2025
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