The Monterey Peninsula seems to be entering a new era of excellence in the performing arts. Perhaps it has taken a couple of seasons to fully recover and renew from the constraints of the pandemic, but musical and theatrical organizations covered by this column appear to be thriving and attaining fresh artistic distinction. Among these presenters are the Monterey Symphony, I Cantori di Carmel, Pacific Repertory Company, Sunkiss’d Mozart’s Summerfest, Carmel Bach Festival and the New Canon Theatre. June, often a quiet month for live performance, this year delivers a spectacular lineup of concerts, festivals, theater and dance!

I Cantori di Carmel reschedules

Originally scheduled in early May for its historic Carmel Sunset Center debut under the baton of acclaimed German conductor Daniel Henriks, I Cantori di Carmel suffered a devastating last-minute cancellation due to a COVID-19 outbreak within the ensemble. The milestone program, “Songs of Destiny,” will now be presented at Sunset on June 13. A sweeping symphonic choral experience with over 100 local and regional musicians, it’s also a saga of artistic resilience.

Henriks says, “Thanks to the exceptional support and flexibility of the Sunset Center staff and leadership, as well as generous donors and community encouragement, ‘Songs of Destiny’ will return to our premiere concert hall. The program feels even more poignant now because of what we’ve been through together, and the music is just too powerful to be left unheard.” From the deep romanticism of Brahms to the shimmering colors of Debussy and Ravel and the soaring optimism of Vaughan Williams, the concert explores forces that shape our lives, such as fate, memory, renewal and the unknown.

I Cantori’s Sunset debut takes place Friday, June 13 at 7:30 p.m. Doors open at 7 p.m. For tickets see www.sunsetcenter.org/event-calendar/ For more information see www.icantori.org or call (831) 644-8012.

Henriks conducts Espressivo’s Romantique

In addition to his leadership of I Cantori, Henriks has been tapped to guest conduct Espressivo, the distinguished chamber orchestra from Santa Cruz, following the retirement of its artistic director Michel Singher. The ensemble makes its Monterey Peninsula debut on June 7 at the First Presbyterian Church in Monterey with “Romantique,” a program celebrating French Romantic composers Berlioz, Bizet and Arthur Honegger.The orchestra, known for its signature small, intense sound, was established by Sangher in 2015, bringing together professional instrumentalists to perform classical masterpieces in chamber arrangements. For this program, celebrated Santa Cruz soprano Emily Sinclair joins the ensemble for Berlioz’s “Les nuits d’été.” Honegger’s “Pastorale d’été” and Bizet’s Symphony in C reflect more of the Romantic era’s individuality and passion.

The concert takes place Saturday June 7 at 7 p.m. at First Presbyterian Church of Monterey. For tickets and more information see www.espressorch.org. Tickets available at the door. Doors open at 6:30 p.m.

Sunkiss’d Mozart Summerfest2025

Fresh from her recent performance at New York’s Lincoln Center, effervescent violinist Cindy Wu takes the reins of her Sunkiss’d Mozart Summerfest June 11-15, which, as with last year’s inaugural Festival, takes place in intimate and picturesque locations around the Monterey Peninsula. She says, “To me, Summerfest is a boutique music festival. It’s small, but every piece of its artistic content is created with a one-of-a-kind experience in mind.” Her unique elements encompass a scintillating lineup of events and artists, with venues to match each event, including food and wine receptions and an innovative tasting-note booklet that replaces the traditional concert program..

“I have a very short attention span,” she adds, “So I think I’m a good gauge when it comes to experiences that keep you on the edge of your seat.” The edges of Wu’s seats this year will be found at the Pacific Grove Arts Center, the Seascape Room at Asilomar, Stevenson School’s Treasure Room, the sensuous barrel room of a winery, and the concert room of her own home.

The music and events reflect this year’s theme of Metamorphosis. Summerfest’s world-class main stage musicians include returning cellist Tanya Tomkins, violist David Samuel and violinist Yuri Cho. Wu’s colleague at Chamber Music Society of Lincoln Center, cellist Dmitri Atapine, joins them. Last year’s core of Rising Star musicians also joins the musicmaking this year.

Program highlights include Mendelssohn’s Octet, Schoenberg’s Verklärte Nacht, a rendition of Leonard Cohen’s Hallelujah for three cellos and much more. Creative collaborations with New York Times bestselling author Alka Joshi, visual artist Clare Lerner and this season’s Summerfest commission composer Daixuan Ai enrich the Festival’s activities.

“The highest form in chamber music playing is about a selfless willingness to listen, understand, and walk alongside each other,” says Wu. “But it’s not for each other; it is all for the music and what it gives back to us and the audience. It is truly humbling when you think about it—the better you listen to others, the greater the performance gets.”

Every performance will be followed by a reception with refreshments and wine to allow audiences to further enjoy the special settings of these unique concerts. The Festival’s Canvas Series brings attendees inside the artistic process of music, literature and visual art.

“It’s not just a series of concerts. It’s a celebration of listening — deep, transformative and joyously alive.” If you attended Sunkiss’d Mozart Summerfest last June, you will likely agree with Wu’s words. Sunkiss’d Mozart Summerfest: A Tapestry of Sound and Story takes place June 11—15. For tickets, special offers and more information about the music, events and locations, see https://skmozart.com/festival.

PG Pops Orchestra

Dance into Summer with the PG Pops Orchestra on Saturday at 2 p.m. at the Pacific Grove Performing Arts Center. The concert promises to delight audiences of all ages, with zesty selections, including works by Strauss, Bizet, Andrew Lloyd Webber and much more. PG Pops is an intergenerational community orchestra bringing together musicians from middle schoolers to octogenarians, conducted by artistic director and music educator Barbara Priest. Admission is free. The Performing Arts Center is located at 836 Forest Ave. For more information about this spirited local orchestra and all they offer see www.pgpopsorchestra.com

Smuin Ballet returns

San Francisco’s Smuin Contemporary Ballet caps its 2024/25 season with Dance Series 2, a vibrant program of world premieres and beloved repertory works. It’s coming to Carmel’s Sunset Center June 7—8. The bill features artistic director Amy Seiwert’s first world premiere in her new role at the helm of the company, alongside the Bay Area debut of nationally acclaimed choreographer Trey McIntyre’s exuberant “Wild Sweet Love,” set to pop hits by Queen, The Zombies and more.

The program also revives Michael Smuin’s Rodin-inspired pas de deux “The Eternal Idol,” and showcases Sinfonietta, a lively neoclassical work by former company dancer (and drag star) Rex Wheeler. As ever, Smuin fuses bold creativity with classical roots delivering dance that’s fresh, fearless and deeply human. The performance takes place at Sunset Center Saturday, June 7 at 7:30 p.m. and Sunday, June 8 at 2 p.m. For tickets or more information, call (831) 620-2048 or see www.sunsetcenter.org/event-calendar/