Bullish on the Arts
Kissane Viola Design
At a glance, Aspen’s summer arts scene mirrors the economy—in contraction mode. Cuts are evident: fewer dates in the Free Concert Series on Fanny Hill; two, not the usual three, feature productions at Theatre Aspen; one less day at each of Jazz Aspen’s two festivals.
On closer inspection, though, the arts might be the most stable sector in valley life—even showing signs of expansion.
Yes, Jazz Aspen’s June Festival moves out of its own venue in Rio Grande Park to present its headline acts—including Britain’s Jamie Cullum and Motown icon Smokey Robinson—into borrowed quarters under the Aspen Music Festival tent. But the festival tacks on a second weekend, with jazz performances in downtown settings like the Crystal Palace Grille, and free shows on the mall. As if to prove that smaller can be better, the club shows—featuring bass titan Christian McBride, and Esperanza Spalding, a singer-bassist making major waves in jazz—might top the tent concerts for musical fireworks. And in a move that should grow attendance (if not revenues), Jazz Aspen adopts the Music Festival’s policy of free lawn seating for the tent shows.
The Snowmass Chili Pepper & Brew Fest brings more participants to its beer and chili competitions. On the music side, big acts—Leftover Salmon, moe.—will play extended three-plus-hour sets. Theatre Aspen has fewer productions but, with a new cooling system that allows for daytime presentations, increases the number of performances. Aspen Santa Fe Ballet company makes three Aspen appearances—an increase from recent years—including a groundbreaking collaboration with a choir from the Music Festival and an evening that pairs members of the local troupe with dancers from American Ballet Theatre and New York City Ballet. Belly Up still lives by the “If you bring it, they will come—recession be damned” credo, booking the B-52s, Blue Öyster Cult and Blues Traveler.
Leading the way in stable thinking is the Aspen Music Festival, which vowed to make no cuts for its 60th anniversary season. “We’ve asked our board to put all its chips on this summer, then see where we stand,” said Music Festival president Alan Fletcher.
Conventional wisdom says music, theater and community gatherings become more important in tough times. Aspen should make it through the summer just fine.
