Bellingham festival presents 'Magic Flute' in concert

George Bernard Shaw once called it "the only music that would not sound out of place in the mouth of God."

Shaw was referring to Mozart's opera "The Magic Flute," and music lovers around the world would second that statement. With its fairy-tale imagery, its themes of goodness triumphing over evil and its sublime music, this opera has something for the most naïve and the most sophisticated listeners.

Tonight, the Bellingham Festival of Music is presenting a concert version of the opera, with some great singers: Soprano Heidi Grant Murphy heads the cast in the role of Pamina. Murphy is a Northwest native who has gone on to sing major roles at the Metropolitan Opera, the Salzburg Festival, Frankfurt Opera, the New York Philharmonic and the Chicago Symphony, among several other leading companies and orchestras. She also is noted for her recordings, which showcase her in interesting and imaginative song repertoire (and which display her astonishing range).

She'll be joined by tenor Richard Clement as Tamino, Stephen Powell as Papageno, Linda Smit as Papagena, Katie van Kooten as Queen of the Night, Norman Smith as Sarastro, Clayton Brainerd as the Speaker and Paul Johnson as Monostatos. Jennifer Linshield, Cynthia Johnson and Emily Lunde are the Three Ladies. Michael Palmer conducts the American Sinfonietta and the Festival Chorus, all in Bellingham's Mount Baker Theatre at 8 p.m.

"Magic Flute" is one night only — but the festival continues Saturday with an 8 p.m. vocal recital by Clement and baritone Stephen Powell, who tackle 24 works by 24 different composers (Syre Center at Whatcom Community College). The focus shifts Sunday to the Hawaiian slack-key guitar, in an aloha-oriented program at 8 p.m. in the outdoor Bellwether on the Bay venue.

On Monday, it's back to the classics — Mozart, Strauss and Beethoven — with Palmer and the Sinfonietta playing at 8 p.m. in the Mount Baker Theatre. Chamber programs dominate the rest of the week, with the lively and inventive Quartetto Gelato doing everything from gypsy fiddle to opera arias at 8 p.m. Tuesday in Bellwether on the Bay. Famed clarinetist Richard Stoltzman joins his pianist son Peter in a promising Thursday concert at the same venue, where they'll perform Debussy's "Premiere Rhapsodie" — and "My Funny Valentine," "West Side Story Suite," some Gershwin, some Thelonius Monk and a lot more.

For tickets and more info, call 866-682-2537.

Olympic Music Festival

It's really a Mozart weekend: Mozart reigns supreme at the Olympic Music Festival, where the second of two Mozart Festival programs is unveiled at 2 p.m. tomorrow and Sunday in the festival's idyllic grounds just west of the Hood Canal Bridge (near Quilcene, on the Olympic Peninsula). Two quartets (K.589 and K.590) and a Quintet for Strings (K.515, with two violas) will bring together Stefan Hersh, Cecilia Archuleta, Alan Iglitzin, Heather Bentley and Carter Enyeart.

If the concert barn is full, you can get tickets to listen on the lawn outside, while you enjoy a picnic or just drift off into Mozartland. Ticket info: 206-527-8839.

Marrowstone Music Festival

Up in Bellingham again, it's time for the Marrowstone Music Festival concerts — with faculty recitals starting at 3 p.m. Saturdays, beginning with tomorrow's program featuring Seattle composer Ken Benshoof. Also on offer are Dvorak's G Major String Quintet and the lovely C Minor Piano Quartet of Fauré; performers include pianist Jeffrey Gilliam, violist Helen Callus, violinists Kyung Sun Chee, Walter Schwede and Hal Grossman, cellists Natasha Boyko and Stephen Balderston, double bass Ken Baldwin and Walfrid Kujala, piccolo — a distinguished lineup, indeed.

The performance takes place in the Western Washington University Concert Hall; for tickets, call 360-650-6146.

Melinda Bargreen: mbargreen@seattletimes.com.