The VMMF Podcast
Take a peek behind—and beyond—the scenes of the Valley of the Moon Music Festival in their new podcast: the VMMF Podcast. To celebrate the upcoming 10th Anniversary Season, host and Festival Artistic Director Tanya Tomkins interviews musicians, scholars, and experts about the new season: Music Across the Americas.
The 10th Anniversary Season features Classical, Romantic, and modern works from Latin America, as well as North America and Europe, all performed using historically accurate instruments and gut strings. Join VMMF and friends, and learn what it takes to make music with guts.
Ep 2 Exploring the Cuban Pianist-Composer Tradition
April 3, 2024
Join Tanya Tomkins in conversation with the brilliant Cuban pianist and composer, Latin Grammy-nominated Adonis Gonzalez.
Adonis speaks about his musical journey, how he started the piano and why so many good musicians come from Cuba. Listen as Adonis performs some of his own compositions, improvisations and arrangements, as well as a range of composers including Rachmaninoff, Cervantes and his version of Lecuona’s popular La Comparsa. Adonis performs July 11, 13 and 14 on the Festival.
Learn more about Adonis Gonzalez
Ep 1: Who is Pedro Ximenez?
March 7, 2024
The first-ever episode of the VMMF Podcast features a conversation between VMMF Artistic Director Tanya Tomkins and Bolivian musicologist and violinist Karin Cuéllar Rendón. The two discuss Peruvian composer Pedro Ximenez Abrill Tirado (1784-1856), once known far and wide as the “Rossini of the Americas,” whose music will be presented on the Festival’s 10th Anniversary Season this summer.
Rendón, a Ximenez expert, explains why Ximenez was so famous in his day, and why he’s rarely performed now. She’ll also offer insight into how she has reawakened interest in this important composer. And a bonus: we get to hear about why Europeans visiting Latin America in the 19th century often tripped over their own feet while waltzing…
Learn more about Karin Cuéllar Rendón
Check out the VMMF Podcast Episode 1 Playlist here!