Big names are back in Winona as Minnesota Beethoven Festival returns

Minnesota's consummate classical music road trip is back.

After a pandemic pause in 2020, the Minnesota Beethoven Festival will re-emerge Sunday, presenting eight concerts by major international artists on the campus of St. Mary's University in Winona. For Twin Cities classical music lovers, that could mean a lovely drive or even train ride down the Mississippi River, with splendid music awaiting them at the end of their journey.

Big names have been part of the Beethoven Festival from its beginnings in 2007.

"The first couple of years, we had the Minnesota Orchestra and [violinist] Joshua Bell, both of whom gave us instant credibility," said Ned Kirk, artistic and managing director of the festival since its founding. "Even [cellist] Yo-Yo Ma was here as early as 2010.

"People all over were surprised. We sort of appeared out of the blue and hit the ground running. Again, I was looking for a way to generate credibility quickly, which is why Osmo [Vänskä] and the Minnesota Orchestra was my first call. They were recording all the Beethoven symphonies at the time and it was a perfect fit. Having Osmo come to Winona to conduct all nine symphonies in the first four years was a huge part of getting people's attention."

It's a typically impressive lineup this year, although it has more of a chamber music and recital focus while past years often featured orchestras and choirs. "Back in April, when we were given permission to reopen, large ensembles were not an option," Kirk said. "We needed to move forward quickly to rebuild a season, and so I went with inviting back friends, all in small configurations."

Concerts also will reflect the fallout of COVID: Audience members will be in every other seat at St. Mary's Page Theatre and the Chapel of St. Mary of the Angels. And masking will be recommended.

Pacifica Quartet: Arguably the hottest performers at the festival, this string quartet won the 2020 Grammy for best chamber music/small ensemble performance for its album "Contemporary Voices." It was the second Grammy for the group, which Minnesota audiences may remember for performing all of Beethoven's string quartets as part of the Schubert Club's Music in the Park Series. They'll launch the festival by returning to Beethoven and adding string quartets by Sergei Prokofiev and Fanny Mendelssohn. (3 p.m. Sunday)

Los Angeles Guitar Quartet: For 40 years, this esteemed ensemble has expanded the classical guitar repertoire in all sorts of interesting directions, and its latest project is a classic example. Jazz guitarist Pat Metheny wrote "Road to the Sun" for the group in 2016, and now he's created a second installment. The LAGQ's concerts can bring you from the Renaissance era forward through multiple centuries, cultures and genres. (7:30 p.m. July 8)

Marc-André Hamelin: A pianist's pianist, Hamelin is a fearless performer who enjoys the challenge of particularly difficult works. Hearing the 11-time Grammy nominee play two Beethoven sonatas (along with some C.P.E. Bach) should be a rewarding experience. This will be his third Beethoven Festival recital. (3 p.m. July 11)

Chanticleer: America's foremost male vocal ensemble makes its festival debut. The 12 talented men of San Francisco-based Chanticleer harmonize on centuries' worth of repertoire, and it should be particularly transporting to hear them in the Chapel of St. Mary. (7:30 p.m. July 13)

The rest of the fest: All of the performers are top-notch. The festival will feature 7:30 p.m. concerts by pianist Adam Golka (June 29), the Manhattan Chamber Players (July 2), and the American String Quartet (July 6), with violinist Grace Park and pianist Peter Dugan closing the festival July 15.