Maazels launch Virginia festival

Outgoing New York Philharmonic Music Director Lorin Maazel and his wife, Dietlinde Turban-Maazel, will launch a music festival on the grounds of Castleton Farms, their estate in Rappahannock County.

The festival's first season, July 4-19, 2009, will present Benjamin Britten's chamber operas "The Turn of the Screw," "Albert Herring" and "The Rape of Lucretia" and Britten's version of "The Beggar's Opera."

The Maazels have been staging invitational performances by young artists in the 130-seat Theatre House at Castleton Farms since 1997. They are converting a barn into a multi-purpose theater for the new festival.

A fund-raiser for the festival, starring Marvin Hamlisch with a guest appearance by Maazel, will be staged on Oct. 10 at the Kennedy Center in Washington.

More on the festival:

http://chateauville.org/news/show/maazels_announce_castleton_festival_marvin_hamlisch_to_kick_off_fundraising_effort_in_d_c_7