Art, nature, music merge in Montana's stunning Tippet Rise Art Center

A "bonus concert" arranged just days before, capped a weekend opening as world class musicians
performed at Tippet Rise' Art Center. Noted pianist Yevgeny Sudbin, left, thrilled the Olivier Music Barn audience Saturday with Chopin, Debussy and more. Sunday, his wife Sally Wei, and their gifted children performed a "pop up" family concert, receiving a standing ovation from the delighted audience. 

Singer Ema Nikolovska charmed
Tippet Rise concert goers with her
dramatic voice and playful asides.

AT HOME ON THE RANGE, INTERNATIONALLY KNOWN PERFORMERS DELIGHT AT FISHTAIL'S UNIQUE ARTS VENUE

STORY By CHRISTENE MEYERS

PHOTOS By BRUCE KELLER

Concert goers include a mix of back packers, hikers, bikers
and others, all mingling for a concert, this one at Domo.

FROM THE world's great concert halls to a nature driven Montana venue, a slate of world-renowned performers graces Tippet Rise Art Center each summer.

The 2024 season began last weekend, on this unique working ranch and arts venue where a select few of the world's great musical artists arrive each summer to perform.  They sing, play instruments and soak up nature with a packed house of  international music aficionados, selected in a drawing each March for concerts in several magnificent venues both indoors and in outdoor creations. 

Bruce Keller and Christene
"Cookie" Meyers have written
about and photographed the
venue since its beginning.
 

We spent time at this season's opening weekend with two Berlin based performers who sing the praises of the place. Toronto born mezzo-soprano Ema Nikolovska and Georgia born pianist Kunal Lahiry said they're hoping to be invited back "because the place is absolutely inspiring. From the Calder statue at sunrise to a walk in moonlight on the grounds, there's nothing like it anywhere else in the world," Nikolovska said as Lahiry smiled and nodded.

"Inverted Portal" welcomes visits to walk around or
through its expanses. It's one of many intriguing
artworks, each one occupying separate space.

Built without a budget, it's the multi-million dollar creation of philanthropists and artists Cathy and Peter Halstead, heirs to a fortune made by Cathy's father, Sidney Frank, who became a billionaire through his promotion of Grey Goose vodka and Jägermeister. Frank gave millions to educational and artistic endeavors and his painter daughter and her pianist-poet husband are following suit.  Tippet Rise incorporates their love of sculpture, music and nature in a unique artistic creation.

Geology tours explore the land's history

Alexander Calder's "Two Discs" on an early
spring day, with snow still on the hilltops.

 

"We love this place," said pianist Lahiry, echoing Nikolovska's sentiment that "the landscape has moved us forever." He called the place "magical. The environment is gorgeous -- unlike anywhere else --  and the audience is so appreciative and sincere -- not jaded like some we've experienced in city venues." 
The pair received two standing ovations at their Sunday concert, which featured wide-ranging vocal-piano works merging the poetry of Emily Dickinson with Schubert, Copland and others, including  contemporary composer Nahre Sol, whose "digital prayer" was performed by the pair with playful grace.

Kunal Lahiry's expressive piano illustrates his
virtuoso solo brilliance and ability to accompany
Ema Nikolovska with sensitivity and precision.

Nikolovska charmed the house with her range and power, and versatility in interpreting time honored classical work as well as modern, impressionistic pieces. With Lahiry's expressive piano, she emulated a buzzing bee, an insistent fly and sounds of the internet. Like the finest accompanists, Lahiry displayed his own dazzling technique to enhance Nikolovska's captivating voice. The two perfected their delivery in four years of intensive rehearsal.
At the impromptu family concert, five members of the Yevgeny Sudbin family charmed and delighted. "Music saved us during COVID," Sudbin said. He introduced his gifted children and  talented wife, pianist Sally Wei, who also turned pages for her husband and children during duets.

 

Stephen Talasnik's "Satellite No. 5: Pioneer" incorporates space,
and the artist's desire to show connection to land and our roots.

Sudbin is considered one of the 21st Century's most accomplished pianists. Other performers chosen this summer include acclaimed  Frano-Belgian cellist Camille Thomas, award winning Cleveland Orchestra flutist Jessica Sindell, a trio featuring TR regular Anne-Marie McDermott, violinist Chad Hoopes and cellist Christopher Costanza, all lauded chamber players and soloists.
IT WAS FUN to notice license plates in the parking lot a short walk above the Olivier Music Barn: Michigan, Illinois, Vermont, Idaho,

A packed house in the acoustically perfect Olivier Music Barn.

Oregon, Utah and Illinois.  In the concert venues and restaurant, we heard French and German, along with various American and English accents. Hikers mingled with bicycle riders, concert goers and families enjoying    

Cathy and Peter Halstead
spent years searching for a
perfect venue for their dream.

lunch. The mixed crowd is a metaphor for the place, exactly what the Halsteads envisioned more than a decade ago. They explored the U.S. to find a setting to build their dream, desiring a place where people were free to move about the land, admiring sculpture and nature, appreciating it as an extension of their enjoyment of the musical arts. Mission accomplished.  The season continues through Sept. 15 with internationally famed quartets, soloists and ensembles, masters of violin, viola, cello oboe, flute, piano, bassoon, clarinet and more.

tippetrise.org

Enjoying a day in Rome, by the Trevi Fountain, are from left:
Bruce Keller, Christene "Cookie" Meyers, Rick Cosgriffe and
his partner Jane Milder. The couples spent two weeks in Europe

 

UP NEXT: "Travels With My Brother."  My sibling Rick and I have traveled in Europe several times, but it had been decades since we explored together.  We changed that when Bruce Keller and I met Rick Cosgriffe and Jane Milder for a Mediterranean cruise, for an exciting, adventure filled two weeks together. We explored ports in Portugal, France, Spain and a few days in Italy. It's a wonderful memory, the reason we urge readers to "seize the day" as Labor Day weekend approaches. It's a carpe diem world so time to fulfill  travel dreams, particularly with loved ones. Remember to explore, learn and live and catch us weekly for a fresh look at travel, performance, nature, family and more:  www.whereiscookie.com