Missouri River Festival of the Arts brings world-class music to Boonville

The sweeping currents of a mighty river and artful music will meet later this month in a mid-Missouri tradition: the Missouri River Festival of the Arts at Boonville's Thespian Hall.

In its 48th year, the festival — held Aug. 24-26 — elides classical music and resonant visual art. Artistic Director David Halen, also concertmaster at the St. Louis Symphony Orchestra, has programmed three dynamic evening programs.

Night One, Halen and Co. will deliver the sounds of Mozart, Robert Schumann and Samuel Barber. Night Two is billed as "Date Night! Music for Fun and Romance" and features the duo of soprano Cree Carrico and pianist Aaron McAllister.

Describing herself as "a singing actor with soprano pipes and a spunky disposition," Carrico has performed an impressive repertoire of opera and musical theater, both canonical and contemporary. Carrico also is the creative force behind The Ophelia Project, which her website describes as "a daring and ever-evolving program of songs, arias and monologues that bends the boundaries of a traditional recital to explore the psychology of Shakespeare’s tragic heroine."

Night Three offers a program from the festival orchestra, shepherded by SLSO Assistant Conductor Stephanie Childress, and featuring the sounds of Saint-Saens, Berlioz and Tchaikovsky.

Columbia patrons will be heartened by the presence of featured visual artist Hannah Reeves, co-owner of Sager Reeves Gallery. Reeves' work will be displayed before each evening performance and from noon to 7:15 p.m. on festival Saturday at Boonville's Hain House.

To learn more or purchase tickets, visit friendsofhistoricboonvillemo.org or call 660-882-7977.

Aarik Danielsen is the features and culture editor for the Tribune. Contact him at adanielsen@columbiatribune.com or by calling 573-815-1731. He's on Twitter @aarikdanielsen.

This article originally appeared on Columbia Daily Tribune: Missouri River Festival of the Arts brings music, art to Boonville