After the Bowl, try these musical oases

THE programming at the Hollywood Bowl this year is a bit better than usual. Bleachers at the furthest reaches are still but a buck. Pleasure-seeking picnickers in the boxes may now begin planning pasta for Puccini and empanadas for Piazzolla. For the first classical concert, Leonard Slatkin reaches for the stars with Beethoven’s Ninth (July 11); for Sept. 14 he has something more profane: Carl Orff’s “Carmina Burana.” Stacked parking and all, Angelenos remain ever grateful for this icon of summer.

But, if possible, get out of town. California is a state of world-class summer festivals in picturesque places. The Ojai, Cabrillo (in Santa Cruz) and La Jolla chamber music festivals are oases of new and unusual (and usual) music and stellar performers.

And now there is Festival del Sole in Napa (July 16-23). The website may promote a combination of pretense and provincialism in this extravaganza of good living, which merges classical music with wine, wellness and expensive food, but don’t underestimate the grape’s lure. The outstanding Russian National Orchestra will be in residence, led by up-and-coming maestros Alan Gilbert and Stephane Deneve. The soloists include soprano star Renee Fleming, violinist Joshua Bell and pianist Piotr Anderszewski.

Mozart at the moment is bigger than ever thanks to the celebration of his 250th birthday. A highlight of the Mainly Mozart Festival will be the glorious “Coronation” Mass and profound Requiem performed in Tijuana and San Diego (June 23-24). A highlight of the San Luis Obispo Mozart Festival is a benefit concert by Morro Bay native Kent Nagano, who is joined by the technically incomparable pianist Marc Andre Hamelin (July 21).

What you won’t find in these parts is Mozart opera. In fact, if it’s any opera you want, your choices are limited. However, in Santa Barbara, the Music Academy of the West’s production of Rossini’s spectacular singfest “Il Viaggio a Reims” (Aug. 4 and 6) could be a dazzler if the summer’s crop of young singers is a good one.

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-- Mark Swed