THE PRINCETON FESTIVAL to Open at Morven Museum with Sierra Boggess and More
Soprano Sondra Radvanovsky and American Repertory Ballet also headline the multi-day New Jersey festival.
The 2026 Princeton Festival will open at Morven Museum & Garden with a music-filled weekend including family friendly activities. Friday, June 5, Sierra Boggess, Broadway's original “Little Mermaid,” returns to the Festival with her favorite Broadway songs mixed with personal anecdotes.
For opera lovers, the world-renowned soprano and Metropolitan Opera star Sondra Radvanovsky takes arias of Verdi and Puccini to the next level on Saturday, June 6. Tenor and Festival veteran Victor Starsky joins the diva for duets from famous operas including Puccini's Tosca and Manon Lescaut as well as Umberto Giordano's Andrea Chénier. He'll also perform the famous tenor aria “Nessun Doroma” from Puccini's Turandot. Accompanying the soloists are the Princeton Symphony Orchestra led by Edward T. Cone Music Director Rossen Milanov.
Sunday, June 7 is designated as the Festival's Community Day, starting with free morning Yoga in the Garden for skill levels (ages 10-adult). From 12-3pm, family friendly activities abound with the PSO BRAVO! Instrument Petting Zoo, a Musical Story Time featuring a Princeton Symphony Orchestra musician and a nature story read by a Morven Museum & Garden Horticulturalist, a Quilting Exhibition Harriet Powers: American Icon with the Princeton Sankofa Stitchers Modern Quilt Guild, and American Repertory Ballet's 30-minute Swan Lake experience: an accelerated story of the ballet with audience participation.
Capping Sunday's Community Day, American Repertory Ballet teams up with the Princeton Symphony Orchestra for An Evening of Dance. The June 7 program includes pas de deux from Pyotr Ilyich Tchaikovsky's The Sleeping Beauty and Swan Lake as well as Concerto Francaix, choreographed by Charles Askegard to Jean Francaix's Piano Concerto with Steven Beck as pianist. There is also the world premiere of a new work choreographed by Michelle Quiner to Caroline Shaw's "The Beech Tree" from Plan and Elevation.
These and other events featuring top artists will take place throughout the June 5-21 Princeton Festival on the grounds of Morven Museum & Garden. Baroque concerts can be heard at nearby Trinity Church. Here is an at-a-glance lineup of performances leading up to the Celebrating America at 250 weekend:
Friday, June 5 at 7pm – In this cabaret-style evening, Sierra Boggess charms with her positivity and thrilling renditions of Broadway classics and favorite melodies
Saturday, June 6 at 8pm – Sondra Radvanovsky performs popular opera arias and duets with the Princeton Symphony Orchestra and tenor Victor Starsky in a very special gala performance with the option of purchasing a cocktails, dinner, and post-concert reception package.
Sunday, June 7 at 7pm – An Evening of Dance brings together American Repertory Ballet and the Princeton Symphony Orchestra in an unforgettable pairing of music and dance.
Tuesday, June 9 at 7pm – The Sebastians mark another return to the Festival with performances of Bach cantatas at nearby Trinity Church.
Thursday, June 11 at 7pm – Twelfth Night is a refreshingly new ensemble which strives to invoke a spirit of boundless revelry, celebration, and community in their programming. Their Baroque program is centered on Antonio Vivaldi's The Four Seasons.
Friday, June 12 at 7pm – Opening night of Giacomo Puccini's opera of love and betrayal Madama Butterfly. Fresh from her Metropolitan Opera debut as Cio-Cio-San, Toni Marie Palmertree returns to the Festival in the same role alongside Festival veterans Victor Starsky, as Pinkerton, and Nicholas Nestorak, as Goro. Rossen Milanov conducts.
Saturday, June 13 at 7pm – Queen Nation is the undisputed #1 ranked Queen Tribute Band in the United States. Comprising four musicians to reflect the original Queen, the band performs in detailed 70s & 80s Queen-era costumes.
Sunday, June 14 at 4pm – The matinee performance of Madama Butterfly features the same cast as on opening night.
Thursday, June 18 at 7pm – Grammy and Emmy-winning ensemble Time for Three defies convention and boundaries. The trio of Ranaan Meyer (double bass, vocals), Nicolas “Nick” Kendall (violin, vocals) and Charles Yang (violin, vocals) merge classical, Americana, and singer-songwriter traditions into a singular, remarkable sound.
The final weekend, June 19-21 is devoted to Celebrating AMERICA at 250 with a three-day showcase of American music, plus family fun on Sunday. This special weekend is presented in partnership with the Municipality of Princeton.
Friday, June 19 at 7pm – Great Ladies of Jazz is a tribute to Ella Fitzgerald, Sarah Vaughan, Billie Holiday, Judy Garland, Ginger Rogers, among others, starring Capathia Jenkins and Aisha de Haas with the Princeton Symphony Orchestra.
Saturday, June 20 at 7pm – The Bacon Brothers, Emmy-winner composer Michael and A-list actor Kevin (Footloose, Apollo 13, The Woodsman), play their own mix of folk, rock, soul, and country music.
Sunday, June 21 at 3pm – The Princeton Symphony Orchestra offers an American Fanfare salute to the USA with vocalist Julie Benko, conducted by Edward T. Cone Music Director Rossen Milanov. Before the concert, free family fun for children of all ages will take place from 1-3pm.
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