Summerfest mesmerizes with bold pieces, new and old.

Sunkiss’d Mozart’s Summerfest 2026 began on Tuesday, June 9, but it was the Wednesday, June 10 concert, “Kismet” at Asilomar Conference Grounds, the festival’s artistic director and founder, Tien-Hsin Cindy Wu, recognized as the concert of the season.

Against the backdrop of sunset and the forest-covered dunes and hills of Asilomar, the audience was introduced to three chamber music pieces, of which the shortest, the opening “Plakala” by cellist and composer Clancy Newman based on a 2018 hit by Ukrainian singer Kazka, awakened the most interest and joy. 

Here you can find a version of the piece by Formosa Quartet, and here, the original inspiration, a war anthem about the tragedy of mothers and Ukrainian women in general. 

Newman arranged the song for one cello and four cellists—an incredible experience both audibly and visually, at Summerfest delivered by four musicians: Felix Fan, Owen Dalby, Samuel Rosenthal and Andres Sanches. 

During an intense performance a string suddenly broke, marking the initial experience as even more special, even if the piece was delivered once more, upon changing the string in the instrument. The audience was delighted, and the musicians seemed to enjoy themselves too.

Wu, a violinist, appeared in a shimmering green-blue long summer dress with exposed arms and played beautifully, delivering a short speech before each presentation.

The second piece of the evening was a composition by composer and educator, Los Angeles-based Ella Kaale, titled “Recitation.” The piece was inspired by a painting in the Detroit Institute of Art, and is devoted to the struggle of women over history.

Finally, the third and the biggest presentation of the evening was the four-movement String Quintet in C, D. 956 by Franz Schubert (1797-1828), one of the greatest masterpieces in chamber music, with the lovely “gypsy dance” in the finale, inspired by Hungarian-Romani folk styles.

More concerts are to come in the next few days, if you are lucky to get tickets.

Wu is joined by nine other musicians—two more violins, four cellos, two violas and one clarinet. Among the names are Wu’s regular collaborator Tanya Tomkins, Owen Dalby and Felix Fan. Among the venues activated for this year’s Summerfest, there is Mayo Hayes O’Donnell Library in downtown Monterey and Corral Wine Estate Vineyard in Carmel Valley.

SUNKISS’D MOZART SUMMERFEST runs through Sunday, June 14. Various times and locations. $30-$220. hello@skmozart.com, skmozart.com.