Over the moon about classical music

The setting couldn’t be more inviting, but the music is what really draws people to the Valley of the Moon Festival, which launches this weekend at the Hanna Boys Center in Sonoma and continues through the end of the month.

The festival, now in its second year, focuses exclusively on music of the Classical and Romantic periods performed on original instruments.

The festival welcomes guest vocalists lyric coloratura Nikki Einfeld and tenor Kyle Stegall, who will perform six concerts during the festival, with Stegall headlining a concert of music by Mozart inspired by “The Magic Flute” at 4 p.m. Thursday, July 17.

The festival was co-founded by fortepianist Eric Zivian and cellist Tanya Tomkins, who co-direct the annual event.