Caramoor Announces 75th Summer Season

Caramoor Announces 75th Summer Season: Taj Mahal, Wynton Marsalis, Sondheim, The Brandenburg Concertos & The Barber of Seville are just some of the highlights of Caramoor’s 75h Summer Season. The season will also feature a multi-part tribute to the Harlem Renaissance. Including performances and discussions of the work of Duke Ellington, Langston Hughes, Shirley Grant DuBois and more. So get ready for thirty-two days and nights of inspired programming of American Roots, Broadway, classical, jazz, opera and world music. Plus, an audience-friendly facelift, a new entrance, plantings, picnic and seating areas, that will wow you before a note is ever played.  Tickets go on sale Tuesday, February 18.

Opening Night with Wynton Marsalis

In a departure from their usual classical music Opening Night, Caramoor’s Summer Season opens on June 20 with jazz for the first time. Mark the date, because tickets for Jazz at Lincoln Center with Wynton Marsalis won’t last. If you like jazz, check out Caramoor’s Jazz Festival on July 18. Pianist/singer Eliane Elias headlines this all-day affair with performances throughout the Caramoor Grounds. This year’s festival will also offer expanded food options, children’s activities and complementary tours of The Rosen House. Finally, vocal jazz fans get a treat when Rachel Price and guitarist Vilray pay tribute to the songs of the 30s and 40s on July 24.

A Classical Renaissance from Brandenburg to Harlem 

Classical music and the Harlem Renaissance team up for a very special performance on July 25. In Harlem Dream, The Classical Theatre of Harlem and the Orpheus Chamber Orchestra retell Shakespeare’s A Midsummer Night’s Dream. The Knights provide another symphonic highlight on July 19, when Pekka Kuusisto (violin) joins this acclaimed orchestra in the New York premiere of Nico Muhly’s, Shrink. (It is already being hailed as a 21st Century masterpiece.)

Caramoor’s house band, the Orchestra of St. Luke’s (OSL) will headline two shows. On July 12, Benjamin Grosvenor (piano) will join OSL on Beethoven’s Piano Concerto No.21. And Leonidas Kavakas (violin) joins OSL at the season finale on August. 2. He will solo on Beethoven’s Violin Concerto in D major and Mozart’s Jupiter Symphony. Finally, as a special summer treat Apollo’s Fire returns after a triumphant 2018 debut to perform the complete Brandenburg Concertos.

Zeus & Electra and The Barber of Seville

Caramoor buses opera fans up from the city to get their summer fix. You can join them for three cutting edge events this summer. On June 28, Caramoor presents Jean-Phillipe Rameau’s rousing opera, Dardanus, which loosely follows the story of the son of Zeus and Electra. For something less traditional, check out On Site Opera’s production of The Barber of Seville which will be presented in three special performances in the Spanish Courtyard and Music Room of Caramoor’s historic Rosen House. (July 9-11). Onsite Opera is known for its site-specific, immersive opera in some of the most exciting and unusual spaces in New York City. Finally, Caramoor takes an in-depth exploration of Shirley Graham Du Bois’ 1932 opera, Tom-Tom  in their Harlem Renaissance series on July 25.

Taj Mahal headlines Caramoor’s American Roots Festival 

How exciting is this? On June 27, the inimitable Taj Mahal, (and Deva Mahal) “Cakewalk Into Town” to headline Caramoor’s all-day roots-fest. This family-friendly affair features performances throughout the Caramoor grounds. Caramoor will also be offering expanded food options, children’s activities and complimentary tours of The Rosen House at their American Roots Festival. That’s just the beginning for roots fans. You can also catch the Watkins Family Hour (Sara and Sean) and Josh Ritter. The Watkins family will perform on July 17. Finally, Josh Ritter will perform on the Venetian Theatre stage on August 1. This year’s Caramoor Roots series is presented in collaboration with City Winery. And it is perhaps Caramoor’s finest Roots season in years,

Saving the best (of Broadway) for last? 

In celebration of Stephen Sondheim’s 90th Birthday, Tony Award winner Ted Sperling conducts and hosts an evening of songs from Company, Follies, Sweeney Todd, Merrily We Roll Along, and Anyone Can Whistle. (July 11) Broadway stars Betsy Wolfe (Waitress, Falsettos), Scarlett Strallen and Bryce Pinkham (A Gentleman’s Guide to Love and Murder), and Ben Davis (Violet) provide the vocal sparks. American Songbook lovers can also get a dose of Gershwin and Duke Ellington at Caramoor’s Pops, Patriots & Fireworks celebration on July 4. Which also features Caramoor’s traditional performance of Tchaikovsky’s 1812 Overture. And select patriotic pieces from John Phillip Sousa and more.

Introducing Wednesday Concerts on the Lawn:

And now for something completely different. For its 75th season, Caramoor will debut a new casual listening experience on Friends Field on four Wednesdays. There will be room to run, dance or picnic, while enjoying four high energy artists. Each pushing the boundaries of their genres. Including the all-female mariachi group Flor De Toloache on July 1. Classical/klezmer/tango/gypsy jazz of Ljova and the Kontraband on July 8. The dynamic chamber group PUBLIQuartet on July 22. Charles Turner & Uptown Swing featuring a 5-piece rhythm and horn section on July 29.

Check back soon for our Complete Guide to Caramoor’s Summer Season, coming soon.

Or check our searchable Calendar as summer approaches and throughout the season – Keyword: Caramoor