Kelli O’Hara kicks off Caramoor Summer Festival 2016
Kelli O’Hara kicks off Caramoor Summer Festival 2016: 33 nights of classical, jazz, roots, opera, cabaret and world music – dancing too. Come for the picnic at this Sauvignon Blanc/family friendly summer festival and stay for the music. A concert at Caramoor is at the top of our bucket list for townies & culture-vultures. They bus Metropolitan opera fans up from the city for their opera series, directed by Will Crutchfield. Their jazz series is curated by Jazz at Lincoln Center. They attract top chamber ensembles and guest soloists for their orchestral series backed by the Orchestra of St. Luke’s and they have an impeccable record of finding the best up and comers from the world of American Roots music. One of the prettiest spots in Westchester – Jorma Kaukonen said “this is the nicest place we’ve ever played – trust me.”
Caramoor Opening Night Gala with Kelli O’Hara – Cabaret: 2015 Tony Award-winner for Best Leading Actress in a Musical (The King and I), Kelli O’Hara joins the St. Luke’s Chamber Orchestra and Conductor and pianist Rob Fisher for a gala evening of Broadway show stoppers to kick off the Caramoor Summer Festival. Kelli also starred in and received Tony-noms for The Light in the Piazza, The Pajama Game, South Pacific, Nice Work if You Can Get It, and The Bridges of Madison County. Gala events begin at 5:30pm. Sat, 6/18: 8:30pm. (Venetian Theatre, 149 Girdle Ridge Rd., Katonah; www.caramoor.org)
For My Father: Dedicated to Claude Frank: Violinist Pamela Frank shares the stage with pianist Andrew Tyson, cellist Peter Wiley and Ayane Kozasa (viola) to honor the great musician’s life with a program of chamber works by Schubert, Mozart and Brahms. (Photo by Nicholas Lieber) Sun, 6/19: 4:30pm. (Venetian Theatre, 149 Girdle Ridge Rd., Katonah; www.caramoor.org)
Akropolis Reed Quintet: An evening of chamber music at Caramoor’s intimate Spanish Courtyard, from this unusual format all-reed quintet (saxophone, clarinet, oboe, bassoon and bass clarinet) performing familiar classics by George Gershwin, Claude Debussy and others. Thurs, 6/23: 7pm. (Spanish Courtyard, 149 Girdle Ridge Rd., Katonah; www.caramoor.org)
Edward Arron & Friends: Renowned cellist Edward Arron offers up a sweeping sextet written by a prodigal pre-war teen (Barriere), a display of French Baroque virtuosity (Korngold), and a familiar symphonic work injected into the realm of intimate chamber music (Mozart).(Photo by Gabe Palacio) Fri, 6/24: 8pm. (Spanish Courtyard, 149 Girdle Ridge Rd., Katonah; www.caramoor.org)
American Roots Music Festival: Over a dozen American roots music artists perform at Caramoor’s Sunken Garden, Friends Field and the Venetian Theatre at this all day family and picnic friendly event. Daytime artists include High Plains Jamboree (Austin country), Man About a Horse (folk/bluegrass), Dennis Stroughmatt et L’Esprit Creole, the banjo-centric The Lowest Pair, Deadgrass artist Matt Turk, the six piece amped-up Americana band Spuyten Duyvil and Sara Watkins from Nickel Creek and The Decembrists. The evening show presents Hurray for the Riff Raff featuring the charismatic Alynda Segura (with the “morning after alto”) and John Fullbright. Sat, 6/25: 12pm. (All venues, 149 Girdle Ridge Rd., Katonah; www.caramoor.org)
All-Beethoven: Wu Han, piano, Philip Setzer, violin and David Finckel, cello, take their all-Beethoven show to Caramoor for a program that includes his Trio in G major, Trio in E-flat major and Trio in B-flat major (“Archduke”) Sun, 6/26: 4:30pm. (Venetian Theatre, 149 Girdle Ridge Rd., Katonah; www.caramoor.org)
Dancing at Dusk – Tahiti & Hawaii: Lei Pasifika brings the music and culture of the Polynesian Islands to Friends Field for an evening of costumes, music, dance, food & drink in the first of Caramoor’s family friendly Dancing at Dusk series. Wed, 6/29: 5pm. (photo by Gabe Palacio) (Friends Field, 149 Girdle Ridge Rd., Katonah; www.caramoor.org)
Evnin Rising Stars Showcase: Three Avery Fisher career grant recipients perform a program of works for piano, violin and viola from Beethoven, Brahms and Mozart. Thurs, 6/30: 7pm. (Spanish Courtyard, 149 Girdle Ridge Rd., Katonah; www.caramoor.org)
Richard Thompson – American Roots: British Folk Rock icon Richard Thompson performs a solo acoustic concert at Caramoor’s intimate Spanish Courtyard. Hailed by Rolling Stone as one of the top 20 guitarists of all time, Thompson, a multiple Grammy-nominated artist toured with Bob Dylan, Wilco and My Morning Jacket on the Americanorama Tour. Fri, 7/1: 8pm. (Spanish Courtyard, 149 Girdle Ridge Rd., Katonah; www.caramoor.org)
Pops, Patriots & Fireworks: Curt Ebersole leads the 60-piece Westchester Symphonic Winds in a celebration of the music of Frank Sinatra. They will be joined by Broadway heart-throb Ryan Silverman and there will be plenty of Sousa and Caramoor’s traditional performance of Tchaikovsky’s 1812 Overture. This “most civilized way to see 4th of July Fireworks” features stilt walkers, picnic options and no stress parking. (Photo by Gabe Palacio) Sat, 7/2: 8pm. (Venetian Theatre, 149 Girdle Ridge Rd., Katonah; www.caramoor.org)
Dancing at Dusk – Columbian Cumbia: The Cumbia River Band, featuring tuba, accordion, clarinet and percussion provides the West African sound and Spanish singing techniques to accompany their high-energy fusion of Amerindian dance steps that you will learn. Wed, 7/6: 5pm. (Friends Field, 149 Girdle Ridge Rd., Katonah; www.caramoor.org)
The Intimate Rossini: Ensembles & Choruses: Caramoor’s Bel Canto Young Artists perform an array of chamber works by Gioachino Rossini in the Spanish Courtyard. Thurs, 7/7: 7pm. (photo by Gabe Palacio) (Spanish Courtyard, 149 Girdle Ridge Rd., Katonah; www.caramoor.org)
Aizuri Quartet: Caramoor’s Ernst Stiefel String Quartet-in-Residence perform Beethoven’s String Quartet Op. 130 & Grosse Fuge and the world premiere of Paul Wiancko’s Liftt. Paul is best known for his large-scale composition Tales From Bent City for cello, orchestra and electronics that blends his passion for hip-hop with his love of the great 19th century late-romantic composers. Fri, 7/8: 8pm. (Spanish Courtyard, 149 Girdle Ridge Rd., Katonah; www.caramoor.org)
Fred Hersch & Friends – Jazz: Vanity Fair called Fred Hersh “the most arrestingly innovative pianist in jazz over the last decade”. Here he is joined by the Grammy-nominated Chris Potter on saxophone and Kate McGarry on vocals for an evening of spontaneous jazz. Sat, 7/9: 8pm. (Spanish Courtyard, 149 Girdle Ridge Rd., Katonah; www.caramoor.org)
Jonathan Biss (piano): Joshua Weilerstein conducts the Orchestra of St. Luke’s and Caramoor Artist-in-Residence Jonathan Biss in the New York premiere of Timo Andres’ The Blind Banister, a concerto that responds to Beethoven’s Concerto No. 2. Beethoven’s Concerto No. 2 will precede the performance of The Blind Banister. Sun, 7/10: 4:30pm. (Venetian Theatre, 149 Girdle Ridge Rd., Katonah: www.caramoor.org)
Dancing at Dusk –Filipino Music & Dance: Dance to Kinding Sindaw Melayu Heritage, a group bringing movement, song and storytelling from the Philippines, Malaysia, Indonesia and South Thailand. With authentic Filipino instruments such as the kulintang or gamelan (a tuned bronze kettle drum set), hanging gongs and the dabakan – cylindrical drums. (Photo by Gabe Palacio) Wed, 7/13: 5pm. (Friends Field, 149 Girdle Ridge Rd., Katonah; www.caramoor.org)
Stamford Piano Trio – Celebrating Bastille Day: Stamford Symphony’s Erica Kiesewetter, concertmaster and violin; Molly Morkoski, piano; and Caroline Stinson, principal cellist; pay tribute to this French national holiday and its revolutionary origins with a program of works by prolific French composers Ravel, Fauré and Boulanger. Thurs, 7/14: 7pm. (Spanish Courtyard, 149 Girdle Ridge Rd., Katonah: www.caramoor.org)
Ben Folds with yMusic – American Roots: Pop headliner, pianist and composer, Ben Folds performs from his latest album, So There, his collaboration with the alt-chamber ensemble yMusic. The album is divided between eight “chamber rock” tunes – written and arranged with yMusic – and Folds’ original 21-minute “Concerto for Piano and Orchestra,” co-commissioned by the Nashville Ballet and the Minnesota Orchestra. Fri, 7/15: 8pm. (Venetian Theatre, 149 Girdle Ridge Rd., Katonah; www.caramoor.org)
Aureliano in Palmira by Gioachino Rossini: This all-day event for opera buffs features a series of discussions and performances, beginning at 3pm, related to Rossini’s work. The day culminates with the American premiere of Rossini’s opera, conducted by Will Crutchfield and the Orchestra of St. Luke’s, about a love triangle between a Roman emperor, a Palmyran Queen and the Prince of Persia set against a Roman invasion of Syria. Sat, 7/16: 8pm. (Venetian Theatre, 149 Girdle Ridge Rd., Katonah; www.caramoor.org)
Pacifica Quartet: Former Ernst Stiefel String Quartet-in-Residence, the Pacifica Quartet returns to Caramoor with a program of works by Beethoven and Shulamit Ran. Sun, 7/17: 4:30pm. (Venetian Theatre, 149 Girdle Ridge Rd., Katonah; www.caramoor.org)
Beethoven in Song – Bel Canto Young Artists: Beethoven may have composed only one complete opera, but his contribution to the great tradition of German Lieder was fundamental. Led by Rachelle Jonck, the Bel Canto Young Artists present a program of beloved gems and little-known masterworks from his extensive catalogue of works for piano and voice. Thurs, 7/21: 7pm. (Spanish Courtyard, 149 Girdle Ridge Rd., Katonah; www.caramoor.org)
Songs America Loves to Sing – Music From Copland House: Featuring works inspired by country, jazz, folk, ragtime, tango, and spirituals. Includes music by Aaron Copland, John Harbison, Mark O’Connor (selections inspired by Johnny Cash), Pierre Jalbert, John Mackey (Breakdown Tango), Hale Smith (his classic setting of Amazing Grace), Florence Price (Gonna Wake Up Singin’) and works by Scott Joplin and W. C. Handy. Fri, 7/22: 8pm. (Spanish Courtyard, 149 Girdle Ridge Rd., Katonah; www.caramoor.org)
Caramoor’s Jazz at Lincoln Center Festival with the Chick Corea Trio: The Chick Corea Trio with Christian McBride and Brian Blade headlines this all day festival that features over a dozen jazz artists in Caramoor’s Sunken Garden, Friends Field and the Venetian Theatre. Daytime performers include Harlem Stride Piano Hour, Etienne Charles & Creole Soul, Gotham Kings: Riley Mulherkar and Alphonso Horne, Eddie Barbash Band, Jonathan Barber Quartet: “Jones, Jones, Jones’ and Ladies Sing the Blues among others. (photo by Gabe Palacio) Sat, 7/23: 12pm. (All venues, 149 Girdle Ridge Rd., Katonah; www.caramoor.org)
Jeremy Denk, piano: Imaginative pianist, prolific writer, MacArthur “genius grant” winner, and newly-minted librettist Jeremy Denk makes his first Caramoor appearance following a season of high-profile collaborations from Saint Paul to San Diego. Sun, 7/24: 4:30pm. (Caramoor, Venetian Theatre, 149 Girdle Ridge Rd., Katonah; www.caramoor.org)
Dancing at Dusk – Chinese Dance & Music: Classical and modern dancer Ling Tang takes young listeners on an exploration of Ba Ban (Eight Beats) the structural basis for traditional Chinese folk music. They will learn diverse movements of Chinese dance influenced by martial arts, acrobatics, Tai Chi and Chinese opera. Wed, 7/27: 5pm. (Friends Field, 149 Girdle Ridge Rd., Katonah; www.caramoor.org)
Meng Su – Guitar in the Garden: We change venues here for Caramoor’s Sunken Garden, as Meng Su, gold winner at the 2015 Parkening International Guitar Competition performs Bach’s Lute Suite No. 4, and works by Williams, Assad and Castelnuovo-Tedesco. Thurs, 7/28: 7pm. (Sunken Garden, 149 Girdle Ridge Rd., Katonah; www.caramoor.org)
Danish String Quartet: One of the world’s most sought after chamber ensembles, the Danish String Quartet performs Janácek’s Intimate Letters, folk music from the Nordic countries and Beethoven’s String Quartet No. 12. Fri, 7/29: 8pm. (Spanish Courtyard, 149 Girdle Ridge Rd., Katonah: www.caramoor.org)
Larry Campbell & Teresa Williams – American Roots: Award-winning instrumentalist Larry Campbell and vocalist Teresa Williams are joined by keyboardist Marco Benevento for an evening of Delta blues, gospel, Alabama soul, Nashville country, traditional fold and classic rock. Larry and Teresa have years of experience playing with Bob Dylan, Paul Simon, Emmylou Harris, Jackson Brown and Phil Lesh. (Photo by Gabe Palacio) Sat, 7/30: 8pm. (Spanish Courtyard, 149 Girdle Ridge Rd., Katonah; www.caramoor.org)
Fidelio by Ludwig van Beethoven: Pablo Heras-Casado conducts the Orchestra of St. Luke’s in the master’s only opera about a determined wife in disguise, the struggles of her imprisoned political-activist-husband and a host of players who want to keep him in chains. Pre-opera events at multiple locations on the Caramoor grounds begin at 1pm. (Photo by Gabe Palacio) Sun, 7/31: 4pm. (Venetian Theatre, 149 Girdle Ridge Rd., Katonah; www.caramoor.org)
Jonathan Biss (piano): Caramoor Artist-in-Residence, Jonathan Biss teams up with Miriam Fried (violin), Hsin-Yun Huang (viola) and Marcy Rosen (cello) to perform Janacek’s Sonata for violin and piano and Brahms Piano Quartet in A major. Thurs, 8/4: 7pm. (Spanish Courtyard, 149 Girdle Ridge Rd., Katonah: www.caramoor.org)
Jonathan Biss – All Beethoven: Caramoor Artist-in-Residence, Jonathan Biss performs four Beethoven sonatas including Tempest and Appasssionata. Fri, 8/5: 8pm. (Spanish Courtyard, 149 Girdle Ridge Rd., Katonah: www.caramoor.org)
Cécile McLorin Salvant and The Aaron Diehl Trio – Jazz: Cecile McLorin Salvant returns to Caramoor for the third straight year. Her recent album, For One To Love, was nominated for a Grammy for Best Jazz Vocal Album. She has been compared to Sarah Vaughn, Billy Holiday and Ella Fitzgerald. (Photo by Gabe palacio) Sat, 8/6: 8pm. (Venetian Theatre, 149 Girdle Ridge Rd., Katonah; www.caramoor.org)
Gil Shaham (violin) – Season Finale: Pablo Heras-Casado conducts the Orchestra of St. Luke’s with guest Gil Shaham on violin in an all Brahms program that includes Violin Concerto in D major and Brahms Symphony No. 2. (Photo by Gabe Palacio) Sun, 8/7: 4:30pm. (Venetian Theatre, 149 Girdle Ridge Rd., Katonah; www.caramoor.org)
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