Celebrate Your American Roots 4th Of July Weekend at Caramoor

June 18, 2010 - PRLog -- KATONAH, NY– Caramoor International Music Festival's weekend celebration of our nation’s birthday kicks off on Saturday, July 3 with "American Roots: New Shoots", a full day of bluegrass music performed by the Punch Brothers featuring Chris Thile, Crooked Still, and Sandra Wong's New Trad Trio. To salute Independence Day, Caramoor CEO and General Director Michael Barrett will conduct the Orchestra of St. Luke's in "Pops, Patriots, and Fireworks" on Sunday, July 4,  a concert of beloved American music – featuring Rob Schwimmer on theremin – that culminates with a spectacular fireworks display.  

Saturday, July 3, 2010, All Day in the Venetian Theater
Caramoor presents its first “American Roots: New Shoots” Festival with three groups that are transforming and re-interpreting the traditions of bluegrass and traditional music. The Punch Brothers, featuring virtuoso mandolinist Chris Thile—renowned for his incredible spontaneity and restless imagination—is the hottest group to be creating wide-ranging music out of the worlds of bluegrass, folk, and chamber music. Crooked Still, the popular young alternative bluegrass group whose soaring vocals and high-wire solos have enraptured audiences all over North America, is on a mission to bend the boundaries of traditional music. From Irish, Old-time, and Bluegrass to Swedish folk music, Sandra Wong—fiddle and nyckelharpa—is a veritable encyclopedia of traditional music from around the globe.

Sunday, July 4, 2010 at 8:00 PM in the Venetian Theater
Michael Barrett leads the Orchestra of St. Luke's in a salute to our nation's 234th birthday with "Pops, Patriots and Fireworks";. Tchaikovsky's famous 1812 Overture will be paired with patriotic American favorites by Sousa, Ives, Gershwin, Herrmann and Grofé. The Theremin, the first electronic instrument ever invented – and one championed by Caramoor's founder, Lucie Rosen – will make a guest appearance under the skilled fingers of Rob Schwimmer,and a spectacular fireworks display promptly follows the concert.
 
ABOUT CARAMOOR

Caramoor is the legacy of Walter and Lucie Rosen, who built their summer home – now known as the historic Rosen House at Caramoor – and filled it with their treasures.  Walter Rosen was the master planner for the Caramoor estate, bringing to reality his dream of creating a place to entertain friends from around the world.  Their musical evenings were the seeds of today’s Caramoor International Music Festival.  Realizing the pleasure their friends took in the beauty of Caramoor – the house with its art collection, the gardens, and the musical programs on summer evenings – in 1946 the Rosens established a public charity to open Caramoor to the community.  Lucie Rosen survived her husband by seventeen years.  During those years, she expanded the Music Festival: the Spanish Courtyard was used as a setting for musical events, as it is today, and, under her direction, the great stage of the Venetian Theater was built.

Caramoor is a performing arts center, located on a unique 90-acre setting of Italianate architecture and gardens in Westchester County, NY.  It enriches the lives of its audiences through innovative and diverse musical performances of the highest quality.  Its mission also includes mentoring young professional musicians and providing educational programs for young children centered around music.  It is often described as “a Garden of Great Music,” where audiences are invited to come early, explore the beautiful grounds, enjoy a pre-concert picnic, and discover beautiful music in the relaxed settings of the Venetian Theater, Spanish Courtyard, Music Room of the Rosen House, and the magnificent gardens.

With its unique heritage, Caramoor remains a place where magical summer days and nights are shared and enjoyed by thousands.  “Caramoor is the loveliest Festival of them all.” - The New York Times

Concert Venues and Gardens
Concerts take place in two outdoor theaters: the 1714-seat, acoustically superb Venetian Theater and the more intimate, romantic Spanish Courtyard.  Caramoor's gardens are also well worth the visit and include nine unique perennial gardens. Among them are a Sense Circle for the visually handicapped, a Butterfly Garden, Tapestry Hedge, and Iris and Peony Garden, which may be enjoyed on one's own or seen on a guided tour.

GETTING TO CARAMOOR

By car from the West Side of Manhattan and New Jersey, take the Saw Mill River Parkway north to Katonah.  Exit at Route 35/Cross River.  Turn right, and, at the first traffic light, make a right turn onto Route 22 south.  Travel 1.9 miles to the junction of Girdle Ridge Road.  Follow the signs to Caramoor. (For detailed directions call 914.232.5035 and press 2, or online at www.caramoor.org).  Parking at Caramoor is free on-site on a first-come, first-served basis. Once on-site parking is full, alternate parking will be available with free shuttle bus service.

By train, take the Harlem Division of the Metro-North Railroad to Katonah, New York.  Taxi service from the station to Caramoor (5 minutes away) is available.

TICKETS

New Shoots Festival, Saturday, July 3: $15, $30, $40, $55.  
Pops, Patriots, and Fireworks: $30, $40, $50, $60, $70; Children under 12 half price!
Tickets are on sale now.  Order by calling the Box Office at 914.232.1252 or online at http://www.caramoor.org.

PICNICKING AT CARAMOOR

Extend the Caramoor experience by arriving early and enjoying a picnic amidst the beautiful gardens. Purchase your picnic (or bring your own) by calling Great Performances® at 212-337-6055 or online at http://www.greatperformances.com/caramoorpicnics. On July 4th, Great Performances® will grill hamburgers and hot dogs on the Picnic Lawns beginning at 5:00 PM.

PRESS CONTACT

For press tickets, images, or interviews, contact Whitney Holden at 917.339.7188 or wholden@cohndutcher.com

PROGRAMS

Saturday, July 3, 2010 in the Venetian Theater
"American Roots: New Shoots" Bluegrass Festival

4:00pm              Sandra Wong and the New Trad Trio
5:30pm              Crooked Still
7:00pm              Dinner Break
8:00pm              Punch Brothers featuring Chris Thile

Sunday, July 4, 2010 at 8:00pm in the Venetian Theater
Pops, Patriots, and Fireworks
Fireworks Dispay to Follow the Concert (Ticketholders only)
Michael Barrett, conductor
Rob Schwimmer, theremin
Orchestra of St. Luke's

Sousa ~ Ives ~ Herrmann ~ Grofé ~ Gershwin ~ Tchaikovsky

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With its outstanding summer music festival & indoors concerts, arts-in-education programming and beautiful grounds, Caramoor is a cornerstone of the cultural life of Westchester County, NY.