SCHWAB VOCAL RISING STARS “SONG OF THE MIDNIGHT SUN”
Sunday, March 10, 4:00PM in the Rosen House Music Room
The Schwab Vocal Rising Stars will perform “Song of the Midnight Sun” at Caramoor under the direction of Artistic Director, mentor, and pianist Steven Blier, and mentor and pianist Michael Barrett. The program includes pieces by Scandinavian songwriters Grieg, Sibelius, Stenhammar, Nystrom, Nielson, and Rautavaara that reveal in song the world of hidden loves, night-time confessions, and the poetry of nature. An air of austerity and freshness lends these songs a rare beauty. Performers include Julia Bullock, soprano; Sarah Larsen, mezzo-soprano;
AMPHION STRING QUARTET
2012-13 Ernst Stiefel String Quartet-in-Residence
Saturday, March 16, 8:00PM in the Rosen House Music Room
In 1999, Caramoor established the annual String Quartet-in-Residence program supported by major endowment gifts from The Ernst C.Stiefel Foundation. The Amphion String Quartet is the thirteenth Ernst Stiefel String Quartet-in-Residence at Caramoor. Caramoor uses the residency to integrate a quartet into the life of the institution and the community. The quartet visits schools for concerts and clinics and performs in the Music Room in the Fall and Spring. Their spring program continues the Scandinavian theme established by the Schwab Vocal Rising Stars, with a performance of the Norwegian composer, Edvard Grieg’s String Quartet No.1. The residency ends with a concert during the Summer Music Festival.
TIM O’BRIEN
Saturday, April 13, 8:00PM in the Rosen House Music Room
New this season, Caramoor brings American Roots Music to the 200-seat Music Room, inaugurated by much heralded multi-instrumentalist and songwriter Tim O’Brien – a dynamic and engaging performer. “No music comes from a vacuum,” notes O’Brien, “and our American culture and it’s musical voice are living, breathing, evolving things with streams of influence from western Europe, Africa, and the Native America.” O’Brien listens to bluegrass and hears the music’s roots in modal Irish ballads and vintage swing. He insightfully re-examines and reconstructs those styles, and many others, in his own music. This special solo acoustic show will feature lyrics and melodies sung on both sides of the Atlantic and show how the essence of an older culture is contained in more modern music.
Tim O’Brien skillfully reconstructs and re-examines the ties between traditional and contemporary music. As co- founder and lead vocalist of Hot Rize and Red Knuckles & the Trailblazers, O'Brien served as a bridge between the traditional sounds of the hill country and the modern styles of bluegrass in the 1980s. O'Brien continued releasing solo material through the '90s and into the following decade, including an album of Bob Dylan covers (Red on Blonde), the Grammy-winning Fiddler's Green, and the intimate, stripped-down Chameleon. His inspiration is a staple of roots music as evident by the recordings of his songs with artists The Dixie Chicks, Garth Brooks, Dierks Bentley, Nickel Creek, Kathy Mattea, the New Grass Revival, and the Seldom Scene, and in his recorded collaborations with Steve Martin, the Chieftains, and countless others. As a true virtuoso multi-instrumentalist on banjo, mandolin, fiddle, bouzouki, and guitar, O’Brien utilizes the unique timbres to speak to universal audiences through his inviting, musical explorations. Mark Knopfler says of O’Brien “[He’s] a master of American folk music, Irish music, Scottish music – it doesn’t matter; a fine songwriter and one of my favorite singers.”
CABARET IN THE MUSIC ROOM: A BENEFIT EVENT
JENNIFER SHEEHAN “THE SENSATIONAL ‘60S, I KNOW A PLACE”
Saturday, May 4, 8:30PM in the Rosen House Music Room
Multi award-winner Jennifer Sheehan will perform her show “The Sensational ‘60s, I Know A Place” in the Music Room of the historic Rosen House at Caramoor. Ms. Sheehan traverses the vast spectrum of music that made up the sensational soundtrack of the ‘60s – featuring the best of Bacharach, the Beatles, Bossa Nova, Barbra, Bebop, Broadway and more. There will be a champagne and dessert reception after the performance.
AMY HELM BAND
Saturday, May 11, 8:00PM in the Rosen House Music Room
Amy Helm’s deep musical roots were enriched by a lifetime of exposure to the finest expressions of American musical tradition. The daughter of music legend Levon Helm, co-founder with her dad of the Levon Helm Midnight Rambles, and founding member of roots band Ollabelle, Helm wields a powerful voice that can both stir and soothe, whether she is singing traditional gospel, blues standards or her own heartfelt compositions. She is a gifted musician and has clearly absorbed the lessons of the many accomplished artists with whom she has shared stages, including Warren Haynes, Donald Fagen, Mavis Staples, Emmylou Harris, Joan Osborne, Dr. John and Hubert Sumlin.
For this show, Helm brings her acoustic powerhouse band featuring Byron Isaacs and Justin Guip (both of the Grammy winning Levon Helm Band and the Dirt Farmer Band) as well as guitarist Dan Littleton. They will perform traditional blues and gospel-inflected favorites as well as songs from Helm’s upcoming CD (Spring release).
Tickets are currently on sale and may be purchased at the Caramoor Box Office, 914.232.1252, or order online at www.caramoor.org.
For the Cabaret in the Music Room benefit, email events@caramoor.org or call 914.232.1492
PRESS CONTACT: For press tickets, artist bios and/or images, please contact Amy Laudicano, 212.874.7624, alaudicano@lcohnpr.com
