Caramoor Festival Celebrates The Bicentennials Of Chopin And Schumann

June 4, 2010 - PRLog -- On July 15, Caramoor emphasizes the profound influence that the bel canto form had over Chopin’s own musical style with a program entitled Chopin Bel Canto. Pianist Vassily Primakov is joined by Caramoor’s own Bel Canto Young Artists for a performance of works by Chopin and a collection of operatic composers that inspired him. On July 17, conductor Robert Spano makes his Caramoor Debut in a concert featuring renowned pianist Vladimir Feltsman and the Orchestra of St. Lukes. The evening features three of Schumann’s greatest works, including the famous Piano Concerto in A minor – Schumann’s only completed piano concerto and a landmark of romantic repertoire. On July 18, Caramoor celebrates the quintessential romantic genius of Chopin and Schumann in a concert featuring some of today’s première chamber musicians, such as mezzo-soprano Sasha Cooke, who recently made her Met debut to much acclaim as Kitty Oppenheimer in the premiere of John Adams’ Doctor Atomic, and pianist Ken Noda.

2010 marks the joint 200th anniversaries of the births of both Frederic Chopin and Robert Schumann, two of the most well known and revered composers of the 19th century and pioneers of romanticism. Though they only met once and had little personal contact throughout their careers, the artistic legacies of Chopin and Schumann are deeply intertwined. They were the driving forces behind the creation of a new musical style; one that fused the impressive virtuosity made possible by technical advances with the spirit of poetry and fantasy that marked literary romanticism and defined mid-19th century musical tradition.

Each of the two was acutely aware of the other’s artistic presence, and they remained supportive of one another throughout their careers. Schumann was Chopin’s most admiring critic, praising his blend of the heroic and lyrical as a “cannon buried in flowers,” and in reviewing an 1831 performance proclaimed, “Hats off, gentlemen, a genius!” While Chopin was less enthusiastic about Schumann’s music, both composers demonstrated a mutual respect and admiration for each other’s talents; Chopin dedicated his Ballade No. 2 in F Major to Schumann, and the German composer reciprocated with a dedication of his famous piano piece Kreisleriana.

PROGRAMS

THURSDAY, JULY 15, 7:30 PM – SPANISH COURTYARD
CHOPIN BEL CANTO
Bel Canto at Caramoor Young Artists
Vassily Primakov, piano

Works by: Chopin, Donizetti, Rossini, Bordogni, de Garaudé and transcriptions by: Viardot, Giacobetti, Rothmüller

When Chopin was a young man, bel canto opera was the most popular form of music in the world, and it was the music he loved best: "His playing," reported one pupil, "is based entirely on the singing of Pasta, Malibran and Rubini - he says so himself!" Bel Canto at Caramoor celebrates the great composer's 200th birthday with a program combining the music Chopin knew and loved with original compositions in which he transformed bel canto elements into his own unique language. The Bel Canto Young Artists and Russian pianist Vassily Primakov perform works by composers such as Rossini and Donizetti, as well as a selection of Chopin’s Nocturnes, Mazurkas, Ballades, and Waltzes — works that solidified the composer’s reputation as an absolute master of the piano.

SATURDAY, JULY 17, 8:00 PM– VENETIAN THEATER
SCHUMANN THE ROMANTIC
Vladimir Feltsman, piano
Orchestra of St. Lukes
Robert Spano, conductor

Schumann    Overture to Manfred, Op. 115
Schumann    Piano Concerto in A minor, Op. 54
Schumann    Symphony No.3 in E-flat Major, Op. 97 (Rhenish)

Caramoor welcomes Maestro Robert Spano, Music Director of the Atlanta Symphony, for his debut performance at the Festival. Each of the works on this program conveys Schumann’s devotion to the expression of poetic imagery for the concentration and amplification of emotion in his music. Pianist Vladimir Feltsman, a Caramoor favorite, returns following his revelatory recital last summer.

SUNDAY, JULY 18, 4:30 PM – VENETIAN THEATER
SCHUMANN AND CHOPIN AT 200
Sasha Cooke, mezzo-soprano
Michael Barrett, piano
Ken Noda, piano
Edward Arron, cello
Alexis Pia Gerlach, cello
Stewart Rose, horn

Schumann    Frauenlieve und Leben, Op. 42
Schumann    Andante and Variations for 2 pianos, 2 cellos and horn
Schumann    Fantasiestucke, Op. 73
Chopin          Cello Sonata in G minor, Op. 65

Caramoor celebrates the 200th birthdays of these two quintessential Romantics with a mixed program demonstrating their artistic genius and passion. Complemented by some of today’s consummate chamber musicians and Caramoor favorites, acclaimed mezzo-soprano Sasha Cooke performs Schumann’s A Woman’s Love and Life: a perfect vehicle for her artistry.

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

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.

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
Chopin Bel Canto: $15.00, $25.00
Schumann the Romantic: $15.00, $22.50, $37.50, $50.00, $65.00
Schumann and Chopin at 200: $15.00, $20.00, $30.00, $45.00

Tickets for the Bicentennial celebration concerts, as well as all other performances of the 2010 Caramoor International Music Festival, are on sale now. Tickets may be ordered by calling the Box Office at 914.232.1252, or online at www.caramoor.org.

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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.