Caramoor Center for Music and the Arts presents Acclaimed cellist Alisa Weilerstein in residence
By Roslyn Wertheimer
FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE National Press Representative: Lois Cohn Associates Lois Cohn, 917.733.8252, lcohn@lcohnpr.com Christine Keeler, 954.856.1372, press@lcohnpr.com
"A Passionate Young Cellist Engages the Ear and the Eye"
- The New York Times
Katonah, NY – Caramoor Center for Music and the Arts presents internationally renowned American cellist and recipient of a MacArthur genius grant, Alisa Weilerstein. She returns to Caramoor this summer as its first Artist-in-Residence, continuing a long fruitful relationship that began when she first participated in the Rising Stars program at age 17.
Named “one of the most exciting American cellists of the new generation” by The New York Times, Ms. Weilerstein will kick-off her residency on Thursday, July 31 at 6:00pm in the Spanish Courtyard with an unaccompanied recital featuring four wonderfully evocative pieces – Britten’sTema Sacher, Golijov’s Omaramor, Bach’s Cello Suite No. 3 in C, BWV 1009 and Zoltán Kodály’s Sonata for Solo Cello. Next, on Friday, August 1 at 8:00pm, Ms. Weilerstein will be joined by her friends, the Ariel Quartet, in the Spanish Courtyard for an evening of gorgeous chamber music. Characterized by its youth, brilliant playing, and soulful interpretations, the Ariel Quartet has quickly earned a glowing international reputation winning a number of international prizes since their 2008-09 tenure as Caramoor’s Ernst Stiefel String Quartet-in-Residence. The program will feature Boccherini’s String Quintet in E, Op. 11, No. 5, Arensky’s String Quartet No. 2, Op. 35 and Schubert’s String Quintet in C, D. 956. On Sunday, August 3 at 4:30pm in the Venetian Theater, Ms. Weilerstein will join the Orchestra of St. Luke’s and conductor, Pablo Heras-Casado, for the festival finale – where she will perform her critically acclaimed interpretation of the devastatingly beautiful Elgar Cello Concerto (her Elgar/Carter Cello Concertos CD were named BBC Music’s “Recording of the Year 2013”). The Orchestra will open the program with Wagner’s Prelude to Act III of Lohengrin and closes the Festival with the lyrical, folk-inspired melodies of Dvořák’s Symphony No. 8. Caramoor and WQXR As part of a new collaboration between Caramoor and WQXR, several concerts including Donizetti’s Lucrezia Borgia starring Angela Meade and closing night featuring Alisa Weilerstein and the Orchestra of St Luke’s led by Pablo-Heras Casado, will air on WQXR 105.9 FM, New York City’s sole classical station; its sister station, WQXW 90.3 serving Central and Northern Westchester; and online at www.wqxr.org – reaching online audiences across the region and around the globe. Tickets Tickets for Alisa Weilerstein, Thursday, July 31 at 6:00pm in the Spanish Courtyard, are $15 and $20. Tickets for Alisa Weilestein with the Ariel Quartet, Friday, August 1 at 8:00pm in the Spanish Courtyard, are $15, $25, $35, and $50. Tickets for the Festival Finale, Sunday, August 3 at 4:30pm in the Venetian Theater, are $15, $35, $45, $55, and $70. To order tickets, call the Box Office at 914.232.1252 or visit www.caramoor.org. Groups of 16 or more may purchase discounted tickets by contacting Sal Vaccaro at 914.232.5035 ext. 256 or sal@caramoor.org. ABOUT CARAMOOR 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. Audiences are invited to come early to explore the beautiful grounds, tour the historic Rosen House, 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. To learn more, visit caramoor.org. CONCERT VENUES & GARDENS Summer concerts take place in two outdoor theaters: the 1,714-seat, acoustically superb Venetian Theater and the more intimate, romantic 558-seat Spanish Courtyard. In the fall and winter all concerts are presented in the magnificent Music Room in the Rosen House. Caramoor’s gardens, also used for concerts, are also well worth the visit and include nine unique perennial gardens. Among them are a Sense Circle for the visually handicapped, the Sunken Garden, a Butterfly Garden, the Tapestry Hedge, and the Iris and Peony Garden. “In the Garden of Sonic Delights” (Sonic Delights) is a major open-air sound art exhibition presented by Caramoor Center for Music and the Arts. Open now and continuing through November 2 the exhibition, led by Curator and Artistic Director Stephan Moore, will include fifteen site-specific sound artworks. Caramoor commissioned sixteen established and emerging sound artists to choose distinctive locations at Caramoor and five partner organizations throughout Westchester County. In the Garden of Sonic Delights at Caramoor will be open Thursday-Sunday, 10AM-3PM. Admission is $10.00 (children 12 and under are free), including all-day access to the Caramoor grounds for the exhibit, picnics, and walks. 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 4, 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.
The 2014 Summer Music Festival is supported in part by an award from the National Endowment for the Arts. Performances are made possible, in part, by ArtsWestchester with funds from Westchester County Government. Performances are made possible with public funds from the New York State Council on the Arts, a state agency.
CARAMOOR CENTER FOR MUSIC AND THE ARTS IS LOCATED AT 149 GIRDLE RIDGE RD, KATONAH, NY 10536 ALL PROGRAMS AND ARTISTS ARE SUBJECT TO CHANGE # # #