CARAMOOR FESTIVAL KICKS OFF 4TH OF JULY WEEKEND WITH “MUSIC AT THOMAS JEFFERSON’S MONTICELLO”
Katonah, NY ~ June 23, 2011
FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE
Contact: Cohn Dutcher Associates
CARAMOOR FESTIVAL KICKS OFF 4TH OF JULY WEEKEND WITH “MUSIC AT THOMAS JEFFERSON’S MONTICELLO”
TRANSPORT TO THE REVOLUTIONARY ERA WITH PAUL WOODIEL, ROBERT MEALY, MAZZ SWIFT, CHRISTOPHER LAYER, JERRON “BLIND BOY” PAXTON, AND DENNIS JAMES
FRIDAY, JULY 1 AT 8:00 PM IN THE SPANISH COURTYARD
KATONAH, NY – Caramoor International Music Festival kicks off its Independence Day celebration on Friday, July 1 by transporting audiences to the American Revolutionary Era with an original program entitled Music at Thomas Jefferson’s Monticello. Musicians Paul Woodiel, Robert Mealy, Mazz Swift, Christoper Layer, Jerron “Blind Boy” Paxton, Dennis James, Neely Bruce, Katie Reitman and Kerry O’Malley, offer a snapshot of two cultures living side-by-side at the legendary Virginian estate of our nation’s third president – from the Mozart, Haydn, and Corelli heard in the salon, to the African spirituals heard in the slave quarters. The program will feature the glass armonica, a unique instrument invented by Benjamin Franklin.
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
Most Summer Festival 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
Music at Thomas Jefferson’s Monticello: $30, $40, children under 16 half price!
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 Matthew Scarella at 914.232.5035 ext. 252 or matthew@caramoor.org.
PICNICKING AT CARAMOOR
Extend the Caramoor experience by arriving early and enjoying a picnic amidst the beautiful gardens. Concertgoers can bring their own picnic, or order one for pick-up at Caramoor by calling Great Performances® at 212-337-6055 or online at www.greatperformances.com/caramoorpicnics.
PRESS CONTACT
For press tickets, images, artist information or interviews, contact Whitney Holden at 917.339.7188 /wholden@cohndutcher.com or Brittnee Walker at 917.339.7183 / bwalker@cohndutcher.com
PROGRAM
Friday, July 1, 2011 8:00pm in the Spanish Courtyard
Music at Thomas Jefferson’s Monticello
Paul Woodiel, violin, curator, and host; Robert Mealy, violin; Mazz Swift, violin and voice; Christopher Layer,bagpipes and flutes; Jerron “Blind Boy” Paxton, guitar, banjo and voice; Dennis James, glass armonica; Neely Bruce, piano; Katie Reitman, cello; Kerry O’Malley, voice
Billings Chester
trad. Jefferson and Liberty
Corelli La Folia variations for Violin and Continuo
F. Hopkinson Songs dedicated to General Washington
James Hewitt Battle of Trenton Sonata
trad. Scots Air Bonny Broom
Mozart Adagio and Rondo for Armonica and Strings K. 617
Haydn Scottish Songs
trad. African-American Pharaoh
trad. Appalachian Grey Eagle
trad. American Bright Sunny South
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.
The 2011 International Music Festival is supported in part by
an award from the National Endowment for the Arts.
ALL PROGRAMS AND ARTISTS ARE SUBJECT TO CHANGE
CARAMOOR CENTER FOR MUSIC AND THE ARTS IS LOCATED AT
149 GIRDLE RIDGE ROAD, KATONAH, NEW YORK.