OUMOU SANGARE THE SONGBIRD OF WASSOULOU
Katonah, NY ~ June 24, 2011
FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE
Contact: Cohn Dutcher Associates
CARAMOOR INTERNATIONAL MUSIC FESTIVAL PRESENTS
OUMOU SANGARE, “THE SONGBIRD OF WASSOULOU”
SATURDAY, JULY 23, 8:00 PM IN THE VENETIAN THEATER
KATONAH, NY – On Saturday, July 23 at 8:00pm Caramoor welcomes back Oumou Sangaré, an internationally acclaimed vocalist often referred to as “The Songbird of the Wassoulou”, who brought concertgoers to their feet during her 2009 Caramoor debut in a sold-out show featuring acclaimed banjo player Béla Fleck. This summer, Sangaré returns to entertain the Caramoor audience with her band, performing music and dance from the vibrant culture of her West African homeland.
ABOUT THE ARTIST
Oumou Sangaré is a leading star of the West African popular music Wassoulou. It is based on an ancient tradition of hunting rituals mixed with songs about devotion, praise, and harvest played with pentatonic melodies. Recognized world-wide for her vocal ability, Oumou recently contributed vocals to the 2011 Grammy Award-winning pop collaboration "Imagine" for the Herbie Hancock album, The Imagine Project. Her latest album “Seya”, (Joy) was also nominated for a Grammy in 2009.
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
Oumou Sangare and her band: $16.00, $28.00, $41.00, $54.00, $67.00
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
PROGRAMS
Saturday, July 23, 8:00pm at the Venetian Theater
Oumou Sangaré and her band
The Songbird of Wassoulou
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, NY