For Immediate Release
Contact: Cohn Dutcher Associates
Lois Cohn, 917.339.7187, lcohn@cohndutcher.com
Dan Dutcher, 917.339.7157, ddutcher@cohndutcher.com 
Whitney Holden, 917.339.7188, wholden@cohndutcher.com 

CARAMOOR INTERNATIONAL MUSIC FESTIVAL
2010 SUMMERTIME FAMILY FUN EVENTS

 

FIREWORKS, FAMILY CONCERTS,
DANCING AT DUSK AND CONCERTS AL FRESCO

KATONAH, NEW YORK – Michael Barrett, Caramoor’s Chief Executive and General Director, has announced special opportunities for families to enjoy great music, good fun, and quality time together during the 2010 Caramoor International Music Festival.

“For families looking for some fun ways to spend beautiful summer days, Caramoor has always been a haven for picnics, music, and artful adventures, with programs like ‘Dancing at Dusk’ in the Friends Field and ‘Caramoor Al Fresco’ on the Picnic Lawns,” says Michael Barrett. “For our family concerts this season, ensembles like Sandra Wong’s New Trad Trio and Kaleidoscope take listeners of all ages on a musical journey through cultures of the world, and a holiday spectacular marks the Fourth of July with Pops, Patriots and Fireworks! A visit to Caramoor is a great, cost-effective alternative to a destination vacation that the entire family can enjoy.”

FAMILY CONCERTS

July 4th – Pops, Patriots & Fireworks
Sunday, 8:00pm ~ Venetian Theater / $30, $40, $50, $60, $70 , children 12 and under half price
Michael Barrett leads the Orchestra of St. Luke’s in a salute to our nation’s 234th birthday. Tchaikovsky’s famous 1812 Overture will be paired with American patriotic favorites by Sousa and Ferde Grofé (the Grand Canyon Suite). The Theremin, the first electronic instrument ever invented – and one championed by Caramoor’s founder, Lucie Rosen – will make a guest appearance under the skilled fingers of Rob Schwimmer and a spectacular fireworks display promptly follows the concert.

July 17th – Sandra Wong and The New Trad Trio
Saturday, 1:00pm ~ Venetian Theater / $10, $15, $25; $15.00 for Soundworld!
Sandra Wong and her New Trad Trio take families on a musical journey featuring traditional folk music from around the world played on over a dozen different instruments. Audiences on this interactive worldwide trip will discover the Swedish nyckelharpa, and much more. This program is for children ages 6 and up.

In Caramoor’s Spanish Courtyard, a simultaneous program for youngsters under the age of 6 – Soundworld! – will feature the group Kaleidoscope taking the youngest children on their own journey through world music. Through a unique approach to interactive performance, Kaleidoscope will invite the audience into a world of cultures – from Africa, to South America, to Asia – by engaging children and their families through rhythmic activities, singing, close listening, questioning, and movement. (Children must be accompanied by an adult).

DANCING AT DUSK

June 16th (Pre-Season); June 30th, July 14th, July 28; August 11th (Post-Season)
Wednesdays at 5:00pm ~ Friends Field / $10 adult, $5 child
Come to Caramoor for an evening of fun with the kids! Dancing at Dusk offers early-evening festivities for the family, from toddlers to pre-teens, to picnic and enjoy great music together. Children of all ages will have the opportunity to dance to live music, interact with the musicians, get to know their instruments, and ask questions. This is a wonderful way to have your child introduced to music, up close, in a relaxed and joyful way. This season’s Dancing at Dusk programs explore musical cultures from around the world including English Country Dancing, Middle Eastern music, African music, and Indian classical music.

• June 16th – Guy Davis
Recently featured on NPR and CBS’ Late Show with David Letterman, Guy Davis brings his consummate skills as a musician, composer, actor, and performer to Caramoor. Through the material of the great blues masters, African American stories, and his own original songs and stories, Mr. Davis revives the traditions of acoustic blues in every performance. He “serves as a reminder that country blues was never meant for a sit-down audience. More than anyone else in this generation, he plays the blues to get people dancing.” (Acoustic Guitar magazine)
• June 30th - English Country Dancing
A tradition hundreds of years old and still thriving today, English Country Dancing promises to energize and delight with its beautiful, soaring music and mesmerizing patterns of movement. Caller Beverly Francis will lead an evening of dancing featuring a variety of musical styles performed live by Cynthia Shaw (piano) and Zara Lawler (flute). No partners or prior knowledge necessary!
• July 14th - Djinn - Middle Eastern Music with Belly Dancing and Beatboxing!
Ranging from traditional Middle-Eastern to an experimental blending of traditional instruments with electronics and beatboxing, Djinn is one of the most exciting new ensembles on the world music scene. Audience members are invited to bring their own handheld percussion instruments (or any small homemade item you can hit, shake or scrape!) to get hands-on with the intricate rhythms and sounds made by the doumbek. Pete List will demonstrate the art of beatboxing, and belly-dancer Kaeshi Chai will perform and teach the audience how to try out her graceful style.
• July 28th - Kakande - African Music
Kakande's music is a joyous celebration of history and culture as told by its leader, Famoro Dioubate, a djeli (storyteller/historian) from Guinea, West Africa. One of the most respected balafon players in the world, Famoro uses songs and rhythms to describe a history that goes back at least 800 years. This one-of-a-kind ensemble blends the ancient sounds of the West African balafon, tambin (flute), kora, djembe and vocals with textures outside of African traditional music. The audience will also have a chance to learn rhythms and steps from the traditional dances of West Africa.
• August 11th - Layakiri - South Indian
Violinist, sitarist and vocalist Rachel Golub brings her scintillating ensemble Layakiri to Caramoor for Dancing at Dusk. The term 'layakiri' refers to the mischievous rhythmic counterpoint that makes Indian classical music such an adventure: when an artist improvises a new pulse while the original rhythm is maintained. The members of this dynamic ensemble boast backgrounds from Agra to Addis Ababa, and Salzburg to Sao Paulo, creating a spicy musical counterpoint that features rhythmic and melodic wizardry.
 

CONCERTS AL FRESCO

June 27th, July 11th, July 18th, July 25th, August 1st
Sundays at 4:30pm ~Picnic Lawns / $10.00 per person
Al Fresco Sundays offer opportunities for families to enjoy the sounds of selected Venetian Theater concerts from the lawn and picnic areas at Caramoor, ideal for youngsters who may be unlikely to sit still for an entire performance under the big tent.

• June 27th – Tiempo Libre with Paquito D’Rivera
On the heels of their sizzling debut last summer, two-time Grammy-nominated Tiempo Libre returns to Caramoor with fellow Cuban and Sonidos Latinos favorite Paquito D’Rivera.
• July 11th – Midori in Recital
Famed violinist Midori joins forces with pianist Ozgur Aydin in a poetic program of Beethoven, Bloch, Szymanowski and Brahms.
• July 18th – Schumann and Chopin at 200
Enjoy the music of Chopin and Schumann performed by cellists Edward Arron and Alexis Pia Gerlach, pianists Ken Noda and Michael Barrett, and horn-player Stewart Rose. Mezzo-soprano Sasha Cooke sings Schumann’s A Woman’s Love and Life.
• July 25 – Caramoor Virtuosi II
The Caramoor Virtuosi perform works by Dvořák, Sollima and Chausson.
• August 1st – Rolling in the Aisles / Humor in Music featuring Polygraph Lounge
Polygraph Lounge fascinates with inspired lunacy, original music and stage full of bizarre instruments, including theremin, daxophone, travel bug, uboingy, garglephone, and many more. Referencing 250 years of music since J.S. Bach, this duo uses everything from nose flutes to cell phones to create their unexpectedly witty tunes.

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, 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. The center enriches the lives of its audiences through innovative and diverse musical performances of the highest quality, and its mission also includes mentoring young professional musicians and providing educational programs for young children centered around music. Caramoor is often described as “a Garden of Great Music”; audiences are invited to 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
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.

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
Tickets are on sale now and may be ordered by calling the Box Office at 914.232.1252 or online at www.caramoor.org.

Picnicking at Caramoor: Extend the Caramoor experience by arriving early and enjoying a picnic amidst the beautiful gardens. Purchase your picnic (or bring your own) by calling Great Performances® at 212-337-6055 or online at www.greatperformances.com/caramoorpicnics 

PRESS TICKETS
For press tickets and materials, please contact Whitney Holden: 917.339.7188, wholden@cohndutcher.com 

DON’T MISS WQXR’S LIVE SNEAK PREVIEW OF THE CARAMOOR FESTIVAL ON JUNE 24!
On June 24 at 7:00pm, Classical 105.9 WQXR, New York's sole 24/7 classical music station, will present a sneak preview of this summer's Caramoor International Music Festival. In a live broadcast from The Jerome L. Greene Performance Space, WQXR Host Terrance McKnight will be joined by Caramoor’s General Director Michael Barrett, who will introduce singers, pianists, quartets and other musicians from this year’s festival lineup. This lively evening of music and talk will be broadcast live on WQXR and video-streamed live at www.wqxr.org, and www.thegreenespace.org.
 

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 2010 International Music Festival is supported in part by
an award from the National Endowment for the Arts.

CARAMOOR CENTER FOR MUSIC AND THE ARTS IS LOCATED AT
149 GIRDLE RIDGE ROAD, KATONAH, NEW YORK.

ALL PROGRAMS AND ARTISTS ARE SUBJECT TO CHANGE

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