Caramoor Festival Celebrates the Bicentennials of Chopin & Schumann 7/15-18

Caramoor International Music Festival celebrates the bicentennials of legendary composers Frederic Chopin and Robert Schumann in a three-concert series showcasing a selection of their greatest works. 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-sopranoMichael Barrett, piano
Ken Noda, piano
Edward Arron, cello
Alexis Pia Gerlach, cello
Stewart Rose, horn

Schumann Frauenlieve und Leben, Op. 42
Schumann Andante and Variatons 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.

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 caramoor.org.