Orchestra Of St. Luke's Returns To Caramoor With 3 Concerts For Its 2018 Summer Residency

The Orchestra of St. Luke's, one of America's most versatile and distinguished orchestras, returns to its summer home at Caramoor to perform three diverse programs ranging from Baroque to Broadway show tunes.

This June and July, the 39th year of Orchestra of St. Luke's summer residency at Caramoor will showcase the Ensemble in the season opening and closing concerts, along with a mid-season performance. Founded in 1945, the beloved summer concert series brings thousands of music lovers to its bucolic Westchester setting to hear world-renowned artists and ensembles. To kick off the season on June 16, OSL is joined by award-winning singer-actress Audra McDonald for a program of Broadway standards and more-recent works, led by music director Andy Einhorn. On June 30, making his OSL and Caramoor debut, Ludovic Morlot leads a program of works by Tchaikovsky and Smetana, featuring violinist Benjamin Beilman and the New York premiere of Matthew Aucoin's Evidence. And closing out the 2018 Caramoor season on July 29, Bernard Labadie conducts a program of works by Mozart and Handel with mezzo-soprano Susan Graham, one of today's leading interpreters of this repertoire. Mozart's Symphony No. 36 in C, "Linz" highlights the program.
ORCHESTRA OF ST. LUKE'S 2018 CARAMOOR SUMMER RESIDENCY
June 16 - July 29, 2018
SUMMER RESIDENCY AT CARAMOOR, Venetian Theater

SATURDAY, JUNE 16, 2018, 8:30 PM
Opening Night Concert: Audra McDonald
Venetian Theater

Orchestra of St. Luke's
Andy Einhorn, music director
Audra McDonald, vocalist

Effervescent singer-actor Audra McDonald - record-breaking winner of six Tony Awards, two Grammy Awards, and an Emmy Award - gets Caramoor's 73rd season off to a dazzling start sharing opening night with Caramoor orchestra-in-residence Orchestra of St. Luke's. The concert will feature standards from the American Songbook, Broadway tunes, and newer pieces. McDonald's long-time pianist and music director, Andy Einhorn, currently music supervisor and music director for the Broadway revival of Hello Dolly!, directs what is sure to be a thrilling evening.

SUNDAY, JUNE 30, 2018, 8:00 PM
Pre-concert talk at 7:00 pm with Ludovic Morlot and Benjamin Beilman
Morlot Conducts Tchaikovsky and Smetana
Venetian Theater

Orchestra of St. Luke's
Ludovic Morlot, conductor
Benjamin Beilman, violin

SMETANA Dance of the Comedians, from The Bartered Bride
TCHAIKOVSKY Violin Concerto in D, Op. 35
MATTHEW AUCOIN Evidence (New York premiere)
TCHAIKOVSKY Romeo and Juliet Fantasy Overture

French Conductor Ludovic Morlot makes his OSL and Caramoor debuts with this concert. He has been Music Director of the Seattle Symphony since 2011, leading the orchestra in two Grammy Award-winning performances. The New York Times wrote of their 2014 Carnegie Hall appearance, "The performance Mr. Morlot coaxed from his players was rich with shimmering colors and tremulous energy." Highlighting the evening is the New York premiere of Matthew Aucoin's Evidence. Aucoin, who is Artist in Residence at Los Angeles Opera, composed the dramatic oratorio The Orphic Moment that OSL performed as part of an innovative production with MasterVoices May 6 and 7 at Jazz at Lincoln Center's Rose Theater. The "poised and monstrously talented" (Philadelphia Inquirer) young violinist Benjamin Beilman will perform the tuneful and virtuosic Tchaikovsky Violin Concerto in D. Rounding out the program are the playful Dance of the Comedians, from Smetana's The Bartered Bride and Tchaikovsky's lushly romantic Romeo & Juliet Fantasy Overture.

SUNDAY, JULY 29, 2018, 4:00 PM
Pre-concert talk at 3:00 PM with Bernard Labadie
Graham Sings Handel and Mozart
Venetian Theater

Orchestra of St. Luke's
Bernard Labadie, Principal Conductor Designate
Susan Graham, mezzo-soprano

HANDEL Overture from Ariodante
HANDEL "Dopo notte" from Ariodante
HANDEL "Scherza infida" from Ariodante
HANDEL Overture from Alcina
HANDEL "Stà nell'Ircana pietrosa tana" from Alcina
MOZART Overture from The Marriage of Figaro
MOZART "Non so più cosa son" from The Marriage of Figaro
MOZART "Voi che sapete" from The Marriage of Figaro
MOZART Symphony No. 36 in C, K. 425, "Linz"
MOZART Deh per questo istante" from La Clemenza di Tito

Caramoor's 2018 Summer Season comes to a close with a focus on two composers close to the hearts - and central to the careers - of incoming OSL Principal Conductor Bernard Labadie and celebrated mezzo-soprano Susan Graham. The program features selections from operatic roles that have brought Graham great acclaim. The first half of the program includes selections from Handel's Ariodante and Alcina, the second half, Mozart's Le Nozze di Figaro and La Clemenza di Tito. Maestro Labadie leads the Orchestra in a performance of the joyous Mozart "Linz" Symphony.
Orchestra of St. Luke's

Orchestra of St. Luke's (OSL) began in 1974 as a group of virtuoso musicians performing chamber music concerts at Greenwich Village's Church of St. Luke in the Fields. Now in its 43rd season, the Orchestra performs diverse musical genres at New York's major concert venues and has collaborated with artists ranging from Renée Fleming and Joshua Bell to Bono and Metallica. In fall 2018, celebrated expert in 18th-century music Bernard Labadie will begin his tenure as the Orchestra's fifth Principal Conductor. OSL's signature programming includes a subscription series presented by Carnegie Hall, now in its 31st season; an annual multi-week collaboration with Paul Taylor American Modern Dance at Lincoln Center; an annual summer residency at Caramoor Center for Music and the Arts; and a chamber music festival featuring appearances at The Morgan Library & Museum, the Brooklyn Museum, and Merkin Concert Hall at Kaufman Music Center. The Orchestra has participated in 118 recordings, four of which have won Grammy Awards, has commissioned more than 50 new works, and has given more than 175 world, U.S., and New York City premieres. Nearly half of OSL's performances each year are presented free of charge through its education and community programs, reaching over 10,000 New York City public school students. Additionally, OSL provides free instrumental coaching and presents student performances through its Youth Orchestra of St. Luke's and its Mentorship Program for Pre-Professional Musicians. OSL built and operates The DiMenna Center for Classical Music in Hell's Kitchen, New York City's only rehearsal, recording, education, and performance space expressly dedicated to classical music. The Center serves more than 500 ensembles and more than 30,000 musicians each year. For more information, visit OSLmusic.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 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, and tour the historic Rosen House. On special Sundays and Wednesdays, visitors can enjoy a delicious Afternoon Tea or unwind with a pre-concert picnic, and discover beautiful music in the relaxed settings of the Venetian Theater, Spanish Courtyard, and the magnificent gardens. Summer concerts take place in two outdoor theaters: the acoustically superb Venetian Theater, which seats approximately 1,500, and the more intimate, romantic Spanish Courtyard, which seats around 470. In the fall and spring, concerts are presented in the magnificent Music Room in the Rosen House. Caramoor's gardens, also used for concerts and the sound exhibition Sonic Innovations, are well worth the visit and include nine unique perennial gardens. Among them are a Sense Circle for the visually impaired, the Sunken Garden, a Butterfly Garden, the Tapestry Hedge, and the Iris and Peony Garden.

Getting to Caramoor
Getting to Caramoor is simple by car, train or public transportation. All parking is free and close to the performance areas. Handicapped parking is also free and readily available.

By car from New York City, take the Henry Hudson Parkway north to the Saw Mill River Parkway north to I-684 north to Exit 6. Go east on Route 35 to the traffic light (0.3 miles). Turn right onto Route 22 south, and travel 1.9 miles to the junction of Girdle Ridge Road where there is a green Caramoor sign. At the junction, veer left and make a quick right onto Girdle Ridge Road. Continue on Girdle Ridge Road 0.5 miles to the Caramoor gates on the right. Approximate drive time is one hour.

By train from Grand Central Station, take the Harlem Division Line of the Metro-North Railroad heading to Southeast, and exit at Katonah. Caramoor is a 3.5-mile drive from the Katonah station, where taxi service is always available and free shuttle service is available for select performances. For current information, check the Metro-North schedule.