Caramoor Announces Highlights of the 2010 International Music Festival

Michael Barrett, CEO and General Director of Caramoor Center for Music and the Arts, today announced the lineup for the 65th Caramoor International Music Festival, held annually at the Center's distinguished 90-acre garden estate in Katonah, New York. The summer festival program, which will run from June 26 to August 8, offers enormous appeal to all audiences with a rich array of artists and repertoire from the worlds of classical, jazz, Latin, bluegrass and pop music. World-renowned pianist Mitsuko Uchida kicks off the season with Mozart's Piano Concerto No.27, K.595, during which she will conduct the Orchestra of St. Luke's from the piano. Maestro Barrett will also lead the orchestra in Symphony No. 25 and Symphony No. 34 to cap off the All-Mozart Opening Night program.

Highlights of the season include: Renowned violinist Midori performing Beethoven, Bloch, Szymanowski and Brahms in recital with pianist Ozgur Aydin (July 11); New Orleans blues luminary Dr. John (July 31); Tiempo Libre and Paquito D'Rivera, as part of the fourth year of Caramoor's Sonidos Latinos series (June 27); Polygraph Lounge, one of today's most extraordinary avant-garde musical collaborations (Aug 1); and programs commemorating the 200th birthdays of Schumann and Chopin on July 15, 17 and 18, headlined by soprano Sasha Cooke, pianists Ken Noda and Vladimir Feltsman, and the Orchestra of St. Luke's under the baton of Robert Spano.

Maintaining his deep commitment to presenting great opera at Caramoor, Director of Opera Will Crutchfield leads the celebrated Bel Canto at Caramoor series, now in its 14th year, with Donizetti's Maria di Rohan on July 24 and two performances of Bellini's Norma on July 10 and July 16. Maestro Crutchfield will be joined by the Orchestra of St. Luke's and a stellar professional cast headed by soprano Angela Meade as Norma and soprano Takesha Meshé Kizart as Maria di Rohan.

The summer festival programs continue to provide a wide range of chamber music offerings, which this season include clarinetist Anthony McGill and Friends (July 8), Jupiter String Quartet performing with pianist Jon Nakamatsu (July 22), Leipzig String Quartet (July 29), and Caramoor's Ernst Stiefel Stiring Quartet-in-Residence Jasper String Quartet (August 5). The 2010 festival also marks the launch of the new Extreme Chamber Music series, which features innovative trio Two Foot Yard (July 2), electric string quartet Ethel (July 9), and music pioneer Christopher O'Riley (July 30).

On Friday, July 3, Caramoor kicks off the holiday weekend with a day-long celebration of "American Roots" featuring performances by the Punch Brothers, Chris Thile, Abigail Washburn and Sandra Wong. On the 4th of July, Michael Barrett takes the podium for the spectacular Pops, Patriots & Fireworks concert; this year's program includes festive classics from The American Songbook as well as the traditional performance of Tchaikovsky's 1812 Overture followed by a fireworks display, creating a perfect holiday event for the whole family. Additional family-friendly offerings this summer include Al Fresco Sundays, which allow audiences to enjoy the sounds of selected concerts from the lawn and picnic areas at Caramoor, Dancing at Dusk and Guitar in the Garden.

One of the vital jazz events in the region each year, Caramoor's annual weekend-long jazz festival is renowned for its star-studded line-up of both jazz legends and new forces on the scene. This summer's jazz program - which closes the festival on August 6, 7 & 8 - is headlined by Chick Corea's Freedom Band and features the talents of the Mulgrew Miller Trio, The Chuchito Valdes Big Band, The Elio Villafranca Quintet, Bobby Hutcherson Ensemble, Stefon Harris & Blackout, Spoken Hand Percussion Orchestra, Clarice Assad, Roswell Rudd's Trombone Tribe, and Brad Shepik.

Tickets for the 2010 Caramoor International Music Festival season go on sale to the general public on MONDAY, FEBRUARY 1, 2010 at 10:00 A.M.

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
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
Caramoor is easy to get to by car and mass transportation. The Caramoor Caravan is available for Bel Canto at Caramoor performances.

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.

From Manhattan, take the Caramoor Caravan to Bel Canto at Caramoor opera performances on July 10, 16, and 24, and ride comfortably in a luxurious, air-conditioned coach. For information and reservations call the Caramoor Box Office at 914.232.1252.

TICKETS
Tickets go on sale Monday, February 1, 2010 at 10:00 am. Tickets may be ordered by calling the Box Office at 914.232.1252 or online at www.caramoor.org. (For opening night Gala tickets, including cocktail reception, dinner, concert, and post-concert dessert and dancing, email events@caramoor.org or call 914.232.1492.)