Posted by: Kim_Hamilton on 07/11/2009 10:53 AM
Updated by: thepinetree on 07/20/2009 09:01 AM
Expires: 01/01/2014 12:00 AM
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Bear Valley Music Festival Offers Variety Starting with Super Diamond July 25th
Bear Valley, CA....San Francisco's Super Diamond, one of the most popular live shows at major nightclubs, theaters, ballrooms and public events throughout the United States, will kick off the 41st season of the Bear Valley Music Festival. The two-week long festival will offer a wide variety of entertainment sure to please all members of the family. Super Diamond will take the stage in the festival’s mountain theatre on Saturday, July 25, at 7 p.m. Transcending the label of "tribute band," the musical aggregation has passionately immersed itself in Neil Diamond's huge repertoire, delivering a high-octane show of unforgettable classics such as Cracklin's Rosie, Sweet Caroline, Forever in Blue Jeans and many others......
Click Above to Visit Bear Valley Music Festival and View Concert Schedule!
Front man The Surreal Neil, Randy Cordeiro, who astonishes audiences with his live interpretation of the "real Neil," created the charismatic character when he discovered he had the uncanny ability to capture not only Neil Diamond's voice, but also his mannerisms and performance style.
Most of the performances during the festival, which runs from July 25 through August 9, will feature the Bear Valley Symphony under the direction of Music Director and Conductor Carter Nice. Maestro Nice has conducted over 200 performances of the orchestra including opera productions.
This year’s repertoire will begin with the ever-popular “Broadway Pops,” featuring soprano Katie Van Kooten and tenor David Gagnon, on Wednesday July 29 at 7 p.m. On Saturday, August 1, at 6 p.m. during “A Night in Old Vienna, “the orchestra will perform the Vienna Philharmonic New Years Concert Program of December 31, 1939 featuring the music of Johann Strauss, Jr., including the Overture to Die Fledermaus, Skaters Waltz, the beloved “Blue Danube Waltz” and other favorites.
Di Wu, a 24-year-old award winning and critically acclaimed piano virtuoso, will join the orchestra for two performances. On Friday, July 31, she will play Beethoven’s Second Piano Concerto as part of a program that includes the Festival Orchestra’s rendition of Beethoven’s Leonore Overture #3 and Stravinsky’s Pulcinella Ballet Suite. Daniel Ebbers, tenor, and Burr Philips, baritone, and Allison Stanford, soprano, will add their voices to the evening of classical music.
Sunday, August 2, Wu will play Rachmaninoff’s Piano Concerto #3. The afternoon program, which begins at 2 p.m., will also include the orchestra’s performance of Ravel’s Tombeau De Couperin, and Schumann’s Symphony #1 (Spring).
Other programs spotlighting the orchestra include the August 7, 7 p.m. “Bear Valley All-Stars,” a program of music by Bloch (Concerto Grasso #1), Mozart (Clarinet Concerto), and Brahms (Concerto for Violin and Cello). Featured orchestra soloists will be Gary Sperl, clarinet; Larry Shapiro, violin; Doug Harvey, cello; and Brenda Tom, piano.
By popular demand, opera returns to this year’s festival, On Saturday, August 7, at 7 p.m. Gaetano Donizetti’s witty comic opera L’Elisir D’Amore (Elixir of Love) will be staged. It tells the story of Nemorino, a peasant, who is madly in love with Adina, a beautiful landowner. But Adina is engaged to the self-absorbed Sgt. Belcore. A bottle of elixir brings about a comic turn of events. Featured performers will be Katie Von Kooten, soprano, and David Gagnon, tenor. The opera will be presented with English supertitles.
So that the whole family may enjoy the wonders of symphonic music, a free children’s concert will be offered on Saturday, August 1 at 10 a.m. This will provide a wonderful, audience-friendly opportunity for young people to experience the majesty of a symphony orchestra. Jennifer Smith of Sacramento’s News 10 will narrate The Story of Celeste. The Bear Valley Festival Orchestra will perform Beethoven’s Leonore Overture #3, Strauss’ Light as a Feather Polka, and songs from The Wizard of Oz. The audience is invited to come early for the festival’s instrument “petting zoo.” There is no admission charge.
After the concert, everyone is invited to enjoy arts, crafts, jugglers, and other children’s activities during the “Teddy Bear Picnic”. A picnic lunch is included in the $12 admission Price.
Other talented musicians who will be part of the festival line-up include Mimi Fox, a world-class, accessible, straight-ahead jazz artist who is both true to the traditions and fresh with new ideas. She has been voted a "Rising Star" in Down Beat Magazine for the last five consecutive years. She will conduct a master class on Thursday, July 30 at 1 pm. and perform in the Bear Valley Lodge at 7 p.m.
The Brothers of Baladi, a group that adds Western influence to the authentic sounds of ancient instruments will entertain the audience on Wednesday, August 5, at 7 p.m. This versatile band of brothers has been blazing trails for over thirty years, playing traditional offerings and bridging cultures from the Middle East to international rock ‘n roll. They mix acoustic instruments and vocals in several languages with both exotic rhythms and familiar grooves.
There will be other performances and activities during the festival including a community barbecue, chamber music and wine tasting, silent movie with piano, home tour, and master classes. Complete information may be obtained on the festival website www.bearvalleymusic.org.
The Bear Valley Music Festival will bring its two-week celebration to a close on Sunday, August 9 at 2 p.m. with its always-popular Family Pops Program featuring the festival symphony orchestra .The program will feature 13-year-old violinist Ray Anthony Trujillo. Music will include Weber’s Euryanthe Overture, Wieniawski,’s Violin Concerto No. 2, Schubert’s Symphony No. 8 (Unfinished), and Duke Ellington’s Fantasy. Prokofiev’s Peter and the Wolf will be narrated by Dean Butler of “Little House on the Prairie”.
The Bear Valley Music Festival is in its 41st year of bringing beautiful music to the Sierras. Bear Valley is located off California State Highway 4 on the Ebbetts Pass Corridor in Alpine County. There is a range of prices for each performance. They may be ordered by visiting the festival website at www.bearvalleymusic.org or by calling toll free (800) 458-1618.
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