Attending the Caramoor Opening Night Gala With my Nephew, Christopher Herbert
Last Saturday, June 23rd, was the opening night gala of A Midsummer Night’s Dream, at Caramoor Center for Music and the Arts, right near my home in Katonah, New York. I asked my nephew, Christopher Herbert, to join me for the evening. Chris, a very talented musician, knows a great deal about classical music and is always a wonderful companion at musical events. Caramoor is a 90-acre estate where Lucie and Walter Rosen built an Italianate-style villa and gardens to entertain their friends from around the world. In 1946, the Rosens opened their property as a performing arts center with a concert series that soon evolved into the Caramoor International Music Festival. Felix Mendelssohn began his masterful incidental music to A Midsummer Night’s Dream as a teenager, when he composed the Overture. Only a few years before his death did he complete the incidental music, which includes the world-famous Wedding March.
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- Falconer Jennifer Pena with Boo, the owl – Jennifer, who learned the art and science of falconry from her father, has been presenting educational programs since she was a teen.
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- The Eurasian eagle owl is one of the largest species of owls. Jennifer and her raptors – falcons, hawks, and owls – take part in Caramoor’s ‘A Day in the Renaissance’ educational program, teaching the history, habits, characteristics, and behaviors of raptors.
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- Opening night at Caramoor, Katonah’s wonderful music festival, is always a festive affair. Here I am with James Attwood – Chairman-of-the Board of Caramoor and Congresswomen Nita Lowey (D, NY18th) and her husband Steve.
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- The theme of the evening was ‘ethereal’ to go along with the program: Mendelssohn’s incidental music to A Midsummer Night’s Dream, his great opus.
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- I took as my guest my talented musician nephew, Christopher Herbert, who is currently a member of the foursome, New York Polyphony, one of the world’s finest vocal chamber ensembles. http://www.newyorkpolyphony.com/ This was our table card.
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- Paul Rosenblum, Managing Director of Caramoor, was our MC for the evening. Here he was introducing James Attwood, Caramoor’s newly elected Chairman-of-the-Board.
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- Jim Attwood, a partner at The Carlyle Group in NYC, is a personable and knowledgeable music aficionado who loves Caramoor. A resident in the Bedford area for more than 18 years, Jim has an intense interest in music and in providing great live music to the community.
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- Jim’s message was about wisdom and its importance, personified by the wise old owl. This one, a magnificent Eurasian eagle owl called Boo, was handled by falconer, Jen Pena. Anyone who gave $500 that evening, would get their photo taken with Boo.
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- The outgoing General Director of Caramoor, MIchael Barrett, got up to speak alongside Judy Evnin, Caramoor Chairman Emerita.
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- Dinner under the tent by Great Performances: First Course – Spring Vegetable Collection of Spinach Labne, Herb Blossoms, Green Olive Croutons; Dinner – Beef Tenderloin, Olive Tapenade, Steel Cut Oat Rizotto, Roasted Market Asparagus, Balsamic Jus; Dessert – Fresh Fruit Parfait with Light Cream and Chocolate Tuile Petit Fours
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- Three vibrant trumpets announced that the concert would begin shortly.
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- Diners got up and moved to the Venetian Pavilion to hear the music. Another whimsical centerpiece – the gala flowers were done by Ned Kelly & Co.
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- And another
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- On my way to the concert, I met up with Alexander Bernstein, the son of Leonard Bernstein. He is president of The Bernstein Family Foundation, and founding chairman of The Leonard Bernstein Center For Learning.
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- Even another
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- Here I am with Michael Barrett, who gave Caramoor a decade of exemplary leadership. He will step down at the close of Caramoor’s 2012 Summer Festival in August and will return to Caramoor in 2013 as a pianist, mentor and conductor.
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- My nephew, Chris and Michael Barrett met for the first time and had so much to talk about.
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- Caramoor, the legacy of Walter and Lucie Rosen, established the estate and built a great house as its centerpiece, filling it with treasures collected on their travels. Walter Rosen was the master planner, bringing to reality his dream of creating a place to entertain friends from around the world.
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- Their legendary musical evenings were the seeds of today’s International Music Festival that is held annually on the estate.
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- The gala tent
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- This stucco restroom building, with its red-tiled roof, was built in the Mediterranean style of the historic Rosen House at Caramoor.
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- The Play Group Theatre in White Plains, New York, provided enchanting fairies, who directed the guests towards the concert space.
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- More of the whimsical decorations
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- It was becoming dusk as we found our way to the theater.
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- Posing with Jack Marczak, my friend and neighbor Peter Michaelis, and Mary Ann Hawley – on Caramoor Board of Trustees (Jack’s aunt)
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- More pretty fairies
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- The inside of the Venetian pavilion – We had wonderful seats to see the performance, which was excellent, with the Orchestra of St. Luke’s onstage and Roberto Abbado conducting.
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- The Theater is set around Greek and Roman pink marble columns, topped by Venetian arches and protected by a billowy, light-filtering tent. The seats are very comfortable.
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