Blog Memories: Opening Night Gala at the Caramoor Center for Music and the Arts
My blog team is taking a brief summer break, so for the next week we'll be posting some of our favorite blogs from years past. This one was originally posted on June 27th, 2022 - a fun evening at the Caramoor Center for Music and the Arts. Enjoy the look back.
The 2022 Summer Season at the Caramoor Center for Music and the Arts is underway - I hope you take the opportunity to attend one of their events if you're in the area.
Caramoor, which is not far from my Bedford, New York farm, is an 80-acre former 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, which now hosts summer concert series, historic house tours, educational programs, and other outdoor affairs and performances. Earlier this month, I attended Caramoor's special Opening Night Gala to celebrate its 77th season of events. The evening included cocktails, dinner, and a spectacular performance by The Knights and Yo-Yo Ma.
Enjoy these photos, and please visit the website at caramoor.org to see what events are being offered in the coming weeks.
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- On the expansive Caramoor grounds, guests are welcomed by this commissioned sound art sculpture, in”C”, created by Trimpin. Born Gerhard Trimpin, Trimpin is a kinetic sculptor, sound artist, and musician. His work integrates sculpture and sound across a variety of media. (Photo by Gabe Palacio)
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- The Rosens built the estate and Tuscan-style villa gradually during the 1930s, importing many architectural and decorative items from Europe. The estate became a center for the arts and music following the World War II death of the Rosen’s son. The couple donated the property in their son’s memory, and it quickly became an established summer festival venue. (Photo by Gabe Palacio)
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- During the Summer Season, guests can sit on Friends Field to watch various outdoor musical performances. (Photo by Gabe Palacio)
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- At the Opening Night Gala, we all gathered for dinner under the large tent. Dinner was prepared by Great Performances. It included burrata, spring peas and greens with favas, edamame, and lemon vinaigrette along with a vegetable mosaic of chioggia beets, carrots, radishes, and chickpea mousse. The second course was grilled beef filet with tarragon roasted baby carrots, green peas, and king oyster mushrooms. And for dessert – lemon curd and light lemon mousse with blueberry and mint petit fours. (Photo by Julie Ades Richter)
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- Caramoor President and CEO Ed Lewis III took to the podium and welcomed all the guests to the Opening Night Gala.
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- Comments were also given by Vice-Chairman, Peter Kend.
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- Featured wines on this evening included 2016 The Napa Valley Reserve Kend Family Reserve and a 2021 Babich Black Label Sauvignon Blanc. (Photo by Gabe Palacio)
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- Opening Night at Caramoor, Katonah’s wonderful music festival, is always a festive affair. The audience was packed and very enthusiastic about the performances and the music. (Photo by Gabe Palacio)
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- This is Caramoor Chairman of the Board Jim Attwood. Jim has served on the Board of Trustees for more than 15 years. He is a personable and knowledgeable music aficionado who loves Caramoor.
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- On this night, attendees celebrated the transformative philanthropy of Leslie Williams and Jim Attwood. They have done so much to support Caramoor over the years.
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- Here, Ed introduces evening’s performance from The Knights and Yo-Yo Ma.
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- This is the inside of the Venetian pavilion. The Theater is set around Greek and Roman marble columns topped by Venetian arches and protected by a billowy tent. It’s always brilliantly lit and the acoustics excellent. (Photo by Gabe Palacio)
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- This is violinist and composer, Colin Jacobsen. He is a touring member of Yo-Yo Ma’s famed musical ensemble and an artistic director for The Knights.
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- And here is renowned cellist, Yo-Yo Ma. Yo-Yo graduated from the Juilliard School and Harvard University and attended Columbia University and has performed as a soloist with orchestras around the world. He has recorded more than 90 albums and received 19 Grammy Awards.
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- Yo-Yo’s primary performance instrument is a 1733 Montagnana cello. Yo-Yo is well known for his smooth, rich tone and virtuosity.
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- Yo-Yo and Colin along with the entire ensemble played so beautifully together. Included in their musical program – Leonard Bernstein’s Overture to Candide, Scott Joplin’s The Maple Leaf Rag and The Chrysanthemum, and Johannes Brahms’ Hungarian Dance No. 1. (Photo by Gabe Palacio)
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- It was a a great show and a wonderful evening. Colin and Yo-Yo enjoyed performing as much as we enjoyed watching.
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- Upcoming performances at Caramoor include J’Nai Bridges, mezzo-soprano with Bradley Moore on the piano on July 7th. (Photo courtesy of Caramoor)
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- Another event features The Chevalier: A Concert Theater Work About Joseph Bologne Written and Directed by Bill Barclay which is on July 10th. (Photo courtesy of Caramoor)
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- And this weekend to celebrate Independence Day on July 2nd, is Pops & Patriots Westchester Symphonic Winds – Curt Ebersole, conductor, Christine Taylor Price, soprano, and Thomas West, baritone. Please see the Caramoor website for a full calendar of upcoming events and tickets. (Photo by Gabe Palacio)
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