A Bernstein Celebration (MATINEE)
July 8, 2007 2:00 pm
The COLUMBIA FESTIVAL ORCHESTRA is coming together again after four years of dormancy to perform an all-Bernstein concert featuring excerpts and orchestral suites from West Side Story and Candide. 2007 marks the 50th anniversary of the opening on Broadway of West Side Story and the 51st anniversary of Candide.
“A Bernstein Celebration”
Saturday, July 7 at 8 pm (PS21 GALA)
$75 general admission/$150 includes reserved seating & reception
Sunday, July 8 at 2 pm (MATINEE)
$40/$35 members of PS21
Click here for Tickets
The Tent at PS21
Rte 66, Chatham, NY
Directions
Columbia Festival Orchestra
Gwen Gould, conductor
Amanda Boyd, soprano
Mary Deyerle Hack, mezzo-soprano
Alan Schneider, tenor
Vocal Ensemble Members:
Barbara Eckhaus, mezzo-soprano
John Davey, tenor
Steve Dahlin, bass
Steven Marking, bass
PROGRAM
From Candide:
Overture
Orchestral Suite
Make our Garden Grow
I Am Easily Assimilated
Glitter and Be Gay
From West Side Story:
Maria
One Hand, One Heart
Somewhere
Balcony Scene
Symphonic Dances
For TICKETS click here
The appearance of Nancy Allen Lundy, Amanda Boyd and Mary Deyerle Hack is funded (in part) by Diamond Opera Theater through a grant from the Decentralization Program of NYSCA, administered through the Twin Counties Cultural Fund in Columbia County by CCCA.
July 9th, 2007 at 3:06 pm
Yesterday’s Bernstein concert at PS/21 was the perfect way to spend a summer afternoon. The talented musicians conducted by Gwen Gould were obviously delighted to be working with her again. Candide and West Side Story have held up well. The orchestra gave a stellar performance and the vocalists were delicious! I think that I speak for everyone who attended when I say that I didn’t want the concert to end. Thanks, Gwen, for making it all happen.
July 9th, 2007 at 3:06 pm
Those who missed these concerts missed a season highlight. Vocalists, conductor and orchestra were in top form and the result was a thoroughly entrancing couple of hours. The accoustics of PS21 are superb and no one in the audience, no matter where they sat, missed a note. The heroine of the concerts probably was Amanda Boyd who, at a moment’s notice, stepped in and did both the very demanding Candide vocal solos as well as the West Side Story vocal work she had contracted to do. This whole musical experience was a wonderful place to be and we’re very grateful to Gwen Gould and Judy Grunberg for making this possible.
July 9th, 2007 at 3:12 pm
The orchestra was in rare form for the Bernstein celebration on July 7. And the vocal soloists were extraordinary. Special mention must be made of Amanda Boyd, who jumped in to learn and then sing the Cunegonde role for the first half of the concert when Nancy Allen Lundy became ill. A superb performance by all.
July 9th, 2007 at 3:49 pm
How fortunate we are to live in a community that can give us the magic of a Gwen Gould and a visionary like Judy Grunberg.
The Sunday performance was nothing less than pure joy.
July 9th, 2007 at 9:08 pm
What a wonderful evening. How do they do it? Bring back the CFO!!!
July 10th, 2007 at 9:32 am
What could be better on a Sunday afternoon in July than to hear a fine orchestra and singers celebrate the 50th anniversary of Bernstein’s West Side Story? Amanda Boyd sang Cunegunde’s role in Candide, its sardonic opening as fully realized as the soaring bel canto. That she stepped in at the last minute made her soaring performance more magical. The rich colors of the exuberant orchestra complemented the six fine singers and evoked dancers in their suite. Many thanks to Judy Grunberg, Gwen Gould, and their many volunteers for making this happen.
July 10th, 2007 at 9:39 pm
Thanks to Gwen Gould and Judy Grunberg for bringing back the CFO in a wonderful performance of Leonard Bernstein’s work. The soloists were fabulous and Amanda Boyd’s courageous and beautiful rendition of Cunegonde in Candide brought down the house. I was also most impressed by Gwen’s ability to bring together the musicians, probably on short notice, in the demanding West Side Story’s orchestral pieces. Altogether, a great, inspiring evening.
July 12th, 2007 at 8:31 am
How great to hear the CFO again and to experience Gwen’s superb conducting. One of the players during intermission told me how much the musicians enjoy playing with her because she creates a respectful environment in which they can express their personal creativity. Not all conductors can do this and still maintain control, but Gwen was definitely at the helm as she led the orchestra through all of those tricky rhythmic passages. This is difficult music and the orchestra played with flair and enthusiasm.
I miss the CFO. We lost something wonderful. Let’s reincarnate it for Columbia County.
Sheila Silver, Composer