SCINTILLATING 2015 CULTURAL LINEUP ANNOUNCED BY THE CATSKILL MOUNTAIN FOUNDATION
Ideal for a Cultural Weekend Getaway in the Catskills!
Hunter, New York – February 24, 2015 – A cultural epicenter for musicians, dancers and visual artists alike, the Catskill Mountain Foundation has just announced their exciting 2015 calendar of music, dance and lectures. The Golden Dragon Acrobats, Keigwin + Company Dance and Berkshire Bach Ensemble are among the 20 high caliber events that have already been scheduled, with more to come. Situated in New York’s pristine Catskill Mountains, about 120 miles from New York City, the Catskill Mountain Foundation provides the ideal weekend getaway with great performances in all four seasons in a spectacular setting.
Please see below for a sneak peak at some of this year’s upcoming events:
American Dream by the Valentina Kozlova Dance Conservatory (April 11, 2015)
Award-winning dancers from the Valentina Kozlova Dance Conservatory will showcase classical ballet solos and new cutting edge works at the Orpheum Film & Performing Arts Center. The same inspiring program will be presented to an international audience at the Dance Open Festival in St. Petersburg, Russia the next week.
Keigwin + Company (June 6, 2015)
During a three week residency at the Orpheum, Keigwin + Company will create new works and reach out to the local dance community. On the final night of their residency, June 6th, the company will perform an evening of modern dance helmed by artistic director, Larry Keigwin. Since 2003, Keigwin has led the company through performances at theatres and dance festivals in New York City and around the country.
Berkshire Bach Ensemble (June 13, 2015)
Directed by world-renowned harpsichordist Kenneth Cooper, the Berkshire Bach Ensemble features a program of Baroque and classical favorites including pieces by Bach and Handel. Dr. Cooper also shares a humorous updated translation of the original sonnets from Vivaldi’s “The Four Seasons.”
OMNY Taiko Drummers (July 4, 2015)
Join Grammy award-winning Taiko Master, Koji Nakamura and the New York City-based group, OMNY Taiko for a night of precision drumming and tightly choreographed moves. It has been said that the sound of a taiko drum is powerful enough to cleanse the spirit along with its surroundings.
Manhattan in the Mountains: The Human Face of Klezmer, David Krakauer, Clarinet (July 25, 2015)
Seamlessly transitioning between complex genres, internationally renowned clarinetist David Krakauer takes his audience on a timeless journey through klezmer, classical, and jazz compositions. From Brahms to Osvaldo Golijov, Krakauer’s transformative playing is uniquely diverse. Krakauer is accompanied by seasoned professionals like pianists Joanne Polk and Tatiana Goncharova, violinist Diane Pascal and cellist Marion Feldman.
Acis and Galatea Performed by The Four Nations Ensemble Featuring Andrew Appel, Harpsichord (September 6, 2015)
This Baroque Opera by Handel, famed for inspiring the timeless tale, The Little Mermaid, portrays the love and loss of a water nymph and a sweet shepherd. With only a six person ensemble and four soloists and dancers, audiences are transported back in time to England in 1730’s. Musical direction by Andrew Appel, stage direction by Stephen Hamilton, and masks by Joyce Kozloff.
Golden Dragon Acrobats (October 3, 2015)
Representing a time honored tradition that began more than 25 centuries ago, the Golden Dragon Acrobats present a show of unparalleled precision and breathtaking skill. Captivating audiences with 29 acrobats, the group combines award-winning acrobatics, traditional dance, spectacular costumes and an awe-inspiring set into one heart-stopping show.
Scottish Singer Julie Fowlis (October 10, 2015)
Julie Fowlis, widely known as the feature singer on Pixar’s Brave soundtrack, shares traditional Scottish Gaelic songs in an evocative performance backed by an acoustic trio, including a guitar, fiddle and bouzouki guitar. Mark Radcliffe of BBC Radio/BBC 6 Music called Julie Fowlis, “a sublime and impassioned singer.”
Aladdin and His Lamp Performed by the National Marionette Theatre (October 24, 2015)
This ‘fun for the whole family’ production tells the classic tale of Aladdin and his adventures (thanks to a magical lamp) with an exciting twist. Bringing Arabian Nights and marionettes to the Doctorow Center for the Arts, the National Marionette Theatre has charmed their audiences for years with beautiful marionettes, elegant backdrops and talented performers.
Gallim Dance Company (October 24, 2015)
Gallim Dance, a New York-based contemporary dance company, was founded by Andrea Miller in 2007 with the vision of playing inside the imagination and realizing the endless human capacity for inspiration. This eye-catching performance, inspired by early baroque music, features seven company dancers and a visual stage environment transformed by the use of color, which serves as the backdrop for the performance.
Windham Festival Chamber Orchestra: Mostly Mozart (November 28, 2015)
Mozartean pianist Anna Polonsky and the Windham Festival Chamber Orchestra return to the Doctorow Center for the Arts for their annual Thanksgiving weekend concert. The 23-person orchestra, comprised of the finest musicians from the MET Orchestra, America Symphony Orchestra and the Chamber Music Society of Lincoln Center, along with soloist and chamber musician Anna Polonsky, will perform various works of Mozart including Symphony #17 in A Major (K.129) and Concerto for Piano and Orchestra #9 in E Flat (K.271).
The Nutcracker Performed by VKDCNY (December 12, 2015)
Watch this world famous ballet come to life on stage as Sugar Plum Fairies, the Nutcracker Prince and Toy Soldiers tell the enchanting story of German author E.T.A Hoffmann. Providing local actors with a once-in-a-lifetime opportunity, Act I of the production will feature aspiring performers on stage alongside the award-winning dance troupe from the Valentina Kozlova Dance Conservatory New York.
To see the full list of events, purchase tickets, announcements of future performances or for additional information, please visit: https://www.catskillmtn.org/
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About Catskill Mountain Foundation:
The Catskill Mountain Foundation’s (CMF) aim is to provide educational opportunities in the arts for youth and lifelong learners, to bring the experience of the arts to the Catskill community, and to support artists and art organizations in the development of their work through residencies. Since its founding in 1998, CMF has presented hundreds of music, dance, and theater performances; screened over 1,000 films to tens of thousands of audience members; provided studio arts classes to thousands of students of all ages; and served thousands of art loving patrons in their gallery and bookstore.
Since 1998, CMF has raised, generated, and invested close to $15 million in facility development and an excess of $30 million in programming operations, for a total investment in the Catskill community of over $45 million. CMF believes that the arts can transform the lives of those touched by it and can transform the community.
