RPO’s Around the Town – Al Fresco at Valley Manor!

Rochester, NY – On Wednesday, July 30 at 12:30 p.m., the Rochester Philharmonic Orchestra steps out for a free concert “al fresco” at Valley Manor (1570 East Avenue), dedicated to the memory of long-time RPO supporter and Valley Manor resident, Alfred Davis.  This concert closes the Orchestra’s 2007-08 Around the Town series and is part of Valley Manor’s 5th Annual Seniorsfirst Musicfest.   Conductor for Education and Outreach Michael Butterman (The Louise and Henry Epstein Family Chair) leads the RPO under a large tent set up specifically for this event in the west parking lot. Some covered seating is available for this afternoon of light summer classics, and parking will be available along East Avenue.
 
Overlooking the lovely lawn and grounds, Mr. Butterman opens the concert with Leroy Anderson’s Serenata, a breezily cool piece reminiscent of the suave elegance and romance of Rio de Janeiro.  An array of lighthearted classics follows, including serenades by Mozart and Brahms, Edward Elgar’s exquisite Salut d’amour and the appropriately programmed selections from Felix Mendelssohn’s A Midsummer Night’s Dream.  For musical theater fans, a taste of Richard Rodgers’ 1949 hit South Pacific transforms East Avenue to the exotic Bali Hai, and the high spirits continue through Armed Forces Salute, honoring veterans from each of the five branches of the military.

The Around the Town program is a community partnership in which the RPO moves from the concert hall into various neighborhoods to perform six free concerts per year designed to engage audiences with light classics and familiar favorites.  Venues include houses of worship and other community locations.  The partner venues assist with promoting the concert in their neighborhood and serve as liaison between the RPO and their community.  Around the Town concerts are sponsored by the Max and Victoria Dreyfus Foundation, Rochester Gas & Electric, Marie C. & Joseph C. Wilson Foundation and Xerox Corporation.
 
Celebrating its 85th season in 2007-08, the RPO inspires and enriches the community through the art of music.  The Orchestra is passionately dedicated to outstanding musical performance at the highest artistic levels, and has a unique tradition of musical versatility, commitment to music education in the broadest sense and a deep and enduring engagement with the community.  The RPO has been honored with the New York State Governor’s Arts Award and two recent ASCAP awards for adventurous programming.