Summer’s Around the Corner, and so is the RPO

May 16, 2007

Rochester, NY – The temperature’s climbing, summer is around the corner and so is the Rochester Philharmonic Orchestra.  The RPO is preparing for its summer concerts in the city, at the beach, in the country, on the canal, at the baseball field, and at even more venues.  The Orchestra also returns to the Constellation Brands – Marvin Sands Performing Arts Center (CMAC) in Canandaigua for its four-concert summer series in July.

SPECIAL GALA CONCERT AND FUNDRAISER

  • “Rhapsody in Rochester,” Saturday, July 7 from 5:30 p.m. to midnight at the Rochester Riverside Convention Center; a festive celebration of the newly-released, internationally-distributed harmonia mundi usa recording with the RPO under Principal Pops Conductor Jeff Tyzik and Van Cliburn Award-winning pianist Jon Nakamatsu.  Options are available for cocktails, dinner, dessert, dancing with the Gap Mangione Group and concert with the RPO, Nakamatsu, and vocalist Robin McKelle.

Tickets for this event range from $75 for the concert, dancing and dessert to $2,500 for a corporate table for 10. Tickets can be purchased at RPO Box Office (585) 454-2100 or online at www.rpo.org.  This event is sponsored by Fiandach & Fiandach, URMC/Strong Health and the Sentry Group, with additional support by St. Vincent’s Press.  The fundraiser benefits the RPO’s music education programs.

CONSTELLATION BRANDS – MARVIN SANDS PERFORMING ART CENTER (CMAC)
The RPO returns to its Constellation Brands Summer Series at CMAC – located on Lincoln Hill Road in Canandaigua – for a four-concert series in July.  The RPO’s summer residency is sponsored by Canandaigua National Bank & Trust. 

  • Sunday, July 8 at 7:30 p.m.:  Christopher Seaman conducts Beethoven’s resounding Fifth Symphony paired with the genius of Mozart interpreted by the RPO’s own concertmaster, Juliana Athayde (The Caroline W. Gannett & Clayla Ward Chair) in Mozart’s Violin Concerto No. 4 and the charming Overture to “The Magic Flute.”  Christopher Seaman’s appearance is made possible by The Louis S. and Molly B. Wolk Foundation.
  • Saturday, July 14 at 7:30 p.m.:  Back by popular demand is Cool Blues, an encore performance of last fall’s concert with Principal Pops Conductor Jeff Tyzik and vocalist Dee Daniels, organist Bobby Floyd, trombonist Wycliffe Gordon and trumpeter Byron Stripling.  The concert includes Basin Street Blues, Night Train, Every Day I Have the Blues and more.  Sponsored by Morgan Stanley.
  • Saturday, July 21 at 7:30 p.m.: Under the direction of Jeff Tyzik, 100 Years of Broadway are recaptured by the stellar voices and big personalities of vocalists Christiane Noll and Doug LaBrecque who pay homage to the “Great White Way.”  From Gilbert & Sullivan’s H.M.S. Pinafore to West Side Story to Jekyll & Hyde, audiences will get a tour of some of Broadway’s greatest musical hits.  Sponsored by Hylan Enterprises and Badge Machine Products, Inc., with additional support from Dominion Transmission, Inc.
  • Saturday, July 28 at 7:30 p.m.: The traditional crowd-pleaser, Tchaikovsky’s 1812 Overture with Fireworks and Cannons lights up the sky.  The program includes Leonard Bernstein’s Three Dance Episodes from “On the Town” and Ravel’s stirring Bolero to conclude the final CMAC summer series.  This concert is conducted by Michael Butterman, Principal Conductor for Education and Outreach (The Louise and Henry Epstein Family Chair), and is sponsored by Strong Health.

There are a variety of ticket options for CMAC concerts:  Subscriptions to the four-concert series with a table for four people can be purchased for $560.  Individual four-concert subscriptions are available for $80-150.  A “Grass Pass” package is $48 for four vouchers, which may be used in any combination for any of the four concerts.  All subscription prices are available now through July 6. Advance single ticket prices range from $15-$50 and go on sale Tuesday, May 29; single tickets purchased at the gate range from $20-$55.  CMAC tickets are available at the RPO Box Office (585) 454-2100, online at www.rpo.org, through Ticket Express, or through Ticketmaster (585) 232-1900.  Discounts are available for senior citizens, students and children 12 and under. Please note: CMAC summer tickets are NOT available at Wegmans.  CMAC Box Office (Lincoln Hill Road, Canandaigua) will be open on concert days from noon to concert start, and Fridays and Saturdays from 10 a.m. to 2 p.m. beginning July 6.

CMAC concerts take place rain or shine. Except for lawn seating, all other seats are covered.  The grounds open at 6 p.m. and concertgoers are encouraged to bring their own blanket or lawn chair for relaxing on the hillside. Reusable plastic containers and vacuum-seal bottles are allowed.  Please note the following ground rules: alcoholic beverages may not be brought into CMAC (beer and wine are available for purchase); glass, disposable plastic and metal containers, recording devices, grills, pets, fireworks and cameras are not permitted on the grounds.

ADDITIONAL TICKETED CONCERTS

  • Thursday, July 12 at 7:30 p.m. (note corrected time): Temple B’rith Kodesh is the place to be for a concert highlighting traditional classical works conducted by Michael Butterman.  General admission: $20/advance; $25/at the door; $15/student (with id); $50/family (2 adults plus any number of children 16 and under).  For ticket information, call Temple B’rith Kodesh at (585) 244-7060.
  • Friday, July 13 at 8:30 p.m.: The rolling hills of Geneseo set the stage for the RPO’s annual Summer Spectacular with Fireworks concert at SUNY Geneseo’s Saratoga Fields (rain location is Wadsworth Auditorium).  Conducted by Michael Butterman, this concert of light pops and patriotic favorites provides an informal way to enjoy a summer evening, topped off by a spectacular fireworks display.  Bring lawn chairs, blankets, and friends.  Tickets are required: $10/5 advance, $12/6 at the gate; children under 5 are free.  Advance tickets are available from the RPO Box Office (585-454-2100) and at various locations in Geneseo. This concert is made possible by the family of Mrs. Hubert W. Chanler and the Gertrude L. Chanler RPO Fund at the Rochester Area Community Foundation.

FREE SPONSORED CONCERTS

  • Sunday, June 17 at 11:30 a.m. (note corrected time): String Quintet from the RPO performs at Maplewood Rose Weekend at the corner of Lake Avenue and Driving Park Avenue.  Sponsored by the City of Rochester.
  • Wednesday, June 20 at 6:30 p.m.: Brass Quintet from the RPO performs in the Swillburg Neighborhood at the Gazebo in Otto Henderberg Square Park, on Avon Place off Field Street.  Sponsored by the City of Rochester.
  • Thursday, June 21 at 7:00 p.m.: Marimba Band from the RPO performs at the Park Avenue Green, on the corner of Park Avenue and Barrington Street.  Sponsored by the City of Rochester
  • Friday, June 22 at 7:00 p.m.: Symphony on the Erie II.  After a successful barge concert “launch” last summer in Fairport, Jeff Tyzik once again conducts the RPO on the Erie Canal.  Music from popular movies and American patriotic favorites will be performed on a barge in Pittsford near Schoen Place.  Sponsored by the Town of Pittsford.
  • Wednesday, July 18 at 7:30 p.m.: Jeff Tyzik conducts the RPO at Ontario Beach Park. Sponsored by Monroe County.
  • Friday, July 27: The all-American sport of baseball is followed by a concert at Frontier Field conducted by Michael Butterman following the Rochester Red Wings game. The gates will re-open for the concert at 8:30 p.m., and a fireworks display follows the concert.  For more information, call the Rochester Red Wings at (585) 423-9464.  This concert is sponsored by Monroe County.
  • Tuesday, August 7, time TBA: Woodwind Quintet from the RPO performs at Corn Hill Landing on Exchange Boulevard.  Sponsored by the City of Rochester.

ANNUAL RPO GOLF TOURNAMENT
Monday, July 23, Cobblestone Creek Country Club: Tee off to benefit the RPO’s educational programs in the 14th annual RPO Golf Tournament. A variety of golf packages are available, including the opportunity to have an RPO musician join your foursome, reserve a tee sign or sponsor a contest. Registration and lunch begin at 11 a.m. followed by an afternoon of golf. Hors d’oeuvres and drinks begin at 6 p.m. with dinner, live jazz and awards following. Contests for both men and women include Closest to the Pin, Longest Drive and Best Team Score.  Cobblestone Creek is located in Victor, N.Y.  The tournament is sponsored by Integrating Cabling & Communications Systems.

BRAVO! VAIL VALLEY MUSIC FESTIVAL
As part of its 17th residency season at the Bravo! Vail Valley Music Festival, the RPO performs six concerts in Vail, Colorado Wednesday, June 27 through Wednesday, July 4. Christopher Seaman and Jeff Tyzik lead a variety of classical and popular programs throughout the seven-day residency. The RPO’s residency in Vail is made possible by the generous support of the Elaine P. and Richard U. Wilson Foundation. For detailed program and ticket information, or to receive festival mailings, please call the Bravo! Vail Valley Music Festival at (970) 827-5700 or visit their website at www.vailmusicfestival.org.

Now in its 84th season, 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.

RPO performances are made possible in part with grants from the National Endowment for the Arts; the New York State Council on the Arts, a State Agency; the State of New York; the County of Monroe; the City of Rochester; and American Airlines, the official airline of the RPO.

EDITORS: Photos of most performers are available on request.