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behind tNhe o te s ROCKPORT MUSIC NEWSLETTER : SPRING 2018 Join the r:EVOLUTION! INNOVATIONSFELLOWSSCABARETSSPOPRUPS The much-anticipated 2018 Rockport Chamber Music Festival is the first under the artistic direction of Barry Shiffman. Opening on June 15 and continuing through July 15, the Festival encompasses a dramatic theme of r:EVOLUTION . This theme is captured in the Opening weekend with composer- in -residence Osvaldo Golijov ’s spectacular song cycle Ayre , presented in a beautifully staged theatrical presentation revealing the musical intermingling of Christian, Arab and Sephardic Jewish cultures. MIRIAM KHALIL PERFORMING OSVALDO GOLIJOV'S AYRE WHICH WILL BE PART OF THE FESTIVAL'S OPENING NIGHT. Artistic Director Barry Shiffman elaborates, “This performance is a perfect example of evolution, with the original song cycle winner of the 2017 Metropolitan Opera National Council reimagined through the artistic team, especially soprano Miriam Auditions and the 2018 Glyndebourne Opera Cup. She makes Khalil, with breathtaking results. Golijov both inspires and is her Metropolitan Opera debut next season , just after her debut inspired by artists, and to experience the evolution of a work in our Festival! between artists and a living composer is nothing short of magical.” Barry Shiffman shares part of his vision, The Festival’s momentum doesn’t slow down, with such world- It is vital that art has momentum, and space to evolve. Part class artists as the Brentano Quartet, A Far Cry , violinist of the evolution is cultivating new artistic experiences. An James Ehnes, Pinchas Zukerman Trio , the comedic duo example is the Rockport debut of Davóne Igudesman and Joo , and closing with Tines, who is one of the most important the great Emerson Quartet and cellist young bass baritones in America. The Colin Carr . Young competition winners idea for this program was developed by are prevalent throughout the Festival Davóne as he envisioned how a young with the two previous first-prize black American would sing spirituals. winners of the Banff International We are not just presenting, but actively String Quartet Competition, the involved in the development of his Rolston and Dover quartets , as well program. Several of these presentations as the recent Cliburn competition will include theatrical lighting and the winner Yekwon Sunwoo . Hailing from dramatic design of the concert hall allows Marshfield, Massachusetts, mezzo- for the setting to be an equal partner in soprano Samantha Hankey , a graduate the performance. I am excited to watch of Walnut Hill and Juilliard, is a young our artists be inspired b y the space. vocal superstar with two major competition wins— Grand Finals ROLSTON QUARTET Festival r:EVOLUTION continues on pg . 06 ROCKPORT MUSIC 37 MAIN STREET, ROCKPORT, MA 01966 T 978.546.7391 W rockportmusic.org 01 A Different Kind of Swing BY CHRISTOPHER BLAGG RED MOLLY As in past years, the lineup for the Summer at Rockport concert series reflects an impressively diverse cast of artists and genres. One particular musical style that stands out this summer is the fiddle-fueled, boot-stompin’ genre known as western swing . A cousin to both the classic big band swing of the Benny Goodman variety as well as the gypsy jazz made famous by Django Reinhardt, western swing (sometimes called Texas swing) was born in Texas and Oklahoma. Starting out in the late 1920’s, western swing fused country (or “hillbilly music” as it was colloquially called then) with hot club jazz and swing, and was typically fronted by a fiddle player. It was primarily a RIDERS IN THE SKY dance music, bolstered by electrified string instruments like guitars and pedal steel, and given a strong backbeat to fill the adding a hefty dose of family friendly cowboy kitsch into their dancefloor. Throughout the 1930’s and 40’s, its popularity brand of swing—think dusty saloons, wide open prairies, Roy reached its peak, becoming especially popular in California Rogers and “Rawhide.” You may know them well from their during World War II, as artists like Bob Wills and his Texas recordings for the loveable cowboy Woody in Toy Story 2 . Later Playboys, Spade Cooley and his Orchestra, and Hank Thomp son on that month, we are treated to the Texas fiddle trio of the and his Brazos Valley Boys toured all over the country and Quebe Sisters , who arrive in Rockport on July 21 . One of the enjoyed huge hit records. Wills in particular became a sensation , more buzzed-about western swing groups in the country, the with tunes like “San Antonio Rose,” “Stay A Little Longer” and talented young Quebes (rhymes with “maybe”) have graduated “Bubbles in My Beer” becoming standards of the genre. As the from routinely sweeping fiddle competitions as children, to swing era faded, so did the prominence of western swing, but it touring the world and releasing critically acclaimed records has been kept alive throughout the years by groups like Asleep that feature their gorgeous sibling harmonies and expert at the Wheel and Hot Club of Cowtown, and with high profile musicianship. They rely heavily on the western swing canon for songwriters like Willie Nelson and Lyle Lovett. their shows, with stunning arrangements of Bob Wills, Hank Thompson and Cindy Walker classics. Another talented lady This summer we are featuring a handful of groups who pay trio coming to our rocky shores is Red Molly on September 28 . tribute to western swing music, beginning with the nostalgia- While not as traditionally western swing as the Quebes, Red laden country and western group Riders in the Sky on July 2 . Molly still employ the genre’s swinging arrangements and jazzy The veteran foursome, all expert players and pickers, lean flair, but with added accents of bluegrass, gospel and folk. heavily on the “western” part of the country and western genre, Of course this summer you can enjoy plenty of other styles, as we’re offering Celtic, jazz, soul and folk artists throughout the next several months. But we hope you make it out to one o f our delightful western swing bands as well. Cowboy boots are optional. SUMMER AT ROCKPORT CORPORATE PARTNER WE’RE MOVING!! Rockport Music's offices—administrative, box office and operations—will join together in our NEW OFFICES at 16 Main Street, Rockport by June 4 (across the street from the Shalin Liu Performance Center). We are truly excited to bring our team together under one roof! QUEBE SISTERS SPRING 2018 NEWSLETTER 02 GALA CONCERT & DINNER TICKETS $1,250 | $ 1,000 | $ 750 :: C ONCERT ONL Y $100 Mor e inf ormation at 978.546.7391 x105 | r ockportmusic.or g/2018-summer-gala The singers aren’t all of the jazz variety Summer Serenade though. Raul Malo , frontman for alt BY CHRISTOPHER BLAGG country heroes The Mavericks, gives We sure do love our singers in Rockport. a solo show in May, and will show off Every summer it seems we parade a his love of soul, Latin, blues and the veritable who’s who of vocal talent on American Songbook. The powerful our stage, but this year just might pipes of former Irish Tenor Ronan top them all in terms of sheer talent Tynan will be on display in early June, and breadth of style. For jazz lovers followed in July by the gospel folk especially, this summer’s roster is a anthems of the Grammy-nominated bountiful one. The ever-elegant Dianne Ruthie Foster , a singer-songwriter of Reeves arrives on July 22 bringing astounding empathy and intelligence along her soulful, boundary-crossing with a dynamic voice that could move DIANNE REEVES style and magnetic, commanding stage mountains. presence. In August the daring and technically brilliant Kurt Elling returns to perform during the Rockport Jazz Festival, and later in the month Jane Monheit showcases tunes from her recent Ella Fitzgerald tribute record. A vocal pairing par excellence comes in September with a concert of John Pizzarelli & Catherine Russel l RAUL MALO performing a program entitled “Billie JAZZ FESTIVAL CORPORATE PARTNERS and Blue Eyes,” focusing on the tunes made famous by Billie Holiday and Frank Sinatra. KURT ELLING SPRING 2018 NEWSLETTER 03 E The Campaign –Your Gift Matters Rockport Music’s In Concert with You campaign is still making Why give to Rockport Music? progress towards the ambitious goal of $12 million—with That may best be explained by some of our donors. T nearly $10,850,000* towards our goal (90%) raised to date. The Shalin Liu The In Concert with You campaign will provide much-needed “ funding enabling us to bring more great music to you, our Performance Center is a gem… A patrons; expand learning opportunities for children and it must be preserved!” adults; support the organizational leadership guiding us into our next phase of growth; as well as the ongoing maintenance of our stunning building through the Shalin D Our children and their children Liu Performance Center Preservation Fund. Also added “ to our campaign initiative is the Shalin Liu Performance should have the opportunity that Center Building Preservation Endowment, generously we have…to experience the joy in P established by our dear friend Shalin Liu. attending concerts and sharing Thank you to all who have already given or pledged to the campaign. This campaign musical experiences with friends.” PROGRAM is for all of us, no gift is too small, or too EXCELLENCE U ENDOWMENT great, and we look forward to speaking $5,000,000 with you in the coming months about how ARTISTIC & EXECUTIVE The Shalin Liu Performance you can join in. LEADERSHIP “ ENDOWMENT $3,000,000 Center is not only a superb concert For more information, please visit the campaign website at InConcertWithYou.org BUILDING PRESERVATION hall, but a gathering place for friends or contact Susan Coffin, our Director of FUND N Development, at [email protected] $4,000,000 and newcomers to the North Shore.