Carmen, Live At The High School On Sunday

From the Greater Middletown Concert Association
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On Sunday, Oct. 28, at 3:00 p.m. a performance of Bizet’s “Carmen”, one of the most popular operas of all time, will be brought to our city by the Connecticut Lyric Opera company and the Connecticut Virtuosi Chamber Orchestra. This is a live, fully-staged presentation with a full orchestra conducted and directed by Adrian Sylveen, who is well-known to audiences in Connecticut. The Greater Middletown Concert Association is sponsoring “Carmen” this season along with Piazolla’s Argentinian tango opera “Maria de Buenos Aires” on February 23 and Mozart’s Italian opera “Don Giovanni” on May 11.

“We are fortunate to have a live, fully-staged professional opera series that includes an outstanding full orchestra here in central Connecticut,” commented Barbara Arafeh, president of the Greater Middletown Concert Association. “Our state-of-the-art 700-seat MHS Performing Arts Center, with adjoining parking, attracts opera attendees from wide areas in the state.”

The familiar music of “Carmen” with its beloved arias, choruses and orchestral interludes continues to please audiences around the world. This French opera is set in 19th Century Spain where the role of Carmen, the beautiful but defiant gypsy, will be sung by the Polish mezzo-soprano Alexsandra Kaminska. The two ill-fated lovers are the military officer Don Jose (Daniel Juarez) and the bull-fighter toreador Escamillio (Makaim Ivanov). Samantha Talmadge will sing Micaela. English translations of this opera, sung in French, are projected above the stage.

Individual tickets are $35 and $40. The 3-opera series is $85 and $90. Call 860-347-4887 or 860 346-3369 to order. More Information.

A Ballet to Bring You In Out of the Cold

 

Tickets are still available for the Albano Dance Company presentation of "The Nutcracker" this afternoon at 3 p.m. in the Performing Arts Center of Middletown High School, LaRosa Lane.  This is the second year for the event, sponsored by the Greater Middletown Concert Association, and you can still why the Albano production is one of the best.

For tickets, call 860-347-4887 and, in a pinch, there should be some at the door. These "sugarplum fairies" are quite adorable!

Sunday's Super Sounds

Sunday February 7:

The Greater Middletown Concert Association presents the Heartbeat Dixieland Jazz Band in concert at 3 p.m. in the Performing Arts Center of Middletown High School, LaRosa Lane.  Providing the "beat" in Heartbeat is drummer Bill Lagozzo and joining him will be Sherman Kahn (clarinet), Scott Black (trumpet), Al Brogdon (trombone), Ed Cercone (piano), Bob Price (banjo) and Dianne Mover (vocals.) They play music from the early days of jazz, when it came to life in the private clubs ad taverns of New Orleans. For ticket information, call 860-347-4887 or 860-346-3369 - now, you ca buy tickets online at www.greatermiddletownconcertassociation.org.  

Vocalist Giacomo Gates come back to Middletown to play a free concert at 3 p.m. in The Russell House, 350 High Street.  Gates, who started his career in the mid-1990s after working a series of construction jobs, is a modern master of "vocalese", taking instrumental solos and creating vocals for them (either wordless or in "scat" syllables or giving them real word phrases.  He also teaches at Wesleyan, at the Hartford Conservatory of Music, the Neighborhood Music School in New Haven and conducts workshops throughout the country.  He's issued 4 CDs as a leader and just returned from a tour of Australia.  To find out more about Gates, go to www.giacomogates.com. As stated above, the concert is free and open to the public. 

If you desire to do singing but have issues with reading music, join Professor Neely Bruce for a session of Shaped Note Singing at 4 p.m. in Downey House, at the corner of Court & High Streets. It's great communal fun.  For more information, call the good professor/composer/pianist at 860-685-2578 or email at nbruce@wesleyan.edu. 

Much To Do on 12/05

There is so much to do in Middletown this coming Saturday that it really is mind-boggling. Want classical music? The Russell Library presents the Janaki Trio in the Hubbard Room at 3 p.m. (and it's free!) How about Gypsy-Jazz? No sweat, because, at 8 p.m. The Buttonwood Tree hosts Ameranouche, a trio that brings the music Belgian-born guitarist Django Reinhardt created in the 1930s. Maybe the soothing tones of the Wesleyan Gamelan Ensemble, I.M. Harjito, music director, is more to your liking. You're in luck as the group will present "Wayang Kulit" (Javanese shadow puppet theater) featuring puppet master Sumarsam at 8 p.m. in the World Music Hall at Wesleyan. Some people like jazz/funk with a healthy dollop of blues - they should check out the Liviu Pop Group and special guest Ray Morant (guitar) at 9 p.m. in Boney's Music Lounge above Fishbone Cafe.

Perhaps you want to take the children for Hayride down Main Street. If the weather's right, Santa and his friends will be down at the Chamber of Commerce Building from 10:30 a.m. - 2:30 p.m. with a wagon (perhaps a sleigh) to offer families the opportunity to relax and see the town.

Lindy Hop or Swing Dancing more your style? Vinnie's Jump & Jive can hook you up with lessons for the former at 2 p.m. and get you moving out on the floor for the latter at 7:30 p.m. Perhaps you'd rather meet an author - The Book Bower, inside Main Street Market, welcomes Killingworth resident John Herbert who will read from his new book, "Rules Get Broken" at 4 p.m.

Need to feel the spirit of the Holiday season? First United Methodist Church, 24 Old Church Street, presents guitarist Nancy Romano and the Church choir in a "Holiday Music Festival" at 6 p.m.

And there is opera. Not just any opera, but Donizetti's "L'elisir D'Amore" ("The Elixir of Love.") The first of 2 presentations in the Greater Middletown Concert Association's Opera Series, the 1832 classic will be performed by the Connecticut Lyric Opera and the Connecticut Virtuosi Chamber Orchestra, Adrian Sylveen, music director, at 7:30 p.m in the Performing Arts Center of Middletown High School, LaRosa Lane. Starring Andrew Dorst (tenor) and Juarte Svedaite (soprano), the comedy is a favorite of fans all around the world.

The following synopsis comes courtesy of allaboutopera.com - The scene is laid in an Italian village, where a pretty and coquettish country belle, Adina, is amusing herself by keeping on tenter-hooks her two sweethearts, Nemorino, an honest young farmer, and Belcore, a recruiting sergeant from the next village. After much lively flirtation, matters are brought to a climax by a visit to the village of a quack, from whom Nemorino purchases a bottle supposed to contain "the Elixir of Love," but which is in reality only ordinary wine, since the quack, Dulcamara, not possessing the drug asked for, still desires the simple peasant's money. Being eager to put the Elixir to a good test, Nemorino swallows the whole contents of the bottle; with the result that the wine makes him half-drunk, so that Adina is shocked at his unseemly behaviour, and declares she will marry Belcore. The marriage contract is to be signed next day; and Nemorino, in despair, seeks a second bottle of Elixir from the quack, permitting Belcore to enter him as a recruit, in order to secure the bonus money, wherewith he is able to pay for the drug, the effect of which being still merely strong wine is, however, to place him still further in the black books of his ladylove. Next day, the village girls, having discovered that Nemorino' s uncle has died and left him a fortune a fact not yet known to the young manbegin to pay great attention to the now eligible farmer, who is much surprised, but takes advantage of the circumstance to rouse the jealousy of Adina who has much to the chagrin of Belcore postponed the signing of the wedding contract until evening. Seeing the girl looking dejected, Dulcamara, struck with remorse, reveals to her his deception of her sweetheart; and Adina, pleased with this proof of the true love and sincerity of the young farmer, decides to reward his faithfulness by granting him his heart's desire. Belcore reminds her that the new recruit, having spent part of his bonus money, must depart to take up his military duties; but when Adina herself repays the money, the disappointed suitor retires crestfallen, whilst the triumphant village belle bestows her hand upon the delighted Nemorino.

Ticket information can be found by going online to http://greatermiddletownconcerts.org/ticketing.htm or calling 860-347-4887 or 860-346-3369.

Contact information for the other venues:
The Russell Library: 860-347-2528, ext 135.
First United Methodist Church: 860-346-3689.
Book Bower: 860-704-8222.
Boney's Music Lounge: 860-346-6000.
Buttonwood Tree: 860-347-4957.
Wesleyan University Box Office: 860-685-3355 (online ticketing at www.wesleyan.edu/cfa.)
Vinnie's Jump & Jive: 860-347-6971, extension 3777.
Middlesex County Chamber of Commerce: 860-347-6924.

Ballet for the Holiday

Joseph Albano first choreographed "The Nutcracker Suite" in 1960, combining the handsome music of Tchaikovsky with stunning visuals.

The Hartford-based choreographer created his Dance Company in the early 1970s and this work has been a staple of its repertoire ever since.

The Greater Middletown Concert Association, tirelessly guided by Barbara Arafeh, brings "The Nutcracker" to the Performing Arts Center of Middletown High School, LaRosa Lane, this Saturday at 4 p.m. for one show. Tickets are still available for the show and can be reserved by calling 860-347-4887 or going online to www.greatermiddletownconcerts.org.

In other Performing Arts Center news, the Hartford Symphony Orchestra, Edward Cumming, music director, brings its "Holiday POPS Spectacular" to MHS for 2 shows on Friday December 19 and Saturday December 19 (both nights at 8 p.m.) Joining the HSO will be the Hartford Chorale, Richard Coffey, music director. According to the press release, the evening promises "sparkling carols, seasonal chestnuts and spirited choruses, all gloriously performed with the Hartford Symphony. Have Yourself a Merry Little Christmas!, O Come All Ye Faithful, Sleigh Ride, Little Drummer Boy, O Holy Night, music from Nutcracker, Messiah, and more."

For ticket information, go to www.vendini.com/ticket-software.html?e=dafba166b34adfcb35d0b74616f5e7dd&t=tix.

The Nutcracker to be performed in Middletown

Candy come to life, dancing wooden toy soldiers, and a battle against the giant warrior mice and their evil king -- sound familiar?

It's Tchaikovsky's classic holiday ballet: The Nutcracker. And this year, you won't have to go out of town to see it.

Presented by the renowned ballet troupe Joseph Albano and Company, the performance of "Albano's Nutcracker" will be for one afternoon only at the new Performing Arts Center at Middletown High School. Sponsored by Barbara Arafeh's Greater Middletown Concert Association, the ticket prices for this event are considerably lower than they will be at other Connecticut venues, to encourage bringing the whole family. The performance - taking full advantage of the new auditorium - will include elaborate scenery and theatrical effects, as well as a superb live orchestra.

The performance will be on Saturday, November 28th at 3 pm.

Ticket prices are $20 for students (age 15 and under) and $30 for adults. Group rates are also available.

To order your tickets, mail your payment and ticket order to:

Greater Middletown Concert Association
PO Box 2622
Middletown, CT 06457

For further information, see www.greatermiddletownconcerts.org or www.albanoballet.org. To contact Barbara Afafeh with ticket questions, call (860) 347-4887 or email at bmwa@aol.com.

O, To Be in 2, Perhaps, 3 Places at the Same Time: Arts on Saturday

Saturday October 17:
If you love music, many different kinds of music, this is one of those days that there are actually too many offerings. I dare you to stay away.

The Russell Library presents the duo (in the picture) of Emil Altschuler (violin) and Jerome Mouffe (guitar) at 2 p.m. in the Hubbard Room. Altschuler, a graduate of both the Juilliard School and the Yale School, has performed on concert stages around the world. The Belgian-born Mouffe is a splendid guitarist who has studied at the Royal Conservatory of Brussels and at the Mozarteum University of Salzburg and is now working with the legendary Eliot Fisk at the New England Conservatory of Music in Boston. The duo's repertoire includes music by Albeniz, Beaser, Piazzola, Paganini, Bach and others. The music should be quite impressive and enjoyable plus the concert is free and open to the public. (Author's Note: I got ahead of myself - this concert takes place next week, Saturday October 24 - no need to line up early.)

The Greater Middletown Concert Association opens its 2009-10 "Concert" season with "Broadway Live" at 7:30 p.m. in the auditorium of the Performing Arts Center of Middletown High School, LaRosa Lane. Scheduled to perform are theater veterans and Teresa Burrell, Robert Cuccioli and Christianne Tisdale, accompanied by pianist Barry Levitt. You should recognize most if not all of the tunes and the trio's presentation is excellent. For ticket information, go to http://greatermiddletownconcerts.org/concert-series.htm or call 860-347-4887.

Guitarist/composer Sinan Bakir returns to The Buttonwood Tree for a 7:30 p.m. performance. The Turkish-born Bakir now resides in the Hartford area - earlier this year, he released his debut CD, "On My Way", a recording that has garnered solid reviews (including mine) for its straight-forward approach, melodic diversity and solid improvisations. Joining Bakir is the delightful pianist Warren Byrd, bassist Matt Dwonszyk and drummer Joe Palmer. For more information and a taste of the guitarist's music, go to www.sinanbakir.com.


Pianist Omar Sosa comes to Wesleyan as part of the Crowell Concert Series and chances are quite good the music will be rhythmically exciting. Sosa, born and raised in Camaguey, Cuba, began studying music (specifically percussion) at the age of 8. His parents loved all kinds of music and the young man grew up listening to Cuban bandleader Benny More and Nat "King" Cole as well as lots of classical music.
While studying at the conservatory in Havana,, Sosa discovered Herbie Hancock, Chick Corea, Oscar Peterson, Keith Jarrett, and many others. Sossa has been living in the San Francisco Bay area since 1995 and has been creating original music that blends the music of his native land with influences from Africa and the Middle East.
Joining him on the Crowell Stage for the 8 p.m. show will be Marque Gilmore (drums), Childo Tomas (electric bass) and Mola Sylla (vocals.) For more information, go to www.wesleyan.edu/cfa or call the Box Office at 685-3355. To learn more about Omar Sosa and his music, go to www.omarsosa.com.

Boney's Music Lounge presents Shakedown, a quintet that has based its sound in that of the Grateful Dead. Featuring the dual guitar stylings of Jeff Martinson and Dave Frankel along with Geoff Wadhams (keyboards), Mark Haberfield (bass) and John Panchack (drums), the band plays throughout the Northeast and has a loyal following. They'll start the jams at 8 p.m. For more information, call 346-6000.

Future Musical Treats

Among the treats we picked up at today's Open Air Market at the Wadsworth Mansion were announcements of 2 upcoming concerts series.

That smiling face to the left belongs to cellist and Middletown resident Jason Duckles and, on Saturday September 26, he will play the opening program in the Russell Library's 2009 Fall Concert Series. Titled "Cello All Alone", Duckles, 1/3rd of the Amelia Piano Trio, will play music by J.S. Bach and contemporary composers John Harbison and Augusta Read Thomas.

Duckles studied at Northwestern University and received advanced degrees from the State University of New York at Stony Brook. He teaches at both Wesleyan University and Connecticut College, has private students and is very involved in other educational projects. On top of that, he is a masterful musician and his concert should be quite enjoyable. It takes place at 2 p.m. in the Hubbard Room (as do all the shows with the same start time.)

The schedule also includes harpist Bridget Kirby (October 3), the duo of violinist Emil Altschuler & guitarist Jerome Mouffe (October 24) and the Janaki String Trio (December 2.) The concerts are free and open to all in the community, just part of the Library's commitment to make Middletown a great to live, learn and enjoy the arts. For more information, go to www.russelllibrary.org.

The Greater Middletown Concert Association has not 1 but 2 series planned for 2009-10. There are 3 shows scheduled for the Concert series that starts on Saturday October 17 the vocal trio of Terry Burrell, Robert Cuccioli and Christianne Tisdale performing "Broadway Live: The Songs, The Shows, The Stars" at 7:30 p.m. in the auditorium of the Middletown High School Performing Arts Center, LaRosa Lane.
Subsequent shows include the Heartbeat Dixieland Jazz Band (February 7, 2010) and The Adaskin Trio (April 10, 2010.)

This season, Barbara Arafeh and her hardworking committee have added a new wrinkle to their presentations and that is the "Opera Series." The Connecticut Lyric Opera and the Connecticut Virtuosi Chamber Orchestra, Adrian Sylveen, conductor (pictured), will present Donizetti's "L'Elisir d'Amore" ("The Elixir of Love") on Saturday December 5 at 7:30 p.m. in the MHS Performing Arts Center. The companies will return on Saturday May 15 2010 to perform Leoncavallo's "I Pagliacci" and Puccini's "Gianni Schicci."

Tickets for both series are now on sale and you can find out more by calling 347-4887 or 346-3369 or by email at bmwa@aol.com. The GMCA's series remain one of the best bargains in the state and the performances are always first-class.

What's Goin' On (Part 3) This Weekend 5/01-03

Another very busy weekend around these parts and, trust me, this posting won't cover all the good things happening in Middletown.

If you hemmed and hawed about purchasing tickets to the Greater Middletown Concerts Association's Friday night presentation of "La Traviata", it's too late. GMCA's chief mover & shaker Barbara Arafeh and her devoted minions went out and sold every seat in the house, all 700 or so in the Performing Arts Center inside the new Middletown High School. To join the waiting list, call 346-4887.

The Friends of the Russell Library hold its "Bag Book Sale" this weekend (but not Sunday) during regular Library hours (9 a.m, - 6 p.m. Friday, 9 - 5 Saturday, 9 - 8:30 p.m. on Monday.) Great values abound along with much fine reading. Call 347-2528, ext 135 for more information.

The Buttonwood Tree, 605 Main Street, presents an evening of "Gypsy jazz" when the trio known as Ameranouche plays on Friday at 7:30 p.m. Composed of Richard "Shepp" Sheppard (lead guitar), Ryan Flaherty (rhythm guitar), and Xar Adelberg (double bass), the trio has been charming audiences with its fine acoustic music since 2004. The music is a blend of flamenco, French chanson, American soul music, bop, and more. Their 3rd CD, "La Foule" has just been issued and they'll be playing many of the tracks on this evening. For more information, go to www.ameranouche.com/.

Friday at 12:30 p.m., Buttonwood Tree director Anne-Marie Cannata will be my guest on "Best of the Valley-Shore", heard on both WMRD-AM 1150 and WLIS 1420-AM. We'll chat about plenty of upcoming events but especially the "Tribute to Susan Allison" on Friday May 8.

Wesleyan will be a busy campus on Friday. At 5 p.m., the new exhibition in the Zilkha Gallery opens at 5 p.m. with a reception and Curator Talk. "Global Warning: Artists and Climate Change" is a large scale show that aims to "increase awareness of climate change through challenging content that is laced with poetry and aesthetic power." Included in the show are works in a variety of media from the past three decades by Marion Belanger, Lorraine Berry, Diane Burko, Nancy Cohen, Helen and Newton Harrison (one of their works, "The World Ocean is a Great Draftsman", is pictured above), Chris Jordan, Aviva Rahmani, Lenore Malen, Mierle Laderman Ukeles and Frances Whitehead. The exhibition, part of the University's "Feet to the Fire: Exploring Global Climate from Science to Art" initiative, will be on view through May 24. Gallery hours are 12noon - 4 p.m. Tuesday through Sunday (12noon - 8 p.m.on Fridays.)

Also part of the "Feet to the Fire" programming, Native American composer Barbara Croall has been commissioned to compose a new work on global climate change that will be performed by the Wesleyan University Orchestra, under the direction of guest conductor Roy Wiseman, at 8 p.m. Friday in Crowell Concert Hall. According to the website, Croall is Odawa and balances her time between work in outdoor education rooted in traditional Anishhinaabe teachings and composing music. She has been actively performing and composing for Anishhinaabe musical instruments and for European classical instruments since 1995. Her music for soloists, small and large chamber ensembles, symphony orchestra, film, dance and theater have been premiered internationally and across Canada." The program will also feature works by the winners of the Wesleyan Orchestra Concerto Competition. The event is free and open to the public.

Friday and Saturday at 8 p.m. in the Patricelli '92 Theater, the student choreographers from the Wesleyan Dance Department present the Spring Dance Concert. For ticket information, call 685-3355 or go online to www.wesleyan.edu/cfa.

The Fishbone Cafe, 120 Court Street, presents the "Sweet Sue" Terry Quartet Friday at 8:30 p.m. Joining the fine saxophonist (a graduate of the Hartt School of Music) will be Michael Musillami (guitar), Joe Fonda (bass) and George Schuller (drums.) For more information, call 346-6000.

Saturday events include The Wesleyan Collegium Musicum performing at 7 p.m. in Memorial Chapel, High Street. The WCM is an ensemble "dedicated to exploring and performing the diverse vocal and instrumental repertories of the Medieval, Renaissance, and Baroque periods of European music." This fine performance is free and open to all.

The Buttonwood Tree welcomes the trio of Ben Ross (harmonica), Phillip Greene (keyboards) and Shula Weinstein (cello, guitar) for an evening of blues, classical music and more. The Saturday performance begins at 7:30 p.m. For more information, call 347-4957.

Sunday, there will be a "Chamber Music Extravaganza" at 2 p.m. in The Russell House, 350 High Street. Students of Anthea Kreston and Jason Duckles (2/3rds of the wonderful Amelia Piano Trio) will perform and the free event is followed by a reception for all.

At 7 p.m. in the World Music Hall, one can enjoy the Spring Taiko Concert, featuring students of Mark H Rooney of Odaiko New England. If you've not experienced Taiko drumming, it's both brash and subtle, alternately thundering and precise. For ticket information, call 685-3355.

La Traviata Selling Fast

The Greater Middletown Concert Association is bringing Verdi's La Traviata to town on Friday May 1, at the Middletown High School performing arts center, and already, 500 of the 700 tickets are gone.

The three-act Italian classic opera will be performed by the Connecticut Lyric Opera and the Connecticut Virtuosi Chamber Orchestra and directed by Adrian Sylveen Mackiewicz. It will be sung in the original Italian with English supertitles.

Tickets are available by calling 347-887, 346-3369 or by emailing: bmwa@aol.com.

Music in Middletown

The Buttonwood Tree presents singer-songwriter Paul Sachs this Friday night (3/13) at 7:30 p.m. The New York City native is a "folksinger" in the style of early Bob Dylan and acoustic Bruce Springsteen. He does not ignore electric music but usually tours as a "solo" artist. Sachs' voice won't bowl you over but his songs have good melodies and strong hooks, telling stories that could be from your life. To find out more about this troubador, go to www.paulsachs.com.

Saturday night at 7:30, The Buttonwood will shake to the sounds of the Rosy Nolan Band. A dollop of country, a dash of rock 'n' roll, a punkish attitude, and some high energy riffs tempered by the occasional acoustic tune, all that and more will get on you on your feet and excited. 2 guitars, bass and drums with a hard-edged vocalist and songs that have power is what Ms. Nolan and Band have to offer. To find out about this singer-songwriter and hear some of her songs, go to www.therosynolanband.com. To reserve a spot for either or both shows, call 347-4957.

Middletown native Tom Callinan comes home Saturday night to perform with The Morgans for the Greater Middletown Concert Association's debut presentation in the auditorium of the new Middletown High School, LaRosa Lane. Callinan joined the group in 1973, several years after they first came together, bringing his great knowledge of Irish music and chanteys as well as his prowess on banjo, whistles and more. The concert, which also features step dancers from the Golden Harp School of Irish Dance in Bolton, begins at 7:30 p.m. For ticket information, call 347-4887 or 346-3369 or email bmwa@aol.com. Ticket prices are quite reasonable and the music is very, very, good.

Fishbone Grill, 120 Court Street, presents The Drewids Saturday at 9:30 p.m. in Boney's Music Lounge on the 2nd floor. Led by bassist Andrew Emer, the quartet also features George Schuller (drums), Tom Beckham (vibraphone) and Mike Baggetta (guitar.) All 4 are fine improvisers so the music should be exciting. Call 346-6000 for more information.

Dave Downs, guitar and vocals, performs at 11 a.m. Sunday in Brew Bakers, 169 Main Street. Downs, who is a walking encyclopedia of folk songs and popular melodies from the 30s and 40s, as well as a good songwriter, keeps the mood light and easy. His voice can be described as "soft and sweet"and he won't "wow" the crowd with fancy guitar playing but Dave Downs' music will certainly make you feel good. For more information, call 852-0001. To hear songs from the CD in the picture, go to http://cdbaby.com/cd/davedowns2.