California Philharmonic presents Rodgers & Hammerstein 7/26 and 7/27
Jenine Baines
July 11, 2008
SAN MARINO, Calif. Between them, the legendary songwriting team of Richard Rodgers and Oscar Hammerstein earned 34 Tony Awards, 15 Oscars, 2 Grammys, 2 Emmy Awards and the Pulitzer Prize…twice. And, on July 26 and 27, the California Philharmonic will pay tribute to the enormously popular duo when it presents "Rodgers and Hammerstein," with help from yet another renowned duo – international opera star, mezzo-soprano Suzanna Guzmán, and Broadway headliner, baritone Kevin Earley.
"Both Time magazine and CBS News named Rodgers and Hammerstein among the twenty most influential artists of the 20th century," says Victor Vener, Founder and Music Director of the California Philharmonic. "Since our mission is to share great music of all genres, from every era of music making, with audiences throughout Southern California – whether they join us Saturday evenings at The Arboretum or Sunday afternoon at Disney Hall – a Cal Phil summer season wouldn´t be complete without them."
The program will include excerpts from the musical both Rodgers and Hammerstein described as their favorite collaboration, Carousel. "The composers took the musical to an entirely new artistic level when they wrote Carousel," explains Vener. "For instance, the ´Carousel Waltz,´ which Cal Phil will perform, opens with a calliope-like theme that suggests the darker elements of the plot to follow. But, soon, the music becomes a more conventional waltz where you´ll not only hear the horses bobbing up and down but you´ll swear you´re riding a roller coaster as well. It´s no accident that many critics and reviewers call Carousel the best musical of the 20th century."
Guzmán and Earley will join the orchestra in performing excerpts not only from Carousel but from such blockbuster hits as Oklahoma!, South Pacific, The Sound of Music, and The King and I. Earley, who will catch a red eye back to New York after his appearance with Cal Phil to return to rehearsals for A Tale of Two Cities, which will open on Broadway this September, echoes Vener´s high praise for the songwriters.
"Rodgers and Hammerstein created a language and mood that was always individual to each show," explains Earley, who will play the role of Ernest Defarge in the upcoming musical adaptation of Dickens´ novel. "They each sound so unique and yet still from the some voice. I also love how the melodies and lyrics are effortless to sing. Nothing jumps out as being odd or out of place in any of their music."
Early in her career Guzmán appeared in the 4000th performance of The King and I with Yul Brynner – as Amazon #2. "Richard Rodgers must have been in love with a mezzo," she says with a smile. "Every show he has ever written has immortal melodies for that voice type." Evidence she cites includes "You´ll Never Walk Alone and "If I Loved You" from Carousel, "Climb Every Mountain" from The Sound of Music, and "Something Wonderful" from The King and I.
The mezzo-soprano equally enjoys working with Kevin Earley, whom she first met while performing at a gala for Center Theater Group. "I was so impressed not only by his talent and incredible voice but by the fact that you couldn't meet a nicer person," recounts Guzmán, who recently concluded a season as Cal Phil´s Artist in Residence. "I immediately suggested that Maestro Vener spotlight Kevin, and he's become a favorite. Kevin's voice and stage persona are just plain star quality."
This weekend of "Rodgers and Hammerstein" concerts marks the third time Guzmán and Earley will perform together with Cal Phil. "I have such a blast with Suzanna," Earley confides. "That´s what it´s all about. The music and the fun."
The gates will open at The Arboretum on July 26 at 5:30 p.m. for dining and live jazz from the redwhite+bluezz Jazz Stage, with the performance beginning at 7:30 p.m. Tickets start at just $20 and can be purchased by calling the Cal Phil box office at 1120 Huntington Drive in San Marino at 626.300.8200 from 10 a.m. to 6 p.m. Monday through Friday or by visiting the website, www.calphil.org. The Arboretum is located at 301 No. Baldwin Avenue in Arcadia. Gates open at 5:30 p.m. for picnicking.
Tickets for the performance at 2 p.m. on July 27 are available by calling TicketMaster at 213.363.3500, Tuesday through Friday, from 10 a.m. to 3 p.m. or online at www.ticketmaster.com. Prices range from $35 to $95/person. Walt Disney Concert Hall is located at 111 South Grand Avenue in Los Angeles.
In 1995, Music Director and Conductor Victor Vener and a small group of enthusiastic, dedicated music lovers based in Pasadena, California founded The CalPhil Foundation. The Foundation, a nonprofit community benefit organization, supports the California Philharmonic in its quest to expand awareness of classical music, thus increasing the interest and support for great timeless music with wide audience appeal, from the classical and operatic repertoire to diverse genres of jazz, pops, Hollywood and Broadway. Also, with a strong commitment to new music and to expanding the symphonic repertoire, the California Philharmonic has presented numerous world premieres of both orchestral and chamber works.
The California Philharmonic began in 1997 with a five-concert inaugural summer season of Cal Phil Festival on the Green on the grounds of the Los Angeles County Arboretum & Botanic Garden in Arcadia. Now, Cal Phil presents twenty-four concerts per year in five different, but equally impressive, venues throughout Los Angeles County. These series include Cal Phil at Walt Disney Concert Hall (downtown Los Angeles), Cal Phil at the Ambassador (Pasadena), Cal Phil Music, Martinis and the Maestro (Castle Green Hotel in Pasadena), Cal Phil Festival on the Green, and Cal Phil at The Mill (The Old Mill in San Marino). For more information, visit www.calphil.org or call 626.300.8200.
"Both Time magazine and CBS News named Rodgers and Hammerstein among the twenty most influential artists of the 20th century," says Victor Vener, Founder and Music Director of the California Philharmonic. "Since our mission is to share great music of all genres, from every era of music making, with audiences throughout Southern California – whether they join us Saturday evenings at The Arboretum or Sunday afternoon at Disney Hall – a Cal Phil summer season wouldn´t be complete without them."
The program will include excerpts from the musical both Rodgers and Hammerstein described as their favorite collaboration, Carousel. "The composers took the musical to an entirely new artistic level when they wrote Carousel," explains Vener. "For instance, the ´Carousel Waltz,´ which Cal Phil will perform, opens with a calliope-like theme that suggests the darker elements of the plot to follow. But, soon, the music becomes a more conventional waltz where you´ll not only hear the horses bobbing up and down but you´ll swear you´re riding a roller coaster as well. It´s no accident that many critics and reviewers call Carousel the best musical of the 20th century."
Guzmán and Earley will join the orchestra in performing excerpts not only from Carousel but from such blockbuster hits as Oklahoma!, South Pacific, The Sound of Music, and The King and I. Earley, who will catch a red eye back to New York after his appearance with Cal Phil to return to rehearsals for A Tale of Two Cities, which will open on Broadway this September, echoes Vener´s high praise for the songwriters.
"Rodgers and Hammerstein created a language and mood that was always individual to each show," explains Earley, who will play the role of Ernest Defarge in the upcoming musical adaptation of Dickens´ novel. "They each sound so unique and yet still from the some voice. I also love how the melodies and lyrics are effortless to sing. Nothing jumps out as being odd or out of place in any of their music."
Early in her career Guzmán appeared in the 4000th performance of The King and I with Yul Brynner – as Amazon #2. "Richard Rodgers must have been in love with a mezzo," she says with a smile. "Every show he has ever written has immortal melodies for that voice type." Evidence she cites includes "You´ll Never Walk Alone and "If I Loved You" from Carousel, "Climb Every Mountain" from The Sound of Music, and "Something Wonderful" from The King and I.
The mezzo-soprano equally enjoys working with Kevin Earley, whom she first met while performing at a gala for Center Theater Group. "I was so impressed not only by his talent and incredible voice but by the fact that you couldn't meet a nicer person," recounts Guzmán, who recently concluded a season as Cal Phil´s Artist in Residence. "I immediately suggested that Maestro Vener spotlight Kevin, and he's become a favorite. Kevin's voice and stage persona are just plain star quality."
This weekend of "Rodgers and Hammerstein" concerts marks the third time Guzmán and Earley will perform together with Cal Phil. "I have such a blast with Suzanna," Earley confides. "That´s what it´s all about. The music and the fun."
The gates will open at The Arboretum on July 26 at 5:30 p.m. for dining and live jazz from the redwhite+bluezz Jazz Stage, with the performance beginning at 7:30 p.m. Tickets start at just $20 and can be purchased by calling the Cal Phil box office at 1120 Huntington Drive in San Marino at 626.300.8200 from 10 a.m. to 6 p.m. Monday through Friday or by visiting the website, www.calphil.org. The Arboretum is located at 301 No. Baldwin Avenue in Arcadia. Gates open at 5:30 p.m. for picnicking.
Tickets for the performance at 2 p.m. on July 27 are available by calling TicketMaster at 213.363.3500, Tuesday through Friday, from 10 a.m. to 3 p.m. or online at www.ticketmaster.com. Prices range from $35 to $95/person. Walt Disney Concert Hall is located at 111 South Grand Avenue in Los Angeles.
In 1995, Music Director and Conductor Victor Vener and a small group of enthusiastic, dedicated music lovers based in Pasadena, California founded The CalPhil Foundation. The Foundation, a nonprofit community benefit organization, supports the California Philharmonic in its quest to expand awareness of classical music, thus increasing the interest and support for great timeless music with wide audience appeal, from the classical and operatic repertoire to diverse genres of jazz, pops, Hollywood and Broadway. Also, with a strong commitment to new music and to expanding the symphonic repertoire, the California Philharmonic has presented numerous world premieres of both orchestral and chamber works.
The California Philharmonic began in 1997 with a five-concert inaugural summer season of Cal Phil Festival on the Green on the grounds of the Los Angeles County Arboretum & Botanic Garden in Arcadia. Now, Cal Phil presents twenty-four concerts per year in five different, but equally impressive, venues throughout Los Angeles County. These series include Cal Phil at Walt Disney Concert Hall (downtown Los Angeles), Cal Phil at the Ambassador (Pasadena), Cal Phil Music, Martinis and the Maestro (Castle Green Hotel in Pasadena), Cal Phil Festival on the Green, and Cal Phil at The Mill (The Old Mill in San Marino). For more information, visit www.calphil.org or call 626.300.8200.
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