Pro Musica Benefit and Musical Extravaganza
Event Category: Community Events, Charity Events, and Musical Events
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Pro Musica Benefit and Musical Extravaganza
Wednesday, March 11, 2020
5:00 pm
Our Benefit is now in its third year and we have celebrated some wonderful anniversaries in great style; my 70th birthday and Pro Musica’s 21st! This year we honor the centenary of the birth of Leonard Bernstein; a towering musical genius of the 20th century; as the central theme of our Musical Extravaganza at my house on Tuesday 11 March at 5 pm.
We will be honored by the presence of his daughter Jamie Bernstein and she, together with much loved pianist Michael Boriskin (also Artistic Director of Music at Copland House), will present a program of what Leonard called his ‘musical snapshots’, brief portraits of his friends and family.
These delightful vignettes, played by Michael and narrated by Jamie, are a rarely heard and unique insight into the maestros’ relationships. The portraits include Sondheim, the great conductor Koussevitsky, his sister Shirley, appropriately Aaron Copland, and a host of other characters who crowded his intense life. This will be a unique opportunity for you to spend an evening up close and personal with the delightful Jamie and experience the real Leonard Bernstein.
Michael Boriskin will set the tone for the evening and put us firmly in the Roaring Twenties by playing George Gershwin and, in honor of my pet Velvet, Copland’s delightful “The Cat and the Mouse”, and other melodies! The concert will also include song in the shape of renowned US tenor Bradley Howard, flying in from Georgia just for this event. He will be accompanied on the piano by special guest Ken Bichel. As a change from opera, and although Brad is an opera singer, his performance will be of some of the 20th century greats of popular music, including Sondheim, Lehar and Flanders and Swann.
Before this amazing concert we will gather in the garden for Prosecco and canapés, and after the entertainment wander through the house while a gourmet menu of substantial finger food is served with wine. All the artists, including Jamie, will be there for the post concert munching to talk to you and share experiences.
Tickets are now available on line on our web site with no booking fee for this unique event and I urge you to book soon, as both previous years sold out.
Sincerely, Michael Pearl, President Pro Musica
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