CASTLETON FESTIVAL PRESENTS SIXTH SUMMER SEASON

SATURDAY, JUNE 28 – SUNDAY, JULY 20, 2014

Don Giovanni, Madama Butterfly, Don Juan in Hell
Orchestral Concerts of Mozart, Prokofiev, Tchaikovsky, and Maazel;
Chamber Music, Opera Recitals, Talks
Bluegrass & Fireworks and Independence Day Music, July 3 & July 4

Tickets $20-120 at CastletonFestival.org

June 2014, Castleton, VA – Artistic directors Maestro Lorin Maazel and Dietlinde Turban Maazel will hold the sixth season of the Castleton Festival in their state-of-the-art performance venues set in the rolling meadows of Castleton Farms in scenic Rappahannock County, VA, from June 28-July 20, 2014. This year’s program will showcase Castleton’s rising stars working alongside world renowned artists in new productions of Don Giovanni and Madama Butterfly, three symphonic concerts, theatrical readings, chamber music, song recitals, bluegrass, fireworks and more.

The annual Castleton Festival has grown exponentially since its first season in 2009, maintaining its core ideals as a vista-opener for young performers. Each summer, Castleton attracts hundreds of emerging artists who are drawn to the Virginia countryside to work with and learn from established professional musicians, singers, stage managers and arts administrators as they prepare for four weekends of performances. The Castleton Festival is a distinctive summer performance series in the Greater Washington DC and Virginia region because it serves the arts in three roles: that of a producing entity, a performance venue and a mentoring program that provides valuable, career-building experiences to young musicians and arts professionals.

For a list of 2014 performances and special events, please see below.

Opera & Theater
DON GIOVANNI — July 5, 12, and 18
MADAMA BUTTERFLY — June 28, July 6, 11, 20
DON JUAN IN HELL – July 12

The Castleton Festival’s operatic offerings in 2014 explore the comic, the tragic, the poetic and the ironic with titles closely associated with Artistic Director Lorin Maazel and reflective of historic productions, infused with his theatrical sense and experience making music in the world’s greatest opera houses and on film.

The Castleton Festival presents two new productions in 2014, both held in the 650-seat Festival Theatre: Don Giovanni, Mozart’s two-act opera based on the legendary exploits and adventures of the fictional hero Don Juan, directed by renowned Italian stage director Giandomenico Vaccari, returning to Castleton after receiving critical acclaim for its 2013 production of The Girl of the Golden West; and Madama Butterfly, one of Giacomo Puccini’s most influential and famous works which tells the dramatic love story of an American naval officer and his young Japanese bride, directed by Tomer Zvulun.

Javier Arrey, who received critical acclaim for his debut as the arch-villain Iago in the 2013 Castleton production of Verdi’s Otello, will return to the Festival in his role debut as Don Giovanni in 2014.

Joining the stage with Arrey is Tyler Simpson as Leporello, Christopher Besch as Commendatore, Chloé Moore as Donna Anna, Tyler Nelson as Ottavio, Jennifer Black in her role debut as Donna Elvira, Amanda Crider as Zerlina and Nicholas Masters as Masetto.

As a complement to Don Giovanni, the Festival will stage a theatrical reading of Don Juan in Hell with Broadway and television star Maria Tucci (Law & Order, To Die For) Dylan Baker (The Good Wife, Zero Hour, Spider Man 2), and Patrick Breen (Blue Bloods, CSI Miami) who recently in the DC region in the summer 2012 Arena Stage production of A Normal Heart. Ms. Tucci will also direct the reading.

Madama Butterfly will be performed by two alternating casts. In the first cast (June 28, July 6 and July 20): Castleton-alum tenor Jonathan Burton returns to the stage as the American naval officer Lieutenant Pinkerton. Burton previously appeared as Dick Johnson in Castleton’s 2013 production of Puccini’s The Girl of the Golden West and as Rodolfo in the Festival’s 2011 production of La Bohème. Ekaterina Metlova, who debuted in the demanding star role of Minnie in 2013’s The Girl of the Golden West, will play Cio-Cio San opposite Burton, with Castleton favorite Corey Crider as Sharpless.

In the second cast (July 20), Christopher Bozeka, who dazzled audiences in 2013’s Girl of the Golden West, will portray Lieutenant Pinkerton with Amber Daniel playing Cio-Cio San, and Anthony Eversole in his role debut as Sharpless.

Concerts
KING MOZART – June 29
ALL AMERICAN BAND – July 4
STORY IN MUSIC – July 13
LOVE IN MUSIC – July 19
CHAMBER MUSIC – June 28, July 6, 19

Symphonic concerts at the Castleton Festival showcase the talent and fresh energy of the Castleton Festival Orchestra, comprised of 58 young professional musicians from all over the world, at the start of their performing careers. Orchestra members are chosen each year by Maestro Maazel from hundreds of auditions.

In 2014, Castleton will round out its artistic program with three symphonic concerts, beginning with“King Mozart” on June 29– featuring Mozart’s Violin Concerto in A Major, Eine Kleine Nachmusik, and the “Jupiter” Symphony, conducted by Donald Runnicles, Music Director of Deutsche Oper Berlin.

Another symphonic concert will center around the theme “Story in Music” on July 13, featuring the all-time favorite Peter and the Wolf by Prokofiev, narrated by Margaret Warner, and three works composed by Lorin Maazel: The Giving Tree, inspired by Shel Silverstein’s tale, for narrator, solo cello and full orchestra; The Empty Pot, a Chinese Legend (text by the children’s book author Demi) for narrator, boy soprano, children’s chorus and full orchestra, and Vapours and Capers, a synthesis of famous Irish folk tunes such as Danny Boy with Sir James Galway on solo flute as well as full orchestra and two narrators. Maestro Maazel will conduct.

“Love in Music” (July 19) will be the theme for the third symphonic concert presenting arias and duets from beloved operas such as La Boheme and Eugene Onegin, Tchaikovsky’s Rococo Variations (with famed cellist Alisa Weilerstein), and Faure’s Pelleas et Melisande. Violinist Julian Rachlin will also be a soloist. Maestro Maazel will conduct this concert with some selections guest conducted by Malko Competition winner and Castleton alum Rafael Payare.

The Festival will once again offer intimate chamber music concerts in the small Theatre House. Returning to the Castleton Festival are the Castleton Chamber Players, led by founding members, Eric Silberger and Daniel Lelchuk. The Festival will also offer several song recitals of opera scenes performed by the 2014 class of C.A.T.S. residents.

2014 also brings two premiers of new works by Michael-Thomas Foumai and Talia Amar, young composers under age 27 selected by Maestro Maazel as part of Castleton’s Young Composers Forum. Michael-Thomas Foumai, from Hawaii, will be present for a performance of his new piece for orchestra, Nataraja, during the “Story in Music” concert, Sunday, July 13.
Talia Amar, from Israel, will be present for a performance of her string quartet, Obsession, performed during the Chamber music concert Sunday, July 6.

Special Events
LAW IN OPERA WITH JUSTICE GINSBURG– June 29
THE SELDOM SCENE & FIREWORKS – July 3
ALL-AMERICAN BAND CONCERT – July 4
COOKING CLASSES: June 28, July 5 & 12

On June 29, Supreme Court Justice Ruth Bader Ginsburg shares her passion for opera and unique perspective on law in the arts. “Law in Opera” will feature a lively balance of performance and commentary, with Castleton’s C.A.T.S. students (Castleton Artist Training Program) enacting selected scenes that deal with law and justice, followed by Justice Ginsburg’s engaging insights.

To celebrate the Fourth of July weekend, the Castleton Festival will once again hold its popular Community Bluegrass concert with two acts as the Amy Ferebee Trio opens for The Seldom Scene followed by a spectacular, full fireworks display in the meadow next to the Festival Theatre on Thursday, July 3. Then on July 4 at 2pm, festivalgoers will enjoy a special all-American concert conducted by composer and former U.S. Marine Band conductor Colonel John R. Bourgeois. Acclaimed musician Joe Alessi, Principle Trombone of the New York Philharmonic, will be a soloist.
Cooking classes for small groups:
Learn to cook in small classes led by world-class chefs who are part of the Castleton family- and make your own delicious lunch with wine pairings before a performance this season.

Classes are offered Saturdays at 11am for three weekends: French and Japanese cuisine (June 28, opening day); Italian seduction cuisine (July 5) and Simple techniques/Impressive results with Dayn Smith (July 12). To reserve space visit castletonfestival.org. There are 15 spots per class. Tickets are $225 and take place at Legacy Lake House, a 15-minute drive from the Castleton Festival.

Master Classes and Training
Fine dining priced at $55-65 with wine pairings for an additional $25 is offered in the elegant setting of the Great Room and Terraces of Castleton Farm’s Theatre House.
Reservations are required. Dates, menus and reservations are available at castletonfestival.org/dining.
Eine kleine Nachtmusik (Serenade No. 13 for strings in G major), K. 525
Soloist : Eric Silberger
Symphony No. 41 in C major, K. 551 “Jupiter”
The Empty Pot, Op. 16 – Lorin Maazel
The Giving Tree, Op. 15 – Lorin Maazel
Irish Vapours and Capers – Lorin Maazel
Variations on a Rococo Theme, Op. 33 – Pyotr Ilyich Tchaikovsky
Love Duet from “1984” – Lorin Maazel
O Soave Fanciulla from La bohème– Giacomo Puccin

New to the Festival this year will be the MMM – Maestro Maazel Masterclasses: a Seminar for Young Conductors. 15 candidates have been chosen from a large pool of applicants to study with Maestro Maazel. In these daily, focused classes, which began June 9, Maestro Maazel addresses a range of specialties, including how to conduct an opera and the art of interpretation.

The Festival will also continue its acclaimed Castleton Artists Training Seminar (C.A.T.S.), a credit-earning college course that selects 40-50 students each summer for a rigorous eight-week course in singing, acting, movement, languages and career management, led by a star faculty, including esteemed soprano and Festival general manager Nancy Gustafson and Festival co-director and acclaimed actor Dietlinde Turban Maazel.

Dining at Castleton

Glen Gordon Manor and Chef Dayn Smith bring fine dining to Castleton in 2014, complementing the musical experience with a culinary delight. Each evening brings a new menu, with substitutions for special diets available upon request.

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CASTLETON FESTIVAL 2014


Where: The Castleton Festival Theatre, 7 Castleton Meadows Lane, and the Theatre House, 664 Castleton View Road in Castleton, Rappahannock County, Virginia, 60 miles southwest of Washington, and one hour from Charlottesville, VA.

Who: Legendary conductor Maestro Lorin Maazel, Dietlinde Turban Maazel,
Donald Runnicles, Rafael Payare, Javier Arrey, Ruth Bader Ginsburg, Sir James Galway, Maria Tucci, and top musicians and singers of tomorrow.

Tickets: Ticket prices for this season’s festival range from $20-120, with packages and subscriptions also available. Tickets may be purchased on Castleton’s website, or by calling the Castleton box office at 866-974-0767.

Press: Members of the media interested in attending a performance should contact Jenny Lawhorn at: 202-821-8898 or jlawhorn@scottcircle.com or Megan Vibert at: 202-695-8229 or mvibert@scottcircle.com.

Photos: http://castletonfestival.smugmug.com/Music/2014CF

Follow:
Website: CastletonFestival.org
Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/CastletonFest
Twitter: @CastletonFest

When: June 28-July 20, 2014. For a complete schedule of programs during the 2014 Castleton Festival, please see the calendar below.

THE CASTLETON FESTIVAL 2014: FULL CALENDAR

FIRST WEEKEND

Saturday, June 28th
11am — Cooking class: Japanese and French cuisine with Chefs Ryo Iisawa
and Teruhito Amemiya from the Embassy of Japan
3 p.m. — Chamber Music, Castleton Chamber Players
5 p.m. — Gala Dinner
7 p.m. — Madama Butterfly conducted by Maestro Lorin Maazel

Sunday, June 29th
11 a.m. — Law in Opera talk by Supreme Court Justice Ruth Bader Ginsburg
2 p.m. — King Mozart (Violin Concerto, Clarinet Concerto, Symphonic works) conducted by Donald Runnicles


Violin Concerto No.5 in A major, K.219

SECOND WEEKEND

Thursday, July 3rd
7 p.m. — Bluegrass and Fireworks: The Amy Ferebee Trio and The Seldom Scene
Followed by fireworks in the meadow beside to the Castleton Festival Theatre

Friday, July 4th
2 p.m. — All-American Band Concert with the Castleton Winds
conducted by Colonel John R. Borgeois. Soloist: Joe Alessi
Works by Francis Scott Key, John Philip Sousa, Leroy Anderson,
Leonard Bernstein and Scott Joplin.

Saturday, July 5th
11 a.m. — Cooking class: Italian seduction with Chef Daniela Costa
7 p.m. — Don Giovanni conducted by Maestro Lorin Maazel

Sunday, July 6th
11 a.m. — Chamber Music, Castleton Chamber Players including a performance of “Obsession,” a new work by Talia Amar, winner of the Young Composers Forum
2 p.m. — Madama Butterfly conducted by Maestro Lorin Maazel

THIRD WEEKEND

Friday, July 11th
8 p.m. — Madama Butterfly conducted by Maestro Lorin Maazel

Saturday, July 12th
11 a.m. — Cooking class with Chef Dayn Smith: Think and cook like a chef
with simple techniques and impressive results
1:30 p.m. — Don Juan in Hell directed by Maria Tucci
7 p.m. — Don Giovanni conducted by Maestro Lorin Maazel

Sunday, July 13th
2 p.m. — Story in Music (Symphonic Concert) conducted by Maestro Lorin Maazel:
Peter and the Wolf, Op. 67 – Sergei Prokofiev


Sir James Galway, soloist

Nataraja, a new work by Young Composers Forum wimmer Michael-Thomas Foumai

FOURTH WEEKEND

Friday, July 18th
8 p.m. — Don Giovanni conducted by Maestro Lorin Maazel

Saturday, July 19th
11 a.m. — C.A.T.S. Spectacular – Opera scenes performed by the C.A.T.S. class of 2014
4 p.m. — Chamber Music, Castleton Chamber Players
7 p.m. — Love in Music (Symphonic Concert) conducted by Maestro Lorin Maazel with some selections guest conducted by Malko Competition winner and returning Castleton conductor Rafael Payare.

Pelléas et Mélisande, Op. 80 – Gabriel Fauré
Three arias from Eugene Onegin, Op. 24 – Pyotr Ilyich Tchaikovsky

Sunday, July 20th
11 a.m. — C.A.T.S. Spectacular – Opera Scenes with Orchestra
2 p.m. — Madama Butterfly conducted by Maestro Lorin Maazel– final performance of the Festival