October 7, 2014, Castleton, Virginia – The Castleton Festival will present four programs this fall as part of its 2014 Castleton in Performance (CiP) series: J.S. Bach: A Three-Part Invention with pianist Stefano Greco and Col. John Bourgeois (October 26): La boîte à joujoux (“The Toy Box”) a Debussy-inspired puppet ballet with the Salzburg Marionette Theater and pianist Orion Weiss (November 9); The Little Flower, a one-man comedy show about Fiorello La Guardia, with actor Tony Lo Bianco (November 16); and Hidden Music, Persian-inspired music and poetry with Rappahannock County composer and guitarist Shahin Shahida and his ensemble, interspersed with poetry by Rumi, read by actor and Castleton artistic director Dietlinde Turban Maazel (December 6).

The first concert in the series, J.S. Bach – A Three Part Invention, takes place Sunday, October 26, 2014 at 4pm. Italian Pianist Stefano Greco performs the monumental Goldberg Variations of J.S. Bach. An interlude of Q&A with performers and audience, a veritable Coffee Cantata, is followed by a performance of the Goldberg Variations for Wind Ensemble, arranged and conducted by John R. Bourgeois, Director Emeritus, U.S. Marine Band. Mr. Greco comes to us from the Keyboard Trust. This concert is in memoriam of Maestro Lorin Maazel, for whom Johann Sebastian Bach was a fundamental influence and inspiration.

J.S. Bach – A Three Part Invention will also be video live-streamed and posted online afterward at castletonfestival.org.

All Castleton in Performance programs will take place in the Theatre House, a 140-seat proscenium theatre located at 664 Castleton View Road, Castleton, Virginia.

Tickets for the concert are $20-$40 for adults, and $20 for youth under 18. To purchase tickets for Castleton in Performance, visit castletonfestival.orgor call the Box Office at 1-866-974-0767.

Announcement: Burnett Thompson takes the helm as Director of Programming for Castleton in Performance. Mr. Thompson has been involved in the development of Castleton in Performance since its inception in 1997. His extensive background in performance, education, and concert management make him an ideal choice for this important position. More about him at www.pianojazz.com/history.htm

CASTLETON IN PERFORMANCE – FALL 2014 SCHEDULE

OCTOBER 26 (Sunday), 4 PM
J.S. Bach – A Three Part Invention
Italian Pianist Stefano Greco performs the monumental Goldberg Variations of J.S. Bach. An interlude of Q&A with performers and audience, a veritable Coffee Cantata, is followed by a performance of the Goldberg Variations for Wind Ensemble, arranged and conducted by John R. Bourgeois, Director Emeritus, U.S. Marine Band. Mr. Greco comes to us from the Keyboard Trust. This concert is in memoriam of Maestro Lorin Maazel, for whom Johann Sebastian Bach was a fundamental influence and inspiration.

NOVEMBER 9 (Sunday), 4 PM
La boîte à joujoux (“The Toy Box”)
It’s not every day that a virtuoso pianist chooses as his creative partner a marionette. Given the nature of pianist Orion Weiss’s vivid imagination and collaborative instincts, the pairing makes perfect sense, artistically and historically. The Salzburg Marionettes – one of the world’s oldest and most beloved marionette theaters, founded in 1913–is celebrated for its performances with live musical accompaniment.

NOVEMBER 16 (Sunday), 4 PM
The Little Flower
Tony Award Nominee and Obie winner Tony Lo Bianco presents a comedic, inspirational, and educational set in the 1945 City Hall office of Fiorello H. La Guardia, during his final day as three-term mayor of New York City.

The Little Flower presents a historic look into the life and career of Mayor La Guardia – a courageous and flamboyant personality who read comics to the children during a newspaper strike, fought against corruption and cleaned up city politics, setting a new standard for politicians in America.

DECEMBER 6 (Saturday), 7PM
Hidden Music
An evening with Persian-inspired music performed by Rappahannock-based composer and guitarist Shahin Shahida and his ensemble. The performance is interspersed with poetry of Rumi, read by actress Dietlinde Turban Maazel. “Shahin’s playing owes as much to his native country Iran as it does to rock and jazz” The Washington Post.

ABOUT CASTLETON IN PERFORMANCE
Audiences have been enthralled since 1997 by this artistically diverse series of recital and chamber music programs, jazz, world music, theater, opera, and dance in the Theatre House on Castleton Farms. Since its inaugural performance with Rostropovich, Bronfman and Maazel, more than 120 events have been part of this series. Eminent artists have included José Carreras, Itzhak Perlman, Sir James Galway, The Virginia Gentlemen, the Paris Piano Trio, Carter Brey & Christopher O’Riley, Mariachi Los Camperos Group, Chinese traditional soloists Wu Man and Ma Xiaohui, pianists Yefim Bronfman and Emanuel Ax, classical guitarists Pepe Romero and Berta Rojas, and modern and Indian dance companies.

Patrons often round out their Rappahannock cultural experience by staying the night at one of the region’s charming and historic country inns, then sampling some of the county’s fine dining, fascinating shopping or Virginia’s finest artisanal wineries.

Media Contact: Jenny Lawhorn, JLawhorn@scottcircle.com(202) 821-8898