Just Announced for Summer 2013: Rock

Full disclaimer up front; this entry won't feature any of the classic rock on our schedule, so if that's your bag, we'll be bringing you our "Classic Rock" entry early next week.

This post is intended to focus solely on the more modern rock included in our first spring announcement, namely Juanes, Widespread Panic, Los Lonely Boys/Los Lobos and Lyle Lovett and His Large Band. And keep in mind we have two more show announcements scheduled for March and April, so a good bit of rock 'n' roll is still coming your way.

I could wax poetic on each of these bands - and we'll certainly do so surrounding each of their individual shows during our "Tonight at the Filene Center" series - but I find the easiest way to let you know what's in store is simply through video and audio, AKA Spotify and YouTube. It's a subjective process of course, but I've produced a quick playlist of what I feel to be each band's strongest songs and a subsequent slew of videos that give you a sense for their live performance prowess.

Stay tuned to the blog for "Just Announced" in "Strong Female," "Don't Miss," "Classic Rock," and "National Symphony Orchestra."

Tonight at The Barns: Celtic Crossroads

Celtic Crossroads return to The Barns from the shores of Galway to kick off two evenings of energetic music and dance.

Ushering Irish music into a new area, the youthful virtuosos of Celtic Crossroads incorporate myriad musical genres in their animated performances that are filled with familiar melodies, bold rhythms, and lively dancing.

Celtic Crossroads’ dancers and musicians (who collectively play more than 20 instruments) are: Diarmaid Hurley, Isaac Alderson, Kate Moloney, Michael McClintock, James Riley, Lisa Canny, Marcus Donnelly, Shaunessy Sinnett, and Charlene Morrison.

The ensemble’s name is inspired by the area between towns and villages where people in Ireland used to meet to socialize and play music. “The crossroads, that was where people would get together and dance, sing songs, and tell stories into the late hours of the night.”—Kevin Crosby, Celtic Crossroads co-founder

In September 2012 Celtic Crossroads released a new CD/DVD called Celtic Crossroads: Live From Canada that features classic Irish songs such as “Danny Boy” as well as covers of songs by Emerald Isle icons like U2.

“A truly fantastic show not to be missed.”—The Guardian London

Celtic Crossroads perform at The Barns tonight and tomorrow Wednesday, February 27, 2013 at 8 pm and Thursday, February 28, 2013 at 8 pm.

News & Notes - February 2013

Today's post comes from Natalie Creamer, Wolf Trap's Spring 2013 Public Relations Intern.

The month of February featured an eclectic selection of performances by musicians of local, national, and international fame at The Barns at Wolf Trap. For those looking to delve deeper into these extraordinary acts, check out the latest news clippings from publications around the Washington D.C. area. 

America’s National Parks: Through the Artist’s Lens, Vol. 2 joined four exceptional Wolf Trap Opera Company alumni and Wolf Trap Opera and Classical Programming Director Kim Pensinger Witman (piano) for a one-of-a-kind multimedia presentation. The performance featured classical and contemporary songs, and stunning nature photography by Wolf Trap’s President Emeritus Terre Jones. Learn more about Terre’s photography and vision for the performance from this preview in the Fairfax County Times.  

Known for his impressive knowledge and interpretations of music from The Great American Songbook, John Eaton made his second Barns appearance this season in A Salute to the One-Hit Wonders of American Popular Music. The Washington Times Communities Section uncovered his story, philosophies, and passion for music in an in-depth article. Similarly, Gary Tischler from The Georgetowner sat down with the acclaimed jazz pianist for a thought-provoking interview.

Contemporary Irish folk-fusion group Celtic Crossroads also returns to The Barns this month for two performances— tonight February 27 & tomorrow February 28. The group’s adept musicianship and progressive style led the Fairfax County Times to affirm in a recent article: “In just five years, Celtic Crossroads is doing for Irish music what Riverdance has done for Irish dance.” You can read more about Celtic Crossroads in the winter issue of Celtic Life International.

This month’s coverage also highlighted the announcement of the Wolf Trap Opera Company’s full summer season, which includes new productions of La traviata, Falstaff and The Journey to Reims. The Baltimore Sun published an overview of what’s to come, while Anne Midgette discussed this season’s Italian theme on her Classical Beat blog for The Washington Post. In addition, the Washington Times remarked on WTOC’s focus on Romantic composer Giuseppe Verdi. 

Tonight at The Barns: Chicago City Limits

Tonight and tomorrow at The Barns is New York's legendary sketch comedy troupe Chicago City Limits. Please enjoy the following notes from Artistic Director Paul Zuckerman. Don't forget to get your tickets for one or both nights, February 21, 2013 and February 22, 2013 at 8 pm.

Imagine walking out onto a blank stage. There is no script, no set, and there are no preconceived ideas. Suddenly the stage lights flash and the show begins.

Some call this the actor’s nightmare; we call it improvisational theatre.

Improv actors take their inspiration from suggestions called out by the audience and create a kaleidoscope of comedic scenes, one-liners, improvised music, and who-knows-what-else right on the spot. It is comedy without a net, spontaneous and interactive, where both actor and audience share in the conspiracy.

An improvised show is created by the collective lunatic unconscious of both actors and audience. We've done our part—we haven’t prepared a thing— and now it’s time to do yours: sit back, relax, and call out whatever’s on your mind. A word...a phrase...an idea…we won’t know what until it happens.

Audience, start your engines.

Paul Zuckerman Artistic Director Chicago City Limits

Tonight at The Barns: John Eaton

Tonight at The Barns John Eaton presents the second of his three part series this season entitled A Salute to the One-Hit Wonders of American Popular Music.

Pianist, vocalist, and musicologist John Eaton began his illustrious career as a student at Yale, under the tutelage of the famed classical teacher Alexander Lipsky.

Eaton is one of the flagship artists of the Wolf Trap Recordings™ label, for which he has produced seven albums, all of which have been recorded live at Wolf Trap’s Center for Ed.

Showcasing an ever-changing series of concerts, Eaton has performed in every season at The Barns since 1989.

Revealing his expert knowledge of the great American songbook in this entertaining and educational performance, Eaton revisits timeless standards from composers of the ’20s, ’30s, and ’40s, including “As Time Goes By,” “Willow Weep for Me,” “East of the Sun,” and many more.

“Pianist John Eaton practices a special kind of alchemy. He takes the familiar and makes it fresh, renders the old new and exciting. It’s no easy trick, but Eaton is a master at it...”—Mike Joyce, The Washington Post

Don't miss John Eaton's performance tonight, Saturday, February 16, 2013 at 7:30 pm.

Perfect Pairings

Today's post is from Lee Anne Myslewski, Director, Artistic Administration, Wolf Trap Opera & Classical Programming.

Peanut butter and chocolate; two great tastes that taste great together. At least, that’s the slogan we all know, right?

The world is full of things that are fantastic all by themselves. Cheese. Sunny days. Beautiful music. If you add something specific and special to that fantastic thing, the experience can be even richer than with just the single dimension. For example – cheese and wine: sunny days and weekends: beautiful music and compelling imagery.

This Friday, we've got a great pairing for you. We've taken the photography of President Emeritus Terre Jones and paired it with great songs. The tunes romp through all genres: from art songs to doo-wop, with stops in folk, aria and jazz.

We've also paired singers – in this case, four of the Wolf Trap Opera Company’s recent alumni – with a GRAMMY-winning pianist, our own Kim Pensinger Witman.

Marcy Stonikas, soprano

Eve Gigliotti, mezzo-soprano

Eric Barry, tenor

Craig Colclough, bass-baritone.

This show is sold out but check our website and box office for any last minute ticket releases. You don’t have to be paired up to enjoy this one-of-a-kind evening.

This is for All you Lovers Out There (Valentine's Day Playlist)

Ok so I may have ripped that title line off from Marvin Berry in Back to the Future before he launches into "Earth Angel." But I digress.

So it's the day before Valentine's Day and we thought it appropriate to put together a few of our favorite matters of the heart songs, most of which are relatively new recordings, with a few that reach back 10-15 years. This playlist is culled together from our blog team comprised of several staffers that tend to have pretty varied tastes in music, featuring special guest selections by Ava Jackson in our executive office. While putting this together, she and I nerded out about the Decemberists' Hazards of Love and what an impact this had on our lives when it was released. If you haven't yet listened to that record from front to back, it's an amazing concept album and worth some immediate attention.

We hope you enjoy your Valentine's Day and that this playlist has some role in making it sublime. I'll also be working on an ANTI-Valentine's Day playlist, which should be extremely fun to build in it's own cruel way.

Tonight at The Barns : Red Molly & The Steel Wheels

Red Molly brings their ballads, jazzy swing numbers, and bluegrass-infused pop songs to The Barns tonight. They will be joined by Special Guest The Steel Wheels.

Laurie MacAllister (banjo, bass), Abbie Gardner (dobro), and Carolann Solebello (guitar, bass) began Red Molly in 2004 in New York City. In 2010, Solebello stepped down, and Austin-based vocalist Molly Venter (guitar) joined the group.

Red Molly has released four studio albums. Their most recent album, Light in the Sky (2011), was praised as “a collection of songs with varied emotions, eloquently written and beautifully performed.”—Roots music blog NoDepression.com

All three Red Molly artists have released solo albums, and their most recent releases include MacAllister’s The Things I Choose to Do, Gardner’s Hope, and Venter’s Love Me Like You Mean It.

“Red Molly may be from New York, but their bluegrass and old-time gospel sounds and buoyant three-part harmonies are so down-home.”—The Boston Globe

The Steel Wheels, featuring singer Trent Wagler, bassist Brian Dickel, fiddler Eric Brubaker, and mandolinist and guitarist Jay Lapp, were awarded Best Country Song at the 2010 Independent Music Awards for the song “Nothing You Can’t Lose.”

Red Molly performs tonight with The Steel Wheels at The Barns, February 14, 2013 at 8 pm.

Tonight at The Barns: Southside Johnny & The Poor Fools

Jersey Shore rockers Southside Johnny & The Poor Fools make their debut tonight at The Barns.

Southside Johnny Lyon, leader of The Asbury Jukes, rose to prominence in the 1970s with blue-eyed soul hits like “The Fever” and “Talk to Me.” He is widely considered the originator of an entire genre of rock music: the New Jersey Sound.

Rolling Stone named the group’s seminal record Hearts of Stone (1978) one of the best albums released between 1967 and 1987.

Southside Johnny (harp, guitar, vocals), Jeff Kazee (piano, accordion), Neal Pawley (trombone, guitar), Tommy Byrnes (guitar, bass), Soozie Tyrell (fiddle, guitar), and John Conte (bass, guitar) make up The Poor Fools.

The Poor Fools deliver an acoustic journey through the history of American musical classics, performing covers of songs by Bob Dylan, Muddy Waters, Emmylou Harris, The Band, and more.

“Southside Johnny himself—who is revered by many of his Asbury Park brethren as one of the finest white blues shouters this side of Mitch Ryder—has never sounded better.”—Blogcritics Music

Don't miss Southside Johnny & The Poor Fools at The Barns tonight Saturday, February 9, 2013 at 7:30 pm. 

Tonight at The Barns: Solas

Returning to The Barns for two nights is Solas, a group hailed by The Washington Post as “one of the world’s finest Celtic-folk ensembles.”

Solas, whose name derives from a Gaelic word for “light,” has been brightening America’s Irish folk scene since 1994, when the group’s original members began performing together in Irish bars in New York City.

After Solas was featured on the beloved radio shows A Prairie Home Companion and Mountain Stage in 1996, they received national attention that led to their first major tour.

The current group consists of Seamus Egan (flute, tenor banjo, mandolin, tin whistle, low whistle, guitars, bodhran), Winifred Horan (violins, vocals), Mick McAuley (accordions, contertina, low whistle, vocals), Eamon McElholm (guitars, keyboards, vocals), and Niamh Varian-Barry (vocals).

Solas’s current project is the much-anticipated Shamrock City, an album about Irish immigration to America that is due out in early 2013. The band will perform the new music on tour with video footage and fan stories incorporated into the live show.

“We want to continue on as long as we still enjoy this, hopefully making good records and trying new things and following a similar path to what we’ve been on for the last 10 years.”—Seamus Egan, bandleader

Don't miss Solas tonight and tomorrow, Thursday, February 7, 2013 8 pm and Friday, February 8, 2013 8 pm.

The Quest of Finding Opera’s Best

This post comes from Natalie Creamer, Spring 2013 Public Relations Intern

As summer approaches imminent opera stars and trainees invited to join the Wolf Trap Opera Company’s 2013 summer residency program excitedly count down the days until their first rehearsal.

This past Saturday the Wolf Trap Opera Company hosted its First Look 2013, announcing the upcoming season of operas, concerts and recitals. In addition to revealing its core repertoire, Wolf Trap Opera Company Director Kim Witman illuminated the company’s whirlwind journey of auditioning vocalists, selecting works, allocating funds, and staging an operatic production.

Photography by Teddy Wolff/Courtesy of Wolf Trap

How does Wolf Trap Opera Company choose its repertoire?

Unlike traditional opera companies, Wolf Trap Opera Company’s vigorous application process and casting of singers precede the selection of the summer season’s operatic repertoire. Instead of casting based on the need of an opera’s principal and supporting roles, Wolf Trap Opera Company searches for operas that fit the voices of their summer residency program. This season the company will present new and original productions of Gioacchino Rossini’s Journey to Reims, and Giuseppe Verdi’s La traviata and Falstaff.

What’s the selection process?

Out of the more than 1,000 online applicants, just over 500 participated in live auditions, and only 36 were invited as Filene Young Artists and Studio Artists to Wolf Trap Opera Company’s 2013 summer residency program. In October 2012, the Wolf Trap Opera Company launched its month-long audition tour making stops in Seattle, San Francisco, Los Angeles, New York, Philadelphia, Cincinnati, Houston, Chicago and Washington D.C.. 

In each city Filene Young Artist applicants invited to audition were asked to perform four arias or solo pieces specific to their voice type in different languages and styles. Studio Artist hopefuls were asked to perform two songs, one of which must have been sung in English. Unlike the Filene Young Artists, the Studio Artist applicants were required to present a one-minute contemporary language monologue written within the last 20 years.

The Wolf Trap Opera Company compiled a list and frequency of arias featured by auditioning Filene Young Artist applicants, which they divided by voice. The female parts are sopranos, highest, and mezzo-sopranos, second highest. The male voices range from tenors, baritones, to bass/ bass-baritones.

What’s the difference between a Filene Young Artist and a Studio Artist?

The Wolf Trap Opera Company has garnered nationwide prestige as a leading opera training institution for intermediate and advanced vocalists. On Saturday the Company announced its 20 Filene Young Artists and 16 Studio Artists who will be participating in their six to 10-week residency program starting in May. The number of those admitted fluctuates from year to year depending on the amount of resources available and the pool of applicants. Thanks to the generous contributions from Wolf Trap Opera Company patrons, a three-work repertoire was possible this season.

The Filene Young Artists are emerging opera professionals who are about to make it big. These young men and women have undergone extensive training, attended prestigious performing arts schools, won distinguished awards, participated in apprenticeship programs, and worked as members of opera companies across the country. The Filene Young Artists perform the principal and supporting roles of Wolf Trap Opera Company’s three mainstage operatic productions. La traviata will be performed on July 19 at the Filene Center. The Barns at Wolf Trap will host the remaining two operas, Journey to Reims, June 21, 23, 29, and Falstaff, August 9, 11, 14, 17.

The Studio Artists are undergraduate and graduate students still receiving formal operatic training. These developing singers may be undecided about whether or not they wish to pursue opera as a profession. This program offers them advantageous mentoring on life’s lessons and the music business. The Studio Artists make up the chorus and supporting roles in Wolf Trap Opera Company’s mainstage productions.

Who are this year’s Wolf Trap Opera Company Artists?

The bright-eyed roster of the 2013 Wolf Trap Opera Company includes:

Filene Young Artists

Mireille Asselin, soprano; Benjamin Bliss, tenor; Andrea Carroll, soprano; Brandon Cedel, bass-baritone; Craig Colclough, bass-baritone; Tracy Cox, soprano; Juan José de Léon, tenor; Kiri Deonarine, soprano; Ying Fang, soprano; Norman Garrett, baritone; Ryan Speedo Green, bass-baritone; Matthew Grills, tenor; Suzanne Hendrix, mezzo-soprano; Steven LaBrie, baritone; Maya Lahyani, mezzo-soprano; Nicholas Pallesen, baritone; Brenton Ryan, tenor; Aaron Sorensen, bass; Carolyn Sproule, mezzo-soprano; and Corinne Winters, soprano.

Studio Artists

Anush Avetisyan, soprano; Vanessa Becerra, soprano; Nicholas Brownlee, bass-baritone; Alec Carlson, tenor; Ben Edquist, bass-baritone; Harry Greenleaf, bass-baritone; Shannon Jennings, soprano; Courtney Johnson, soprano; Emily Moses, mezzo-soprano; Chaazi Munyanya, mezzo-soprano; Miles Mykkanen, tenor; Grace Newberry, mezzo-soprano; Alexandra Rodrick, mezzo-soprano; Brandon Russell, tenor; Brian Vu, bass-baritone; and Brian Yeakley, bass-baritone.

After Wolf Trap Opera Company’s extensive cross-country search for the nation’s most promising young sopranos, mezzo-sopranos, tenors, baritones and bass/ bass-baritones, the season has yet to begin!

Stayed tuned for updates on tickets, rehearsals, productions, community programs, and more!

Tickets go on sale Saturday, March 16 at 10 a.m. 

Tonight at The Barns: Ambrosia

Tonight at The Barns, pop-rockers Ambrosia make their Wolf Trap debut with their sleek hooks and harmonies.

Formed in Los Angeles in 1970, Ambrosia released its first album in 1975 which included hits “Holdin’ on to Yesterday” and “Nice, Nice, Very Nice.” Through the decade they ruled the airways with smooth hits “How Much I Feel” and “Biggest Part of Me.”

Known for their masterful harmonies, smooth synthesizers, and memorable choruses, California-based band Ambrosia had five Top 40 hits and five GRAMMY nominations in the 1970s and early 1980s.

After disbanding in 1982 to pursue solo projects, three members of the original quartet reunited in the mid-1990s and released their greatest hits album, Anthology, in 1997. Since then, they have been frequently touring, released live the album Standing Room Only, and are working on a new studio album.

The band includes original members Burleigh Drummond (drums, vocals), Christopher North (piano, keyboards, vocals), Joe Puerta (bass, guitar, vocals) along with new addition Doug Jackson (guitar).

"After 40 years, Ambrosia still has some of the best harmonies in the business. Their show was tight, the musicianship unmatched, and they are obviously still loving playing all of their classic hits. ”—Kim Yaffa of Infinity Hall Norfolk

Ambrosia performs at The Barns on Saturday, February 2, 2013 at 7:30 pm. 

Tonight at The Barns: The Persuasions

Tonight, classic crooners and the "Kings of a Cappella" The Persuasions bring their repertoire of doo-wop, gospel and pop to The Barns.

The Persuasions first came together on the street corners of 1960s Brooklyn, New York, and although each original member hailed from a different part of the country, they all shared a background of church music and a love of pop and soul.

Frank Zappa discovered the group—original members Jerry Lawson, “Sweet” Joe Russell (who passed away in 2012), Jayotis Washington, and Jimmy Hayes (who still performs with the band)—in 1968 and produced their debut album A Cappella in 1970.

Since then, the group has been constantly adding to their legendarily eclectic repertoire. Their tribute albums, such as The Persuasions Sing The Beatles (2002) and The Persuasions Sing Grateful Dead (2000), have been especially popular.

Fred Parnes filmed a documentary following the group during the ’90s, Spread the Word: The Persuasions Sing a Cappella, and they were also featured on Spike Lee’s Do It a Cappella.

“True to their heritage, the Persuasions still ain't got no band, but so skillful are their vocal arrangements that the customary musicians are never missed.”—Living Blues Magazine

The Persuasions perform at The Barns one night only on Friday, February 1, 2013 at 8 pm.