Music, and a Gorgeous Setting, too

Bossy Lady, my GPS, sent me down a bumpy dirt back road through a dark forest somewhere in Katonah, Westchester County. Maybe she was trying to make a point. Then we were back on the highway, passing vast, gated estates, until at last we reached the winding, woodsy driveway to our destination: Caramoor, home of a 66-year-old international summer music festival. As the crow flies it’s only a little farther from our region than the bigger and better-known Tanglewood, and the latter has its breathtaking views of the Berkshires and beyond. But for the sheer beauty of its grounds, one would be hard-pressed to find anything, anywhere, to top Caramoor. As I meander down one of the many paths here, I find a splendid sunken garden, then a cathedral-like allée of tall cedars, a contemplative, classic Italian pavilion and some fine ironwork on a shaded gazebo. There are water fountains, numerous gardens, Continued from page 3picnic areas, and little nooks, for secret trysts, perhaps. The air is fragrant with blossoms, and everywhere birds are singing. At the heart of it all is the spectacular Rosen House, a rambling, stucco recreation of an Italianate villa. The house contains an art collection that, unfortunately, was off-limits when I visited. Caramoor’s general director, Michael Barrett, told me the staff is assessing the collections and facilities to plan for their care, maintenance, and promotion in the future. On the day I walked around, crews were setting up for the concert series in the Spanish Courtyard, situated inside Rosen House. That used to be the hub of summer concert activity, but audiences soon outgrew it, Barrett said, and a larger site, the Venetian Theatre, was built in 1958. That’s where performers were getting ready for that night’s season-opening performance of Gilbert and Sullivan’s “HMS Pinafore.” A kind of classically inspired band shell faces the audience, which sits under a large white tent. The capacity is about 1,700 — still a lot smaller and more intimate than Tanglewood. The programming is broad and diverse. Classical music is the centerpiece, both chamber and larger ensemble works. The Manhattan-based Orchestra of St. Luke’s, which originated at Caramoor, is in residence. Will Crutchfield, former music critic of The New York Times, is director of opera there. (This year, in addition to “Pinafore,” Rossini’s “William Tell” is scheduled.) A jazz festival, dance music, and even world music round out the offerings. “I’m very proud of helping to expand the festival’s horizons,” Barrett told me, citing the Camerata Latina do Brasil, an ensemble appearing in late July that will showcase three Brazilian composers, including the famous Jobim (“Girl from Ipanema”). Barrett sums it all up nicely when he calls Caramoor “a garden of great music.” The Caramoor Festival runs through Aug. 10. Ticket prices vary for different programs. For reservations and information, call 914-232-1252, or go to www.caramoor.org.

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