Day: September 26, 2023

Come meet the 2023 Cape Ann Plein Air artists in the beautiful setting of Gloucester’s Beauport Hotel Gloucester , right on the harbor. October 10th

Posted on by Joey Ciaramitaro

Come meet the 2023 Cape Ann Plein Air artists in the beautiful setting of Gloucester’s Beauport Hotel Gloucester , right on the harbor. Light hors d’oeuvres and bar will be available as you see some of the first paintings on the easels of our 37 remarkable plein air painters.

Some of our artists will be painting through the evening!

This event is free to attend, but please RSVP as space is limited.

RSVP here: www.capeannpleinair.org/events/opening-reception-capa-2023

CAPA2023

Ooh-La-La-La: Lili Boulanger! Debussy! Ravel! New World Chorale! Cape Ann Symphony’s French Spectacular sounds Magnifique

Posted on by Catherine

Cape Ann Symphony’s 2023/2024 72nd season opens with an incredible program, FRENCH SPECTACULAR. Buy your tickets now! The Cape Ann Symphony performs at Manchester-Essex High School Auditorium on 36 Lincoln Street, Manchester-by-the-Sea, MA. For tickets or information, call 978-281-0543 or visit www.capeannsymphony.org

From Cape Ann Symphony:

“Cape Ann Symphony kicks off the 72nd season at 2:00 PM on October 1, 2023 with a musical trip to France featuring CAS premieres of  Lili Boulanger’s D’un matin printemps;  Debussy’s Nocturnes with a special appearance from the New World Chorale;  and Ravel’s Mother Goose Suite. The concert finale is Ravel’s popular and thrilling Bolero. 

The orchestra opens the concert with the musical prodigy Lili Boulanger’s D’un matin printemps followed by Claude Debussy’s innovative Nocturnes featuring the New World Chorale in their CAS debut; Maurice Ravel’s colorful and playful Mother Goose Suite and to close the concert Ravel’s dramatic Bolero.

“”We are very excited about the French Spectacular concert which features the music of Lili Boulanger, Claude Debussy and Maurice Ravel,” says CAS Conductor and Music Director Maestro Yoichi Udagawa, “All the pieces are gorgeous, and full of color and emotion. The Debussy features a woman’s chorus from the New World Chorale. Their voices represent the mysterious song of the Sirens from within the midst of the sea with its innumerable rhythms. The concert will finish with Ravel’s ever popular and powerfully exciting Bolero. The musicians and I are honored to play the D’un matin printemps, Nocturnes and Mother Goose Suite for the first time in CAS history! We can’t wait for the concert!”

The Cape Ann Symphony has played works by French composer and teacher Nadia Boulanger,  but this is the first CAS performance of a work by Nadia’s younger sister, Lili. 

“Lili Boulanger was known for her lush harmonies and elegant instrumentations,” points out Maestro Udagawa,”  D’un matin printemps was first composed as a duet for violin and piano. The work was then adapted by Ms. Boulanger as a trio for violin, cello, and piano and then as a duet for flute and piano. In January 1918, she was very ill and dictated her orchestral version to her sister Nadia. Her D’un matin printemps was the last work composed by Lili Boulanger  before her untimely death in  March 1918 at the age of 24, caused by a case of bronchial pneumonia at the age of two which left her immune system weakened for the rest of her life. Lili Boulanger was born into a musical family on August 21, 1893. The influential French composer, organist, pianist and teacher  Gabriel FaurĂ© â€“ a friend of the family – discovered 2 year old Lili had perfect pitch. A musical prodigy, Ms. Boulanger was a vocalist, played piano, violin, cello, harp and organ. In 1913, at age 19, she became the first woman to win the Prix de Rome with her cantata Faust et HĂ©lène which she wrote for a full orchestra in 4 weeks, conforming to the 4 weeks rule of the competition. 

Among the most influential composers of the late 19th and early 20th centuries, Claude Debussy  was born to a family of modest means. He showed such musical talent that at age 10, he was admitted to the Conservatoire de Paris. He originally studied piano, but he found his musical passion in innovative composition. Composition of the Nocturnes began in 1892 under the title Trois Scènes au CrĂ©puscule (“Three Scenes at Twilight”). In 1894, he began a rewrite of the Trois Scenes, renaming the new version Nocturnes. Debussy scored the orchestral part of the first of the three nocturnes for strings alone; the second for three flutes, four horns, three trumpets, and two harps; and the third for the two groupings together. By 1897, he decided to rewrite all three movements for full orchestra. He worked for the next two years on the Nocturnes. A full score of the manuscript of the Nocturnes was signed with the completion date of December 15, 1899. The complete work, including a choir of Sirènes, premiered on October 27, 1901. The New World Chorale makes their Cape Ann Symphony debut as the Sirènes in Debussy’s Nocturnes. 

The New World Chorale was founded in 1999 by Holly MacEwen Krafka and John Zielinski with the mission of performing the best choral music and the goal of performing with many of the finest orchestras in New England. NWC’s membership comprises some of the Boston area’s most experienced choral singers and soloists who have performed both locally and internationally with the world’s major orchestras. The New World Chorale (NWC) is one of the most in-demand choruses for hire in the greater Boston area. NWC has performed major choral works with Bach, Beethoven, and Brahms Society,   Boston Ballet, Boston Conservatory Orchestra, Boston Landmarks Orchestra, Boston Youth Symphony Orchestra, Lexington Symphony, Longwood Symphony Orchestra, Melrose Symphony Orchestra, Mercury Orchestra, MIT Symphony Orchestra, New England Brass Band, New Philharmonia Orchestra, Rhode Island Philharmonic, Symphony New Hampshire, Symphony Pro Musica, and Wellesley Symphony Orchestra. During its 2017-18 season, the New World Chorale experienced a new type of performance when it provided the chorus for The Legend of Zelda: Symphony of the Goddesses, a touring multimedia production presenting over 30 years of music from The Legend of Zelda™ video game franchise by Nintendo®. The production was performed on October 21, 2017 at the Wang Theatre in Boston. 

French composer, pianist and conductor Maurice Ravel wrote and dedicated his piano duet, Mother Goose Suite, to Mimi and Jean Godebeski, ages 6 and 7, just as he had dedicated an earlier work, Sonatine, to their parents. The Mother Goose stories date back centuries and Ravel wrote pieces. based on the centuries old well known nursery rhymes said to have been authored by Mother Goose. Ravel’s work was originally written as a five-movement piano duet in 1910. The first public performance of the work was given at the SociĂ©tĂ© Musicale IndĂ©pendante on April 20, 1910. In 1911, Ravel orchestrated the suite. The five nursery rhymes which Ravel choose to put to music are: Pavane de la Belle au bois dormant: (Pavane of Sleeping Beauty); Petit Poucet: (Little Tom Thumb); Laideronnette, ImpĂ©ratrice des Pagodes: (Little Ugly Girl, Empress of the Pagodas); Les Entretiens de la Belle et de la BĂŞte: (Conversation of Beauty and the Beast) and Le Jardin FĂ©erique: (The Fairy Garden).

In the 1920’s Ravel was commissioned to provide a score for Ida Rubinstein’s ballet company, and this resulted in what is now one of his most famous works – BolĂ©ro. Ravel declared the work was “one long, very gradual crescendo.”  In the 1920’s Ravel was commissioned to provide a score for Ida Rubinstein’s ballet company, and this resulted in what is now one of his most famous works – BolĂ©ro. Ravel declared the work was “one long, very gradual crescendo.”  

Founded in Gloucester in 1951, the Cape Ann Symphony is a professional orchestra of over 70 players from throughout the New England area. They perform a subscription season of four concerts per year plus several Pops and youth concerts. The Symphony Board of Directors named Yoichi Udagawa the Music Director and Conductor of the Cape Ann Symphony in the summer of 2000 after a yearlong search. In addition to his leadership of Cape Ann Symphony, he is Music Director and Conductor of the Melrose Symphony Orchestra, and the Quincy Symphony Orchestra and a cover conductor at the Boston Pops Orchestra.  Frequently invited to guest conduct, Maestro Udagawa has worked with many different orchestras including the Boston Pops Esplanade Orchestra, Nobeoka Philharmonic Orchestra, the Pro Arte Chamber Orchestra of Boston, the University of Texas Symphony Orchestra, the Indian Hill Symphony, the Garden State Philharmonic, the Brown University Orchestra, the Syracuse Society for New Music, the Boston Conservatory Orchestra, the Midcoast Symphony Orchestra, the Newton Symphony, the Austin Civic Orchestra, and the Mid-Texas Symphony. Maestro Udagawa is at home in popular and contemporary music as well as the standard symphonic repertoire. He is known for his relaxed manner and ability to speak from the podium which has helped new audiences as well as enthusiasts gain a greater appreciation for symphonic music. His programs often include premieres of new works – some specially commissioned for the orchestra — as well as great orchestral works across the symphonic repertoire and lively Pops programs. He is also an integral part of the Cape Ann Symphony Youth Initiative.
Yoichi Udagawa, the son of a nuclear physicist father and singer/artist mother, was born in Tokyo, Japan in 1964. His family immigrated to the United States soon thereafter. He began playing the violin at age four and made his conducting debut at age fifteen. After receiving a music degree from the University of Texas at Austin, he continued advanced studies in conducting with Gunther Schuller, Seiji Ozawa, Morihiro Okabe, and Henry Charles Smith. A fan of many different styles of music, Mr. Udagawa also enjoys performing gospel music in addition to his conducting activities. He is also an accomplished violinist and an avid fan of exercise and yoga.

The Cape Ann Symphony’s 72nd Season Opening Concert, French Spectacular, is Sunday, October 1, 2023 at 2:00 pm at the Manchester-Essex High School Auditorium on 36 Lincoln Street, Manchester-by-the-Sea, MA. Manchester-Essex High School Auditorium is handicapped accessible. Ticket prices are $45 for adults, $40 for senior citizens, $20 for Students of any age, $5 for Youth (12 years old and under). For information, call 978-281-0543 or visit www.capeannsymphony.org

Images Attached: 

Photo 1: Composer Lili Boulanger

Photo 2: Composer Claude DeBussy

Photo 3: Composer Maurice Ravel

Photo 4: Cape Ann Symphony Conductor and Music Director Yoichi Udagawa

Save the date: Robert J. Anderson Works On Paper at Jane Deering Gallery. Reception Sept. 30th

Posted on by Catherine

Solo exhibition featuring Robert J. Anderson (1934-2016) is opening this weekend at Jane Deering Gallery with a Reception Sept. 30 from 4-6pm. This show delves into his pursuits in drawing.

“I’m excited about this upcoming show.  My thanks to Meredith Anderson (daughter of Robert J. Anderson) and Peg Anderson (widow of Robert J Anderson) for their expertise and passion in organizing this exhibit.”

Jane Deering. Jane Deering Gallery

Read more about the artist, Robert J. Anderson and about this solo show Printable PDF here:

Robert J. Anderson _ Works on Paper solo show at Jane Deering Gallery Sept. 2023 (1)Download

Youth Soccer players walk on New Balance Field at Newell Stadium with the GHS Fishermen Boys Soccer team

Posted on by Catherine

As promised: enjoy a few photos from the special home game opening ceremony for the GHS Fishemen Boys Varsity game vs. Lynn on 9/25/2023. FYS players walked out on the field with the high school players. What a beautiful and dedicated soccer program in Gloucester, MA. and sweet gesture on this occasion.

**courtesy photos**

GHS Boys Varsity Soccer tied Lynn St. Mary’s yesterday. Read more about the game here: Gina Ingrando, Gloucester Boys Soccer Stays Undefeated After Tie with St. Mary’s (Lynn), Gloucester Daily Times story.

Rockport Art Association & Museum’s Experimental Group Opens Twenty-second Show  

Posted on by James Eves

Artist reception:
Saturday October 7 from 2-4 pm

The Rockport Art Association & Museum’s Experimental Group opens its 22nd group exhibition at the Beverly Farms Library, 24 Vine Street, Beverly, MA. Works on view in the exhibition range in medium to include paintings, mixed-media, graphics, sculpture, digital art and photography. The exhibition runs from October 3 to October 28, with an artist reception on Saturday October 7 from 2-4 pm. The gallery is open Monday through Friday, 10-5.

The Experimental Group is a creative forum, its’ main mission is to increase public awareness and to foster self-expression by bringing artists together to explore and share ideas that cultivate creative freedom. The EG is encouraged and supported by the Rockport Art Association & Museum.  

If you would like more information about the exhibition, would like to schedule an interview and a walk through, or need additional promotional images please contact: Nella Lush, Experimental Group Leader, 978.886.4582 or via email at experimentalgroupraa@gmail.com  

The Rockport Art Association & Museum (RAA&M) is one of the oldest and most active art organizations in the country. The Association has a long and distinguished history that has spanned 100 years.

Grove Street Self Storage Open By Appointment Only 61A Grove Street

Posted on by Joey Ciaramitaro

Pay for 3 months get 1 free
Pay for 7 months get 2 free

Climate controlled units
Boat, RV & vehicle parking spots for rent
Convenient 24 hour access
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Call today or visit us online to secure your unit, they are filling up fast!
www.grovestreetselfstorage.com
978-879-4524 

G400+ FREE SCREENING: The Perfect Storm, Then & Now – Sponsored by Gloucester Cinema

Posted on by Joey Ciaramitaro

~ G400+EVENTS

Enjoy a FREE SCREENING of The Perfect Storm, thanks to our sponsor Gloucester Cinema on 
Thursday, September 28th at 6:00pm! 

Before the movie, the Gloucester400+ is proud to present a special project produced by our friend, Tim Grafft. Tim Grafft, the former Deputy Director of the Massachusetts Film Office, worked on The Perfect Storm in 1999. He recently shot footage of the Gloucester locations used in the film to show how they look today in a short tribute movie. 

TICKETS FOR THIS SCREENING ARE FREE AND FIRST COME FIRST SERVE AT GLOUCESTER CINEMA!