Beethoven’s ‘Fidelio’ and Season Finale Concert at Caramoor

Jul 15, 2016

Pablo Heras-Casado makes his long-awaited return to the Caramoor Festival this summer, reuniting with the Orchestra of St. Luke’s for two performances. On July 31 they present Beethoven’s only opera, Fidelio, in concert at Caramoor’s spectacular outdoor venue, the Venetian Theater. This is Mr. Heras-Casado’s first Bel Canto Opera series performance at Caramoor. Will Crutchfield, the Festival’s Director of Opera, stated: “Fidelio seemed to me the perfect choice for welcoming Pablo Heras-Casado to the Bel Canto podium. Beethoven has been a specialty of the Orchestra of St. Luke’s throughout its life, and the rapport with its new principal conductor in his symphonies has been electrifying.”

The internationally revered cast includes Elza van den Heever starring as Leonore, Paul Groves sings Florestan, Georgia Jarman is Marzelline, Kristinn Sigmundsson is Rocco, Andrew Owens sings Jaquino, and Alfred Walker is Don Pizarro. The concert also features the talented singers of Caramoor’s Bel Canto Young Artist Program.

Pablo leads the Summer Season Finale Concert on August 7, which features violinist Gil Shaham on the Brahms Violin Concerto in D major, Op. 77. The event programme also includes the composer’s Symphony No. 2 in D major, Op. 73, a vibrant end to this year’s Festival. Mr. Heras-Casado and Mr. Shaham recently performed with London’s Philharmonia Orchestra, featuring the Tchaikovsky Violin Concerto, with their keen musical partnership lauded by Seen and Heard International: “Shaham took his time to reflect, sensitively communicating nuances and inferences, and Heras-Casado was a keen listener … Heras-Casado shaped the recapitulation with an acute sense of drama …”