Sinatra, Muse AND Rachmaninoff?

Tomorrow kicks off The Listening Room – a new concert series presented by EMF and Triad Stage.  I’ve talked about The Listening Room in posts before so I won’t repeat the same information again, but this event is going to be stellar - if you haven’t gotten tickets to Saturday’s performance, then you better get on it!  Well…maybe I’ll overload you with the information just ONE more time….

Laurelyn Dossett with Scott Manring AND Anne and Pete Sibley
UpStage Cabaret at Triad Stage
Saturday, October 23 at 8:00pm
Tickets: $20

…and don’t forget that the Listening Room will feature Eric Robertson of the Boston Boys on October 30th.  Here’s a link to their website so you can learn more about Eric.  If you’re like me and you’d rather your ears do the work, check out their YouTube page instead.  This isn’t my EMF-FF for the day, but it’s a pretty good FF nonetheless (that’s Fun Fact for those of you new to the blog).  Eric was a member of the Beautiful Star band back in 2006, when the play premiered at Triad Stage, alongside Rhiannon Giddens of the Carolina Chocolate Drops.  Now…go buy your ticket!  I’ll be at the show on the 30^th (unfortunately I have to miss the 23^rd do to a previously scheduled wedding) so you’d better be there too!  It’s Halloween Weekend…why wouldn’t you want to be downtown for some good music and a little pointing-and-laughing at crazy costumes?

And now the moment you’ve been waiting for…a little EMF-FF!  This past season, pianist Barry Douglas performed Rachmaninoff’s Piano Concerto No. 2 in C minor, op. 18 (below).  If you were there, or if you’ve heard the piece before, you might have noticed that it sounded kind of “familiar”.  Listening to Barry Douglas performing on July 10, 2010 was my first introduction to Rachmaninoff’s second concerto, so you can imagine my surprise when I started imagining Celine Dion singing along.  Well, I wouldn’t have been too far off!  In 1975, Eric Carmen composed “All By Myself,” which was inspired by the Adagio Sostenuto (second movement).  If Celine Dion and Eric Carmen aren’t your cup of tea, then no worries – Frank Sinatra and the rock band Muse also have songs which were inspired by this piece!  Sinatra’s songs “I Think of You” and “Ever and Forever” were influenced by the Moderato; “Space Dementia (below),” Butterflies and Hurricanes,” “Megalomania,” and “Ruled by Secrecy” by Muse each contain quotes from the Moderato as well.  Click the links and see for yourself!

Late Night Live & Listening Room Updates

Hope everyone is having a great September so far...I know we are over here at the EMF offices.  We've started some "Fall"-Cleaning projects and completed a few of them.  When I clean, I always manage to make my office messier, but somehow it works!  Pardon me, I haven't even told you who I am yet - while I represent the entire office when blogging, I am specifically Carrie Miller, EMF's Director of Marketing.  I joined EMF this past June and jumped right into the Festival craziness...and I loved every minute of it!  I am new to the classical music world, so you'll have to forgive me when I mispronounce the names of composers or the titles of pieces...eventually I'll get it right! And also if you can forgive me for the lack of updates on the official EMF website...it's been harder to learn the web program than I thought...but I made a few changes today so next week we should be up to date!

Martha Bassett Band

I have a few updates for everyone about our monthly Late Night Live series with Print Works Bistro as well as The Listening Room with Triad Stage.  If you received last week's constant contact email you'll have to forgive me - I listed Wally West as performing in October but in reality it's The Martha Bassett Band!  Check out the Print Works Bistro website for all the extra details.  They'll take the stage around 10:30pm on October 1 (First Friday) - and best of all, there's no cover.  Just grab a drink or a late night bite and enjoy some amazing jazz by an amazing local band! 

As I previous mentioned, Laurelyn Dossett will be performing at the first ever Listening Room: A Series of Intimate Concerts concert on October 23 at 8:00 pm at the Upstage Cabaret at Triad Stage.  Joining Laurelyn will be Anne and Pete Sibley.  Definitely head to their website and check them out - they performed at the 2010 Merlefest and have traveled all over the country sharing their music.  (I just gave you three links...I'll give you a fourth to our website once I get that updated early next week!)  The artists for the remaining five Listening Room dates should be announced soon...we'll let you know as soon as it's finalized!

Anne and Pete Sibley

It's almost quitting time - and it's shaping up to be a great weekend (some of us are ready for autumn already)!  Hope ya'll have a great one, and be sure to get out and about in Greensboro.  There's always so much amazing stuff going on!

EMF & Triad Stage - A New Collaboration!

The Listening Room: A Series of Intimate Concerts was announced via press release today by both Triad Stage and Eastern Music Festival.  The six-date evening concert series will start on October 23 with local singer/songwriter and Triad Stage collaborator Laurelyn Dossett.  The Listening Room is part of the 2010-2011 UpStage Cabaret at Triad Stage season, and EMF is excited to be a partner in this project.

Dates for The Listening Room are:

• October 23 and 30, 2010
• February 19 and 26, 2011
• April 16 and April 23, 2011

All performances begin at 8:00 pm; artists for the upcoming five concerts will be announced at a later date.  Ticket go on sale soon, so be sure to check with Triad Stage (www.TriadStage.org).

In other EMF news, tomorrow is First Friday!  Every First Friday, EMFjazz&blues sponsors a free performance at Print Works Bistro - this Friday come out and hear the Wally West Trio from 10:00pm-12:30am.  There's no cover - and best of all - Print Works is still fully open!  So if you want to grab a late dinner and/or drink, this is the place to be!  What better way to kick off Labor Day Weekend than with free jazz?!