In addition to the beautiful beaches, hiking paths, museums and the prominent San Diego Zoo there are numerous must-go festivals that occur in San Diego throughout the year. We had the pleasure to attend two of these events this past week, The San Diego Mainly Mozart Festival and the Lipinsky Jewish Arts Festival.
The 13th Annual Klezmer Summit: “My Yidishe Mambo” at the Lipinsky Jewish Arts Festival at the San Diego REP was an exciting concert opened by the San Diego Jewish Men’s Choir (SDJMC). Under the direction of Ruth Weber, the group of 25 volunteers performed lively Jewish choral music. From post-war America through the 1960s, Jewish people from Hollywood to Miami Beach were filling the clubs and dancing to the mambo, cha-cha and rumba. The audience clapped along and danced in their seats while we listened to “My Yidishe Mambo”, a mesmerizing Latin rhythm with sensuous Jewish sounds. The klezmer meets Latin jazz, and shtetl culture meets salsa evening was led by Yale Strom (violin) along with “Hot Pstromi” band members Jeff Pekarek (bass), Lou Fanucchi (accordion), Fred Benedetti (guitar), Duncan Moore (percussion) and Elizabeth Schwartz (vocals) and were joined by Latin superstars Gilbert Castellanos (trumpet), Irving Flores (piano) and Gene Perry (Afro-Cuban percussion). During the intermission we enjoyed Knish with mustard provided by schmoozers.com. It tasted just like the Knish in New York! Unfortunately, they only do catering. We have yet to find a spot to purchase some on a regular basis. The conversations we overheard were in agreement. People also mentioned that, “There’s no place to get a good bagel either”. We’d love to know if you do!
Don’t miss the Fifth Annual Women of Valor June 16, which will be performed by Todd Salovey, Leah Salovey, Ali Viterbi, Rebecca Myers and Sarah Price Keating. This show celebrates San Diego’s valorous women from across the Jewish community. Each year the festival selects new women whose unique, moving and inspirational stories are shared in a world premiere dramatic staged reading. This year’s program focuses on women of different international Jewish communities, and will feature music from across the Jewish world. Proceeds benefit Torah High, SCY High and the Jewish Academy. For more info and to purchase tickets, please visit http://www.sdrep.org/jewish_festival.php
The festival ends June 18 with a free showing of The Fifth Annual Women of Valor performed free of charge at 7:30 p.m. at the Encinitas Library. Giving you another chance to catch these inspiring women! For more information, please call the library at 760-753-7376.
June 7, we attended the first show of The San Diego Mainly Mozart Festival at the historic Balboa Theater. The performances were conductorless but led by Cleveland Orchestra Concertmaster William Preucil along with Los Angeles Philharmonic Concertmaster Martin Chalifour. Although, conductorless Mozart piano concertos are not uncommon, they are usually led from the piano. Soloist Anne-Marie McDermott joined in the Piano Concerto No. 14 but left it to Preucil’s hands. Each movement of the symphony impressed the audience. A gentleman sitting in front of us exclaimed, “brilliant, that was beautiful”. The movements included, Divertimento in D Major, K. 136, Concertone for Two Violins and Orchestra in C Major, K. 190, Piano Concerto No. 14 in E-flat Major, K. 449 and Symphony No. 34 in C Major, K. 338.
Building upon the success of the 2013 season, Mainly Mozart will continue with its new “Festival Series” format, offering concerts and events in five different series, featuring the crown jewel, the Mainly Mozart Festival Orchestra, the sought-after Spotlight Series and three new series introduced this past summer: Mozart & The Mind, Chamber Players, and Evolution. This is a great opportunity to learn about, teach and experience the genius of Mozart live. In addition to the main concerts audiences are invited to enjoy free dress rehearsals and free mini-concerts featuring the Advanced Orchestra from the Mainly Mozart Youth Orchestra, Carlos Miguel Prieto, violin, with Jorge Federico Osorio, piano, and Justin Brown and Anne-Marie McDermott, two pianos. The Balboa Theatre is located adjacent to Horton Plaza. It is advised to park on the street or in the NBC building. For more information and tickets to the upcoming performances June 14, 18, and 21, visit www.mainlymozart.org.
