Cal Phil to perform at Arboretum June-August

The Los Angeles County Arboretum and Botanic Garden first began as the home of “Lucky” Baldwin in 1875. Over 100 years later, beginning Saturday, June 26, music lovers from throughout the San Gabriel Valley and beyond will similarly describe themselves as “lucky” when the California Philharmonic opens its 2010 Festival on the Green summer season at the 127-acre park in Arcadia.

“There’s always something magical about live symphonic music outdoors,” says audience member Diane Hedrick, a ZUMBA fitness instructor who, with her husband Steve, thinks nothing of traveling from Valencia for what she calls “the whole package – a great location and music.”

“The Arboretum is one of the most spacious and comfortable outdoor concert venues in the world,” adds Mindy Kernc, Box Office Director. “Not only do its gardens showcase plants from around the world but the grounds are dotted with historic sites you’ll instantly recognize like the lagoon from the old Tarzan movies and the Queen Anne Cottage from Fantasy Island. And, of course, there are the peacocks. One or two almost always try to ‘sing’ along with the music each concert!”

Cal Phil’s 2010 Festival on the Green summer season is as follows:

AMERICA THE BEAUTIFUL—June 26
A Powerful Patriotic Performance Rhapsody In Blue • 1812 Overture • Lincoln PortraitSousa Marches • Appalachian Springwith singer and actor Brian McKnight, pianist Bryan Pezzone

ANDREW LLOYD WEBBER GOES TO ITALY —July 10
Theatre’s Best—From London to RomePhantom Of The Opera • Cats • Evita • Tosca • AidaLa Traviata • Jesus Christ Superstar • Nessun Dormawith singers Angel Blue, Mathew Edwardsen, Ralph Cato and the Cal Phil Chorale


JOHN WILLIAMS & FRIENDS —July 24
From the Cinema to the Opera House Star Wars • E.T. • Superman • Schindler’s ListLord of the Rings • Wagner: The Ring • The Terminalfeaturing Lasers by YLS, plus cellist Dennis Karmazyn and clarinetist Michael Arnold

FRANK, TONY & THE MAESTRO —August 7
Cocktails to Classics Hits made popular by Frank Sinatra & Tony BennettSaint-Saens: Introduction and Rondo CapricciosoRimsky-Korsakov: Scheherazade • Elgar: Enigma Variationsfeaturing the song stylings of Broadway star Kevin Earley, plus violinist Daniel Shindarov

BEETHOVEN & BROADWAY—August 20
The Ninth Meets Broadway Magic Beauty And The Beast • The Lion King • Les MiserablesThe Music Man • Beethoven: Symphony No. 9 - Ode To JoyBeethoven: Leonore No. 3 • The Little Mermaidfeaturing singers Catherine Ireland, Marya Basaraba, Steve Grabe, Roberto Perlas Gomez and the Cal Phil Chorale

“Fifteen years ago, Cal Phil began with a five-concert season of Cal Phil Festival on the Green,” says Founder and Music Director, Dr. Victor Vener. “So, although our season has expanded to include concerts downtown at Walt Disney Concert Hall and at the Old Mill in San Marino, our performances at The Arboretum hold a special place not only in my heart but the heart of many of our musicians, who have been with us from the beginning.”

But, as Vener – who holds a doctorate in music performance from USC – sees it, the spotlight always shines most brightly on the music.

“Our mission at Cal Phil is a simple one,” he explains. “To bring excellent and professional performances of great music to the widest possible audience. And by great music we don’t just mean ‘classical music’ by composers whose works have endured and been beloved throughout the ages but jazz, pops, motion picture soundtracks and works written for both Broadway and opera house stages. And our guests are equally luminous, including world-renowned artists like Broadway star Kevin Earley, soprano Angel Blue, and singer and songwriter Brian McKnight, whose Grammy nominated album Anytime sold over 2 million copies.”

Concerts begin at 7:30 p.m., with the gates to The Arboretum opening at 5:30 p.m. for picnicking. With plentiful parking conveniently on site, The Arboretum is located at 301 North Baldwin Avenue in Arcadia. For more information or to order tickets/subscriptions, visit www.calphil.org or call 626.300.8200.

ABOUT CAL PHIL

The CalPhil Foundation was founded by Music Director and Conductor Victor Vener and a small group of enthusiastic, dedicated music lovers based in Southern California. The Foundation, a nonprofit community benefit organization, supports the California Philharmonic in a quest to expand awareness of classical music, thus increasing the interest and support for great timeless music with wide audience appeal. Along the way, Maestro Vener and the California Philharmonic have garnered many awards, including resolutions passed by the California Legislature State Assembly, recognition from the U.S. Congress and a commendation from the County of Los Angeles.

Dr. Vener has electrified audiences in the United States, Europe and Asia, conducting exciting performances of a wide range of repertoire with his unique blend of outstanding musicianship and personalized audience engagement. The California Philharmonic is recognized for its high-quality professional performances of music by notable composers from the diverse genres of jazz, pops, Broadway and opera. Also, with a strong commitment to new music and to expanding the symphonic repertoire, the Orchestra has presented nine world premieres and four Southern California premieres of orchestral works and three world premieres of chamber works.

The California Philharmonic began with a five-concert inaugural season of Cal Phil Festival on the Green on the beautiful grounds of the Los Angeles County Arboretum & Botanic Garden in Arcadia. Now, the Orchestra presents fourteen concerts per year in three different, but equally impressive, venues in Los Angeles County, California. The other concert series are: Cal Phil at Walt Disney Concert Hall (downtown Los Angeles) and Cal Phil at The Mill (The Old Mill in San Marino).

Through free community outreach events, such as Cal Phil Family Night (a concert and interactive activities for children) and Talks with the Maestro, people of all ages and from all walks of life have the opportunity to experience the wonder of live classical music performed by world-renowned musicians.

Geographically, the California Philharmonic serves and entertains a diverse population from the greater San Gabriel Valley; including: Pasadena, South Pasadena, Alhambra, Arcadia, Altadena, El Monte, San Marino, Sierra Madre, Glendale, Temple City and Burbank; and from Malibu to Downtown Los Angeles.