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Arts & Life
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- Written by: Connel Murray
LAKEPORT, Calif. – On Sunday, Sept. 8, a concert by the Lake County Symphony Chamber Orchestra will take place at Lakeport’s Soper-Reese Community Theatre.
In a departure from its usual practice the 3 p.m. concert will be presented free of charge to the public by its sponsor, Clear Lake Performing Arts.
Classical standards will include Haydn’s Symphony No 85 – often called the “La Reine” or “Queen Symphony” – because it was a favorite of French queen Marie Antoinette.
Music Director and Conductor John Parkinson also will lead the orchestra in the “Sinfonia in C Major” by Antonio Vivaldi, which features the local symphony’s noted string section. Vivaldi was not only one of the truly great composers of baroque music but was also recognized in his day as a violin virtuoso.
Also on the program will be the Horn Concerto No 3 in E flat by Wolfgang Amadeus Mozart. It will feature soloist Mike Thompson, principal player of the Symphony’s horn section, who is an orchestra regular even though it means commuting from his home in Garberville for every concert.
CLPA president Ed Bublitz said his board’s decision to open the doors to the concert free of charge, was to introduce both his group and the orchestra to the public.
“We’ve found many people don’t even know we have a symphony, let alone one of the largest and best in the area, and others have no idea what Clear Lake Performing Arts is, and that it was founded some forty years ago for the precise purpose of creating and maintaining this orchestra,” Bublitz said. “When people hear what a treasure we have here, we hope they will be eager to support us.”
Prior to the official opening of the concert the string players will play Bach’s Brandenburg Concerto No 3 as background music, with the annual Meeting starting at 3 p.m. with a couple of business items for CLPA members to address – including voting on CLPA officers for the new year.
Nominations for seats on the board of directors will be accepted from the floor. Bublitz stresses that he is actively soliciting greater participation from the public, as well as from current CLPA members.
Seating at the concert is open on a first-come, first-served basis, so members are advised to arrive early to ensure themselves a good seat.
“We hope our members bring others who may be interested in joining us in promoting good music in Lake County,” Bublitz added.
Complimentary desserts, prepared by members of the CLPA Auxiliary, will be served, and wine and soft drinks will be available for sale.
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- Written by: Editor
KELSEYVILLE, Calif. – The Konocti Art Society has a selection of painted saw blades on display this month at WestAmerica Bank in downtown Kelseyville.
You may win hand-decorated saw blades created by local KAS artists; tickets are available at WestAmerica Bank. Tickets are one for $1 or six for $5.
The winning tickets will be drawn at 3 p.m. at the bank during the Kelseyville Pear Festival on Saturday, Sept. 28.
Local youth will benefit in the areas of art and music. Proceeds go to the Main Street Gallery's Summer Youth Art Camp and Clear Lake Performing Arts' Student Education Music Program.
KAS members displaying saw blades at Westamerica Bank are Leah Adams, Judy Cardinale, Patricia Courtney, Barbara Funke, Gerri Groody, Jan Hambrick, Annette Higday, Jeanne Landon-Myers, Diana Liebe, Karen Magnuson, Gaylene McComb, Ruth Morgan, Carolyn Morris, Patty Oates and Diane Tembey-Stawicki.
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- Written by: Editor
MIDDLETOWN, Calif. – “Decades,” Chico’s most successful cover band, will play Twin Pine Casino on Friday, Sept. 13.
The show starts at 9 p.m. at the casino, located on Highway 29 at Rancheria Road, south of Middletown.
The band just released its debut LP “Take Me Back,” produced by Grammy nominee Sylvia Massy, who has worked with Johnny Cash, Prince and the Red Hot Chili Peppers.
Since forming in October 2010, Decades has performed more than 200 shows in Northern California and Nevada, with 110 shows booked so far for 2013.
The band currently has 125 songs from the 1940s through today in rotation, and is working toward its goal to learn 300 songs.
“Take Me Back” can be purchased for $15 at shows (or 2 for $20), $9.99 on iTunes, or $12 for a CD through www.MusicfromtheDecades.com .
For more on Decades' fall tour schedule, visit www.artistdata.sonicbids.com/decades/shows/ .
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- Written by: Lake County News Reports
The US Open tennis tournament, held this time of year in Flushing Meadows, New York, is one of the greatest venues in the sports world, and it’s about to get even better.
The brass at United States Tennis Association know as well as anyone that the USTA Billie Jean King National Tennis Center, the US Open venue’s official name, needs a complete transformation for the modern age.
Many of the proposed changes recognize that enjoyment of the US Open is as much a lifestyle event as it is a major sporting experience.
At a press conference on the first day of the tournament, USTA executive director Gordon Smith pointed out that there is “an insufficient area for the number of fans on the grounds,” and that moving about can be “crowded and uncomfortable.”
The grand vision for remaking the US Open venue includes a movable roof on Arthur Ashe Stadium, the main venue with assigned seating.
The next two largest venues, Louis Armstrong Stadium and the Grandstand, have narrow passageways and inadequate seating.
All of this will change over the next five to six years, if all goes according to plan. The lifestyle element will bring even more food facilities and concessions to benefit the fans.
When I speak of the US Open as a lifestyle event, it has much to do with the cocktail lounges and the impressive array of food offerings you would never see at a baseball or football stadium.
Heineken, an upscale beer importer and a major sponsor, opened the Heineken House, a unique oasis built on top of its existing Red Star Café, where fans can get VIP service in cabanas while watching live screenings with an ice-cold Heineken in hand.
New this year, the club level of Arthur Ashe Stadium features the Oyster Bar, where patrons can dine on a variety of oysters, caviar, lobster rolls and shrimp cocktails. Try to imagine this dining option at another sports setting.
Ordinarily, I wouldn’t be allowed on the club level, but a media credential lets you wander about Arthur Ashe, though you won’t be allowed into private suites or club seating areas.
The Oyster Bar sounded fascinating, but when I spotted caviar being offered at a price north of $50 I moved away faster than Roger Federer lunging for a backhanded return.
For persons on a more modest budget, the expansive Food Village brought new selections with Hill Country BBQ and Fresca Mexicana, in additional to the regular assortment of international flavors already on offer.
On the other hand, the Village Market is now tossing fresh salads, handmade sandwiches and vegan options. Frankly, I choose the less healthy options, because that just seems to be the preferred stadium experience.
One of the biggest questions at the US Open this year is what has happened to the American men. The highest ranked US player at the No. 13 seed is John Isner, who played exceptionally well in the first round. But he’s already out in the third round.
My favorite player is James Blake, seeded at No. 100, who announced that this would be his last tournament. He’s also beloved by New Yorkers, and he played his heart out in the first round with some of the most exciting play.
You can’t do much better than seeing a match where three sets are decided by the back-and-forth of tie-breaks. That’s what happened in the match between Blake and Ivo Karlovic, though the Croatian won the last two sets with tie-breaks to defeat the American.
At the post-match press conference, the ever classy Blake said he was lucky enough to have had fans “cheering for me, chanting U-S-A,” for 14 years. He said there is “no good way to go out unless you’re holding that trophy.”
Contrast the Blake interview with the one given by Sam Querry, who was upset in the second round. Querry got testy when he said “I don’t give a crap what anyone thinks. I mean, it’s my life and my career.” The spirit of John McEnroe lives.
Though the championship days of Pete Sampras, Andy Roddick and Andre Agassi are a thing of the past, the American women are faring much better, with Serena Williams having won last year and being still very much in the running again.
Two years ago, Australian Samantha Stosur won the US Open. This year, seeded No. 11, Stosur was up against American teenage prodigy Victoria Duval in the first round.
In case you missed it, Duval had a stunning upset victory in three sets. The win was extremely impressive but Duval’s personal story is even more compelling.
Born in Miami and raised in Haiti, Duval endured an armed robbery home invasion hostage situation as a child, while her father nearly died in the massive earthquake in 2010.
Though she lost in the second round, Victoria Duval is an American player to watch for the future. Now if only the American men could find their own teenage prodigy.
In the few days remaining before the end of the US Open, you can catch the action on CBS, ESPN or the Tennis Channel. Better yet, sports fans, add the US Open to your bucket list.
Tim Riley writes film and television reviews for Lake County News.