Date: Sunday, September 21, 2008

Time: 4:00PM

Cost: $45-$65

Description: Rhapsody in Blue and the songs of Edith Piaf headline Santa Rosa Symphony Season Opening Gala (Santa Rosa, CA) –Santa Rosa Symphony invokes the spirit of the Parisian Jazz Age on Sunday, September 21st with its 2008-2009 Season Opening Gala. The two-part celebration begins with a 4 p.m. Le Jazz Hot concert at the Jackson Theater. Music Director Bruno Ferrandis conducts Rhapsody in Blue, putting members of the orchestra through their paces on the original jazz band charts, with renowned pianist Jon Nakamatsu playing Gershwin’s famous composition. Then French chanteuse Raquel Bitton adds extra flavor with songs of Edith Piaf, and selections form her Paris Blues recording. Also on the program areorchestral works by Darius Milaud and Michel LeGrand. Following the Le Jazz Hot concert at 6:30 p.m., Le Jazz Club will open at the Vintners Inn for a sultry evening of fantasy, food and fun. The SRS gala dinner and auction continues the Jazz Age theme in cabaret atmosphere complete with champagne reception, full bar and fine dining. Entertainment at the reception will be provided by members of the Symphony’s youth ensembles; dinner entertainment will be provided by vocalist Nancy Tierney. The Le Jazz Hot concert is underwritten by Kendall-Jackson Wine Estates; the Le Jazz Club gala is underwritten by Eileen and Henry Trione. Concert tickets are $45 and $65. Dinner tickets are $200 per person. Concert and dinner ticket package $250. To purchase, visit www.santarosasymphony.com or call the Symphony Box Office at 54-MUSIC (707-546-8742). All proceeds from Le Jazz Club ticket sales and quick-paced live auction will benefit Santa Rosa Symphony’s artistic programming, youth ensembles and music education/outreach. CALENDAR SUMMARY Santa Rosa Symphony Le Jazz Hot Concert 4 pm September 21, 2008 Jackson Theater, Sonoma Country Day School Santa Rosa Symphony Le Jazz Club Gala Dinner and Auction 6:30 pm Sept. 21, 2008 Vintners Inn Event Center Black tie optional Concert: $45 & $65 Dinner only: $200 Dinner and Concert package: $250 (includes premier seating) Tickets: 54-MUSIC 707.546.8742 or purchase online at www.santarosasymphony.com Artist Biographies “Poet of the keyboard” pianist Jon Nakamatsu will perform Gershwin’s 1924 Rhapsody in Blue in the original jazz band version for our Le Jazz Hot concert. His interpretation of this work has been called “colorful, idiomatic and very exciting indeed” (Washington Post) and he performed it at a White House gala in 1999. Nakamatsu garnered the Gold Medal at the Van Cliburn International Piano Competition (1997) and has collaborated with many of the world’s prominent conductors. Among his other awards are NPR’s “Performance Today” Artist of the Year (1998) and first prize in the United States Chopin Piano Competition (1995). Raquel Bitton, the captivating French songstress who starred in the documentary film Edith Piaf: Her Story...Her Songs, will perform Piaf songs from Bitton’s sold-out performances at Carnegie Hall, as well as from her latest CD Paris Blues. The New York Times wrote, “...Bitton brings unmistakable passion to her invocation of the Piaf vocal spirit” and the San Francisco Examiner called her “America’s foremost singer of French music...magnificent, emotional, mesmerizing.”

Address: 4400 Day School Place

City: Santa Rosa

State: CA

Zip: 95403

Phone number: 707-546-8742

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