The Valley Line: Concert series’ closing show draws sold-out crowd
I had a great, albeit too short getaway recently. My love for art took me to San Diego’s Balboa Park and the San Diego Art Museum to see a fabulous exhibit of Spanish artist Joaquin Sorolla y Bastida called, “Sorolla and America.” An extra dollop of exquisite art was found in the special collection of American artist, Robert Henri, in an exhibit called “Spanish Sojourns: Robert Henri and the Spirit of Spain.”
It has been several years since I had been to Balboa Park and this expansive complex of museums and performing arts venues. With its rich Spanish architecture I felt like I had just been dropped into the center of Madrid’s Plaza Mayor and entering the Prado, this city’s renowned art gallery.
The San Diego Art Museum is gearing up for its next major exhibit opening Oct. 4, “Gauguin to Warhol: 20th Century Icons from the Albright-Knox Art Gallery.”
This will be another art viewing must for me since it is an opportunity to witness the development of the major movements that shaped the course of modern art from the late 19th century to the present.
The exhibit will feature masterpieces by more than 40 monumental artists including Toulouse-Lautrec, Van Gogh, Gauguin, Picasso, Matisse, O’Keefe, Dali and Kahlo, Pollock and so many more.
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It was a fond adieu and a standing ovation that closed the Pasadena Pops Summer Concert Series at Arcadia’s Arboretum venue on Sept. 6. It was also a sold-out crowd that came to watch Michael Feinstein conduct this accomplished orchestra in its tribute to New York City.
According to chatter by Feinstein, who is a dedicated music scholar, the city that never sleeps has had more songs written about it than any other city in the U.S.
The grand finale was a real showstopper. It began with Feinstein belting out the song, “New York, New York” and ended with “42nd Street” where he was joined by spotlighted singers Patti Austin, Liz Calloway and Aaron Tveit, who had all performed earlier in the concert. Oh yes, there was even a full choir and tap dancers.
The energy of this iconic city was captured with Leonard Bernstein’s “Candide,” “On the Town,” “West Side Story” and “Wonderful Town,” Duke Ellington’s “Don’t Get Around Much Anymore,” “Don’t Mean a Thing,” “I’m Beginning to See the Light,” “Take the A Train,” plus Sondheim gems “Broadway Baby,” and “What More Do I Need,” and many more.
Feinstein delivered his celebrated trademark of popular standards, rare finds, and a world premiere sprinkled throughout the program with Alfred Newman’s “Street Scene” from the 1953 film “How to Marry a Millionaire,” the original 1934 Broadway arrangement of “Autumn in New York,” a world premiere of Oscar Levant’s “Nothing Sacred” from the original film soundtrack and music sketches and Harry Warren’s “American Barcarolle” (first performance since 1941) and “42nd Street” (recreated from his original 1932 arrangement).
It was a fabulous evening of music under a full moon that hovered above the trees like a bright Christmas ornament.
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JANE NAPIER NEELY covers the La Cañada social scene. Email her at jnvalleysun@yahoo.com with news of your special event.